Letters: Spend money on infrastructure, not tourists

An artist's impression of the Hemo roundabout sculpture. Photo / Rotorua Lakes Council

Does Rotorua Lakes Council still think the Hemo Gorge sculpture and its half-million dollar price tag is money well spent?

After the recent flood, when I walk into town I pass houses where the first metre of gib and insulation has been removed. Some are even minus their kitchens.

There were plenty of near misses where the rain stopped just in time.

Will vanity projects continue to take precedence over unglamorous things such as keeping the drains clear of debris, and the infrastructure beneath our feet?

Why should we worry about a once in a lifetime event? Heard of global warming?

How about looking after the locals instead of tarting up Rotorua for the tourists.

Lesley Haddon
Rotorua

LTP spend

I write to highlight concerns about the long-term district plan hard copy and to protest other wasteful Rotorua Lakes Council publications, as well as their content.

Having worked for some of NZ's largest corporations this council's formula to spend lacks any business acumen.

I have been taught the hard way to obtain three quotes, have a measurable plan and expectation of return on investment, and to have the risks checked.

Employees need to understand they will be recognised for results or be accountable for lack of them.

How much did it cost Rotorua ratepayers to have the LTP hard copy printed and distributed? But even more importantly, why was it prepared?

What measurable responses have been achieved from the spend proposed in the last LTP? Why was there no systematic evaluation of outcomes?

Why don't we get invited to discuss the evaluations and future before officials hold closed workshops with councillors?

This leads us on to the highways of concrete being poured all over the city with no one asking for them or using them. What environmental impact will these "silly cyways" have as well as the fiscal liability?

The monthly publication Tatau Tatau is another example of excessive quality production and spend of ratepayers' funds, all for what?

We want to know when the council is going to cut the waste, use business case analysis and project plans with zero-based budgeting, do public evaluations against outcome objectives, engage and respect ratepayers are real stakeholders, and get off their addiction to PR.

(Abridged)
Jocelyn Greene
Rotorua