North Shore Times (New Zealand)
LONG GRASS WOES
PRICE OF PENGUINS
Just as I predicted, the Campbells Bay penguins have been vandalised. What has it been?
Less than a year, I believe. Now more costs of repairs and reinstalments as well as wasting space in the North Shore Times to report the ‘‘incident’’. How many people know it costs $1600 ‘‘per penguin’’? How many ‘‘real’’ birds could be saved for the same money. They still want to put a bronze dog for $25,000.
So, about $40,000 that could support Sylvia Durrant’s work if she was working part time on a minimum wage (though it is impossible to put a price tag on her work).
Why are we trying to ‘‘improve’’ nature with man made expensive trinkets that would need constant protection/ reinstatement? I wonder whether with all the pollution moving in, who will survive longer -the real penguins or bronze ones before they both disappear forever? Which ones would be regret not saving then?
A Fedorova
Murrays Bay I am a girl guide at the Hillcrest guide den. Recently when we had to put up a tent, we noticed that it was very hard because the grass at Stanich Reserve is extremely overgrown.
Long grass can cause a lot of problems other than making it hard for us to put our tent up some include, hiding dog poo that owners haven’t picked up, hiding litter and broken pieces of glass (very dangerous), providing a place for rats to breed and then the rats can kill native birds and making it hard for small trees to grow.
I would greatly appreciate it if someone could keep the grass at a tidy length.
Emily Whineray
Hillcrest
COASTAL WALKWAY
What a disappointment, we are going into summer again without any coastal walkway between Takapuna and Milford. What could be a wonderful asset this waterfront promenade would be for the shore.
Only available at present for very fit people or mountain goats. The obvious place to start would be a new bridge (the last one fell down) where at present the track is only open due to the good will of a private owner allowing walkers across his land.
Obviously the council have given priority to supplying a campsite in Takapuna for out of town visitors in preference to supplying an asset for locals and
POHUTUKAWA ¯ PROBLEMS
Why the front page hysteria about heavily pruned Po¯ hutukawa trees? All very large trees need to be pruned to take the enormous weight out of the tree to protect the root structure. Po¯ hutukawa trees are very hardy and the photo shows the tree is already regenerating itself with sturdy new growth.
Over-grown very large trees become a safety hazard for people and property. Smaller versions of the same trees are also very beautiful.
Pine trees don’t have a tap root and are allowed to grow to ridiculous heights until the root system fails and property and lives are lost.
If you haven’t noticed, or have found out to your cost, most insurance companies no longer cover trees. If your trees damage your neighbour’s property, expect to bear the cost of the damage. Betty Robb
Beach Haven
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.