North Shore Times (New Zealand)
PARKING THE ISSUE
Robbers! That’s what our Council are. The latest is that their development arm Panuku Development Auckland, wish to turn the large car park in central Takapuna, 40 Anzac street, which is council owned, i.e yours and mine, into a development comprising a mix of residential, commercial and public spaces. In doing so apart from the fact that we lose the iconic weekend markets, we also lose the 250 car parks as well.
Open spaces in a city like Auckland need protection, not to be sold off to private enterprise. It would not be quite so bad perhaps, if Council were to the sell the property off on a leasehold basis, and thus retaining the freehold which would provide a worthwhile revenue stream, but I understand that this is not the case, so the property is lost forever.
We are told that to make up for the loss of car parks, the council owned Gasometer site in Auburn street will be developed to provide 450 new spaces. What Council do not tell us is how many of those will be retained for public use and how many will be handed over/ reserved for future owners of the property once it is further developed into a mix of commercial and residential.
Parking in Takapuna is tight already and the loss of more carparks will only make the position worse and drive shoppers further afield to the likes of Albany Mall. Milford Mall is also losing public car parks with the residential development that is going on there.
I just hope that there will be sufficient objectors to the redevelopment of 40 Anzac Street that will result in it being overturned. A much better plan of this site is appropriate in my view.
Bob Jones
Mairangi Bay
TAXING TRANSPORT
Both National and Labour will clearly persist with their objective of making Auckland a ‘‘super city’’ – with super problems. National, despite a long period in office, promises yet again to do something about the colossal transport problem, but at least they don’t propose to tax only Aucklanders to pay for it. On the other hand, despite the new face, Labour also continues to make us ‘‘super’’ but we have to suffer further, by facing a substantial tax.
Neither party deals with the fundamental problem of excessive immigration being promoted for NZ, with most of those
CATS FOR THE RATS
The 27 July North Shore Times issue contains two letters alongside each other, one about cats, the other about the North Shore’s rat problem. One of those is pointing out the solution to the other.
In particular, keeping cats indoors at night when they’d normally be out dealing with rats, mice, and other vermin seems to be the exact opposite of what you’d want to do. Dealing with vermin was the reason why cats were domesticated in the first place, so locking them indoors will just make a lot of rats rather relieved.
Peter Gutmann
Bayview
HAVE YOUR SAY
Letters should not exceed 250 words and must have full name, residential address and phone number. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or withhold any correspondence without explanation. Letters may be referred to others for right of reply before publication. Email: nsnews@snl.co.nz Mail: North Shore Times, PO Box 79, Orewa.