North Shore Times (New Zealand)
CROSSING SAFETY
There are grave concerns that access to the Takapuna Beach childrens’ park has NO
Pedestrian Crossing. The raised surface has a sign up high that motorists have right of way. Too high for children (if they can read) and many parents assume it is a pedestrian crossing. On Saturday, September 2, huge drops of rain started falling. People began fleeing, so I stopped, held up five cars and waved families across. A father and son on bikes flew through on the inside at 50kms a least, and nearly wiped out a terrified a number of people. I tooted loudly as they swooped up onto the footpath at the Strand and down Gibbons Rd.
Jan O’Connor, our Local Board member, tried to get a crossing there 18 months before the play park opened. We have been told it will take a further 18 months to paint lines on the road and put up signs. We nearly had blood on our hands. Please God, no child or children will have to die to get Auckland Transport’s A into G. To the cyclists, you give a bad name to fellow cyclists, with your demented behaviour, was also a near tragic, example mentoring. Marion OKane
Takapuna
HERITAGE FOR SALE
Thousands of Aucklanders with long memories fondly remember experiences of their youth when they took part in the sports events, dances, concerts and many other activities held during the long history of the Takapuna Boating Club that sits along the foreshore by Bayswater Wharf. The building is nearly 100 years old and needing repair but is now being advertised for sale under the headline ‘‘North Shore Waterfront Add Value’’. I’d love to think that means this iconic old heritage building is being offered for restoration, but somehow that seems unlikely with that headline and the opportunities the site and its seaviews offer for luxury apartments.
But what a great community resource the old building would provide for a cohort of wealthy yachties to fund its restoration with income coming from developing parts of the building for chandlery shops and general provisions for the marina boats nearby. Otherwise I fear those memories so many of us have will be all that remains.
M. Carol Scott
Birkenhead
EXERCISING DEMOCRACY
Tony Holman is correct. Where does democracy begin and end in Auckland? 8000 people voted against the various Wellington Local Bodies being amalgamated. They were listened to. But when a petition, signed by 8500 opposing Panuku Development’s plan to sell Takapuna’s Anzac Street car park, was presented to Auckland Council in March they were virtually ignored. Panuku has now issued a document asking ‘‘How do you feel about changing the use of 40 Anzac Street car-park from a single level asphalt car park to an area of mixed development’’.
There is no information to explain ‘‘mixed development’’ equates to 9 storey high buildings - or that the land was bought ‘‘for car parking purposes’’ with a targeted rate over 31 years by the local businesses. People who speak to their submission will be heard by the very same councillors who voted to sell the land. And the final decision will be made by the Planning Committee chaired by the councillor who moved the motion to ‘‘dispose’’ of Takapuna’s valuable future Aotea Square.
Jan O’Connor
Takapuna
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.