Futureproofing Dunedin to be a truly great city

I HEARTILY agree with much of what Ian Smith says (ODT, 6.7.18) re the fanciful bridge and its budgeted cost and consequent rates blowout.

If a bridge is really needed, surely a bridge more in keeping with the style of the present footbridge at to the railway station would be more appropriate?

Something along those lines would still provide for the needs of the cycling community, but at a much more realistic cost.

However, Mr Smith goes on to rail against the stadium. Since its inception I have been very much in favour of this asset as I could see the ultimate benefit to our city, even understanding that it would mean a few dollars more to my rates.

The stadium is not, and never has been, intended to be for the sole benefit of the game of rugby.

This has now been proven beyond doubt with numerous international entertainers coming here and drawing tens of thousands of visitors to Dunedin, boosting the economy of our city as well as bringing the stadium to the point where it is now covering its operational costs.

The present chief executive of Dunedin Venues, Terry Davies, deserves the highest praise for his efforts to present the stadium to the international entertainment community.

While I understand there is still some capital owing to the city council, I believe that with the ongoing programme of events this will soon be a thing of the past and the stadium will be a true revenueearning asset for our great city.

Ron G. Paterson

Dunedin

IN 1977, I was involved, as an employee of advertising agency SSC&B:Lintas, in the early stage of Wellington’s waterfront redevelopment.

I specifically remember writing material relating to the Michael Fowler Centre, and the effect its waterfront position would have on the cultural life of the city — how people would access it and fundamentals such as parking were part of the programme.

It seems to me that the advocates of Dunedin’s $20 million ‘‘walkway/ bridge’’ should first consider what lies at the wharf end of it.

If it’s just the current rundown and empty wharf buildings, what’s the point?

Common sense dictates that redevelopment (if financially feasible) should take place prior to any bridge building. I. Williams Dunedin

Should nurses strike?

YOUR analysis piece on the nurses’ strike (ODT, 11.7.18) points out the Government’s ‘‘mantra of a decade of underfunding’’.

It also refers to the Opposition’s claim the Government is at fault for raising ‘‘heightened expectations’’ among the nurses, and that ‘‘there is some truth to both arguments’’.

No. Underfunding is not a ‘‘mantra’’ but a fact, one reiterated by nurses themselves (and DHBs, and the medical profession and everyone except the National Party).

And surely the corollary of wrongly ‘‘heightened expectations’’ from the Government is that from the alternative there would be no expectations and the deficit would continue?

Nurses may be angry, but they should at least try to be reasonable.

Harry Love Northeast Valley

Guardians of the deep

THE forebears of today’s bornagain kaitiaki were not such great guardians of marine mammals as we are being led to believe.

Dolphin, seal and whale remains were found in middens along our east coast by University of Otago researchers (ODT, 10.7.18).

Irrational deference and delusion continues unabated.

Bruce Mason Ranfurly