Letters: Legacy of growing debt should not be bragged about

A desirable legacy?

Like many others, I object to over $40 million being spent on the Lakefront upgrade but agree with the mayor when she says that "This was the biggest announcement that this council will have as a legacy into the future" (News, October 5). But a legacy of significant and growing debt should not be bragged about.

The deputy mayor commented that consultation was also on the level of spending people were happy with so I now think he or council should be upfront and tell us who these people or groups were that thought $40 million of ratepayers' and taxpayers' money was okay.

Maybe I'm being cynical but I can't help but think it was big business not ratepayers who were consulted.

And when I look at the plan I see sterility, parking spaces gone, the playground gone, trees gone so no shade for picnicking, no path by the water's edge and Memorial Dr gone.

I see an ugly boardwalk cutting across the lake edge, that will frequently get wet and in all probability be used as a launching pad for jumping into the lake. If I was younger, I'd be a starter for that! And I see issues with removing weed that regularly accumulates along the lake shore.

Oh, I forgot, guests staying at the five star hotel will want those buzz word "sight lines" across the wasteland. Why should those few people have their sight lines at the expense of simple pleasures the locals, who after all are footing the bill, can enjoy.

Paddi Hodgkiss
Rotorua
City hoons

Hamurana Lakeside Reserve has hoons on and off all year round, digging it up while doing donuts and other stunts. Often this takes place after dark so no one can see number plates to report it.

We have noisy motorbikes and farm vehicles during the day.

It seems our problem is worse than Fordlands...if they've only had one car driving on a reserve this year.

Apparently it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle on a reserve.

Diane Calder
Hamurana
Pleas fall on deaf ears

In the Rotorua Daily Post (News, October 5) our mayor talked about the legacy of the Lakeside waterfront upgrade.

Yet the infrastructure of the Lakes Council, in my view, is falling apart. For 20 years we have been lobbying for such items as floating jetties, potable water and lake cleanups yet all seemingly have fallen on deaf ears.

The council's responsibilities do not end at the urban boundaries; there needs to be housekeeping on nuts and bolts infrastructure not spending on some councillors legacy. (Abridged)

Tony Lipanovic
Rainbow Trout Lodge