Whose bright idea was it to ignore the advice of consultants to extend the scenic cycle path around the lake?
I hope the judges will have access to this type of information. Hopefully too, they will have an independent visit to town so that they can see what Council's idea of "revitalised" actually is.
As Hunt says, "all cities are making efforts to draw people in".
Maybe the guardians of this city should have checked out others.
Innovation and cutting edge may be ego-boosting but isn't always successful. With a background in science I can guarantee that.
(Abridged)
Paddi Hodgkiss
Lynmore
***
Rod Petterson makes a good point (Letters, June 13) when he raises the question of finding use for all the plastic waste building up and being dumped in landfills.
The thing is, machines have been developed that turn plastic waste back into the oil it was originally made from.
My suggestion is that councils should unite in an endeavour to trial these machines and explore the financial viability of recycling this way.
At the moment this appears to be a drawback but with solar energy it could become viable.
Then again, with our Government phasing out oil exploration round the coast, perhaps future generations may have to bite the bullet and pay more for this recycled oil as the price to pay for banning exploration.
Quite frankly though, I cannot see all plastics being phased out as they are too useful. Just look how they have simplified plumbing as an example. Kitchen containers and milk bottles are another.
Plastics replaced glass for other things like beer, and saved our beaches from all the broken glass that used to cause injuries to the feet of beach users.
The lesson is we can't have it both ways so long as an element of the public discard their rubbish where it becomes a danger to people or the environment.
However it should not stop councils exploring new technology that works to recycle rather than bury all this plastic waste material.
AJ MacKenzie
Rotorua
****
The most valuable asset of any organisation is its staff. ("Infracore cuts up to five staff" Local News, Monday, June 11).
If it is found someone is being overpaid, whose fault is it?
Not the worker - management should carry the can.
Stop slamming them. Let's stop this neo-liberal approach and start treating staff with the respect they deserve.
And let's also stop this mad rush of sub-contracting core council operations under the guise of "delivering cost-effective and efficient services".
Does this mean the council is incapable of doing these jobs itself?
Tim Edwards
Rotorua
***
In regard to parking, the Rotorua Lakes Council have once again disregarded the convenience of the ordinary people of the town.
Pay and display is diabolical for the elderly and infirm and now you need a smartphone to use the system.
I have not got one, but it won't worry me at all. I just won't ever come shopping in the Rotorua CBD. Sorry local shopkeepers.
Marie Booth
Rotorua
