Letters: Mudtopia was a belly flop

A reader agrees that Mudtopia was a flop. Photo/File

For once I agree with a council report, this one pertaining to the huge belly flop that was the Mudtopia Festival.

This report, based on "a comprehensive feasibility study", recommends canning the festival and potentially selling the concept to another enterprise.

Only 1500 of those who partook in the festival paid for their tickets.

The rest, 12,000 locals and 3000 sponsors, got freebies. Fixed costs were $170,000 and the loss was $570,000. Why wasn't a "comprehensive feasibility study" done prior to planning the festival?

Who, in their right mind would sign up to "buy" such a concept? Why were fanciful ideas allowed to overrule common sense and financial prudence?

Rachel Stewart (Opinion, May 2) may have some of the answers when she contends "that some of the dullest minds in the country are sitting around local government tables making decisions much bigger than their neurons can effectively process".

I fear a number of those within our hallowed halls fit this description and we, the ratepayers, are paying the price for this lack of neurons.
(Abridged)

Paddi Hodgkiss
Rotorua

Ngongotaha flood

The Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers (RDRR) rejects Keith Garratt's and Ryan Gray's letters (Letters, May 4). They both turn warranted praise for the Civil Defence response to the Ngongotaha flash flood, by 98 Council staff and uncounted volunteers (including RDRR members), into an attack on anyone who dares question the performance of Rotorua Lakes Council.

The GM Infrastructure and Civil Defence co-ordinator reported comprehensively to the O&M Committee meeting on Thursday on the welfare and advice systems, information systems, infrastructure recovery and property damage. The plaudits were well justified. Good job, well done.

As Civil Defence moves from response into recovery it will be important for the information collected to be converted by evaluation into system refinements. This means listening to the contradictory feedback that is starting to emerge and thinking more scientifically about the dynamics of flooding, as well as the risk to life and property during climate change for resource consenting purposes.

That's why RDRR insists that knowledge learned that hard way in Western Rd be applied to the Special Housing Area proposed for the Waiteti flood plain.

Attempts to downplay, deflect or denigrate concerns over the council's decision-making processes, building on unsuitable land, ignoring mana whenua, creating social problems, inadequate infrastructure, and unsuitable mass housing on the outskirts of Ngongotaha, are looking rather foolish.

Flash floods are reality.
(Abridged)

Reynold Macpherson
Rotorua

Hard to decipher

Could we please have an explanation as exactly what the content of GJ Philip's letter (Letters, May 3 ) is about?

I've tried hard to decipher it but to no avail. New standard of Millennials' virtue?
What happened to them being snowflakes etc? The internet is full of critical articles about them; to which I offer no opinion. Just saying.

William Wright
Glenholme