Diving platform is needed at Paremata bridge

Doing a bomb off the Paremata Bridge is a rite of passage in Porirua. Each summer, young people fling themselves off the railings as cars drive by on State Highway 1.

On a hot and sunny day, more than 200 people engage in the ritual.

Therefore the new diving platform will serve a valuable purpose in directing would-be bridge-jumpers away from the busy road.

Porirua City Council has committed $130,000 and last week Greater Wellington Regional Council put up $80,000 towards the project.

Whether it happens or not is conditional on NZ Transport Agency also pledging $80,000, so we are waiting with bated breath for their decision.

The agency has previously stated that it is against bridge jumping, but surely the compromise of a platform makes sense.

Some may say the price tag is hefty, but what price do you put on keeping our teens safe?

The transport agency can surely direct $80,000 from its deep pockets.

Porirua doesn’t have a Christmas in the Park any more. Bah humbug. The efforts of Robert Brace and his team must be recognised for 20 years of sterling work. The event has had many guises and venue changes, but the spirit of what it’s about has remained steadfast.

Pictures of families, often rugged up when the weather doesn’t play ball, graced this newspaper’s pages in December each year.

Brace said the funding shortfall of $35,000 was too much to make up. In this day and age, where grant money and other sources for community organisations is shrinking, it’s no wonder.

Knowing Porirua as we do, however, you would expect that a Christmas in the Park-type event will rise from the ashes.

But a larger, civic occasion, perhaps funded in part by Porirua City Council, should be staged.

Porirua residents on social media were in general agreement that a Christmas event was needed. Tawa and Johnsonville have a parade. Why can that not happen here, if Lions or Rotary clubs or the council came together to organise it?

Porirua has a history of coming together at times of crisis – Creekfest nearly went under some years back before community intervention – so the odds are good we’ll get St Nick appearing and some carols happening by December.