Justification of ORC’s spending on HQ search
THE Otago Regional Council’s executive officer Ian McCabe estimated that 70% of the $437,000 spent on the investigation of another new ORC headquarters bid in Dowling St, Dunedin ‘‘would still be useful in the search for new headquarters’’ (ODT, 13.9.18).
Can Mr McCabe or anyone else from the ORC estimate what percentage of their previous $6 millionplus investigation and demolition of their proposed foreshore headquarters site has been useful in their ongoing search for new headquarters?
Cr Lee Vandervis
Roslyn [Otago Regional Council Chairman Stephen Woodhead replies:
‘‘The council’s purchase of the foreshore site at Birch/Kitchener St and subsequent demolition of buildings accounted for about 50% of the overall cost.
‘‘A recent market valuation of the site suggests that there has been significant capital gain over the 10 years that the council has owned it.’’]
Vehicle invisibility
I COULD not agree more with K. Bridge’s letter (ODT, 20.9.18) regarding car headlights.
I had occasion to go to Timaru on Monday — a grey, drizzly sort of day with bad visibility, and the number of cars and trucks unlit was amazing.
I suggest a light sensor should have to be fitted to all vehicles and would turn the headlights on automatically when the light gets down to a specified lux.
People do not seem to realise certain coloured vehicles are nearly invisible while it is raining.
It does not take much effort to switch on. D. Pauling
Oamaru
Police transparency
THE high percentage of police misconduct in the southern region is plainly disturbing and concerning.
In light of these revelations (ODT, 18.9.18), how can the public feel any confidence or safety with this culture of officers in our community?
And now the police department refuses to reveal what disciplinary action was or is being taken. This has to set off alarm bells for all lawabiding citizens.
These worrying issues would not be known but for the probing of media and your newspaper.
I would be expecting more transparency from police in order to put the public’s mind at rest and to reassure a stern response and zero tolerance of this unacceptable misconduct across the board.
Clive McNeill Northeast Valley
Let’s bike together
MAYBE you have thought about cycling into town to get to your workplace instead of driving along Portsmouth Dr, but have not dared yet to do so.
If you are worried about this trip on your bike, I would love to invite you to join me this week to cycle together into town via the newly sealed cycle lane next to Portsmouth Dr.
I will be waiting at the map on Portsmouth Dr (close to the causeway) at 8.30am from today, September 24 to Friday, September 28 to enjoy the ride into town with you.
Hopefully see you there!
Heike CebullaElder
Musselburgh
Good old newspapers
JUST contemplate all the questionable information that surrounds us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from myriad sources over questionable media, and purporting to be news.
Pleasantly ironic then that when the good old BBC World News sits down on TV to do its wrap, it refers to actual printed copies of daily newspapers.
Tony Crick Andersons Bay