Letters: Parking overhaul maximises inconvenience

A reader is not impressed with the overhaul of the inner city parking system.Photo/File

The new pay-for-parking system is difficult and very aggravating. It could be improved a bit by painting the street to indicate the different areas: free 15, free 60, money required. It is almost impossible to find the little signs as you drive by, and I haven't memorised the layout for the CBD.

I totally agree with Rosemary Michie (Letters, February 9) that this system does not work for anyone who has difficulty walking and has to walk across the street or halfway down the block to find a pay machine.

The machines do not say what coins are acceptable, or how much time you get per coin until you have deposited the coin.

It would be so good to go back to the old system of having a coin-operated meter at every parking place that requires money. (Abridged)

Delight Gartlein
Ngongotaha

Accounting for inflation

"Rotorua house vendors reap $50m windfall" screamed the headline in the Rotorua Daily Post (News, March 2) and the "biggest resale profit" of $802,000 was recorded on the sale of a Lynmore property which had cost the vendors just $87,500. But that was 33 years ago - there has been a lot of inflation since then!

I am no financial wizard, but it seems to me that the only way the vendors would make a "profit" was if they no longer needed a house of its size or quality, or were to buy a comparable one in a town in the farthest west or south. Prices in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, and other popular cities are still considerably higher than in Rotorua.

Ronald Mayes
Rotorua

Enough is enough

I find it rather cheeky that the local council is going cap in hand asking the Government to stump up money to fix the old museum when they keep on dreaming up other silly projects to waste our money on.

Some of the comments made by the local MPs are enough to make you wonder why it's taking this long.

I hope the next local body elections see a change of mindset in our council.

Out with the old and in with the new. (Abridged)

Rod Petterson
Rotorua

Lakefront development

I was interested and surprised by some of the points made in the update on the lakefront redevelopment (News, March 8). Firstly that the council had not sought permission beforehand from Te Arawa Lakes Trust to anchor the proposed boardwalk to the lake bed.

Secondly, that Māori group manager Gina Rangi told councillors what the trust should be considering. I personally have confidence that the Trust kaumatua are quite capable of figuring things out for themselves.

Thirdly, that an environmental impact report by Wildlands consultants found that the project "would have positive effects on the ecological environment". I have a little experience in environmental and ecological issues myself and would love to know what those positive effects would be. I don't mind the council proceeding with the lakefront project but would welcome a public account of Te Arawa Lakes Trust decisions and how the whole project will be positive for lake ecology.

David Field
Rotorua

Police pursuits

We hardly need a Royal Commission to know why drivers take off when pursued by police. It's simple. The fear factor has been taken out.
They no longer have respect for the police, parents or the public. It is simply a breakdown in discipline; it starts at school where teachers are leaving in droves, and until some discipline is restored at an early age, it will only get worse.
Alf Hoyle
Rotorua