North Shore Times (New Zealand)

SPARE $3 MILLION

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It seems the $3 million that was earmarked for Yachting NZ, who failed to meet council and contractua­l requiremen­ts to uplift the money, is now burning a hole in the council’s pockets who don’t know what to do with it.

Here is a novel idea. Why not spend it on upgrading the coastal walkway between Milford and Takapuna, so that many thousands of ratepayers can enjoy it rather than the few elite yachtsmen that it was originally planned for?

Brian Osborne

Takapuna

WAY OF THE FUTURE

Since traffic congestion is a hot topic, I might as well throw in my two cents’ worth. Of special interest, are the traffic woes on Lake Road, particular­ly the stretch between Devonport and Takapuna. Compound that with the decrease in the allocated paid parking spaces and the fastdisapp­earing free parks and we have the perfect mojito.

Someone, in a previous North Shore Times issue, suggested getting rid of the cycle lanes and using that to widen the road to double lanes, both ways. God forbid! We only acquired the cycle lanes in 2011/12 and this is the way of the future.

What will creating two lanes solve? The housing plans for Belmont and Devonport are leaning heavily towards apartment blocks. This will increase the number of cars on the road. Then what - two lanes will be upgraded to three? How can we be so short-sighted?

Besides cycling is a healthy way to commute to combat obesity, heart disease and save some carbon footprints. Plus, it helps the back pocket by saving on fuel and car maintenanc­e costs. Ask any cyclist.

Another wise person suggested we should start to run feeder buses from Devonport to Takapuna/Smales Farm more frequently. I love this idea. We can have mini-buses to run every 10 minutes during peak hours to take all the busy people to the bus stations where they can transfer to other buses to the city or elsewhere. Or go the other way and take a ferry to town.

There was a similar problem reported earlier this year, about not enough parking spaces in Constellat­ion Drive, for people to park in and take the bus to the city. Auckland Transport will not increase the parking spaces in the Park and Ride. They could use similar feeder buses as pick-up from the main arteries every 10 minutes or so.

STRANGE BEHAVIOUR

Re: the mud slide party (September 15), there seems to be a growing propensity for young girls and boys, when having their images captured, to poke/stick their tongues out. Is it just me or is that odd behaviour? No more than a few years ago, if anyone poked their tongue out, it was considered to be quite rude but now it seems if you have one, then let it all hang out? I’ve even seen older people, in some tabloids, with their tongue sticking out, with a glass of wine in their hands - quite incongruou­s really. What is it all about?

Steve Green

Birkenhead

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.

 ?? PHOTO: LAINE MOGER ?? Walkway one idea for spare $3m.
PHOTO: LAINE MOGER Walkway one idea for spare $3m.

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