Thank you for Diedre Barnett's response to my letter and Ryan Gray's response. The council have assured us ratepayers will not be paying for the skatepark, (which should be renamed something more appropriate like "Fun and Leisure park"). They are seeking a philanthropist to pick up the $2.1m tab.
There are threeissues. A security component will be required, as the current skatepark is vandalised with graffiti. A car park located close to Pererika and Ranolf St will further add to the already traffic congested corner at peak times, and should be moved. And a variety of recreational facilities should be considered, so larger sectors of the community and tourists can use the facility.
Adding a playground was merely a suggestion. The council has the habit of not listening to the retailers, ratepayers and consultants, as they did with the green corridor. It should have gone around the city, not weaving through it. Does anybody use it?
I was merely raising legitimate issues, so we could avoid another white elephant. More public consultation and submission is required in my opinion. We ratepayers do know a thing or two about budgeting, expenditure, and weighing up needs against wants, as they are required skills to be a property owner. In any design, the major principle is "form follows function".
What form will the council take in order for the skatepark to function, or dysfunction?
I see the opening of yet another cycle track in our area. While I support cyclists I do note that the tracks are beginning to take up a large share of the roads. Is it not time to introduce a cycle tax and some form of registration?
At the moment they are tax free. They use no petrol, so no fuel tax, and while they may pay a portion in their rates, so do the long suffering motorists. It is a user pays society and it's time cyclists paid their whack. [Abridged]
