Prioritise proper fixes, no ‘pie in the sky’

by Dot McCulloch 

I think it’s high time I did another screed of notes about our fair city!!!

I am one of those who see the “sport and recreation hub” mentioned in a previous paper as a “pie in the sky”.

We Gisbornites have so much that needs fixing in this city, and I think that should be the priority.

Our roads – they are being worked on, but how long before they need more work, be it repair or a total fix?

Some of this seems to be because of low-quality tarseal. We also have some contractors who think they know how to fix potholes, when they obviously do not. But who knows, not fixing potholes properly happens all over New Zealand.

I don’t like our rates being as high as they are when some of it is spent on the filling of potholes incorrectly.

Our footpaths in the CBD — the pavers were put down for the year 2000 and as many of us know to our detriment, some are a tripping hazard for the unwary.

It would be interesting to know how many folk our local hospital has treated who had the unfortunate experience of falling on uneven or broken pavers.

Staff have put yellow blobs of paint on pavers that need replacing or re-sitting in the ground, so they don’t stick up. But this work has not been done — it is about time it was. It should be a priority. Would it take someone like the Mayor to fall and break a limb to get this actioned?

Our rivers — I have mentioned before, and will do so again, that our rivers need dredging. It was pooh-poohed by some folk who say the river bed should not be disturbed. It already has been — by tonnes of silt in cyclone and other flood events.

Don’t you realise that with the level of the silt being so high in the town rivers, the next time there is a flood event the rivers will flow higher than now and do more damage?

Removing silt from the dying Waimata River should allow it to breathe again, with relief.

Years ago the Taruheru River was dredged regularly because frozen meat and butter were transported into the port for shipping overseas.

The river was a lot wider because of this. Now it is an overgrown mess out towards Makaraka, and not a sight of beauty as it used to be — and could be again.

Stop bellyaching about the “poor” river bed and give it some breathing space.

Dredging the Waimata would also give our waka ama folk a clearer training ground. The silt is so high that their paddles are dragging in it!

Nice talking to you this way.