Time DCC looked after city’s working citizens

AS a daily commuter, mostly by car but sometimes by bike, I’m a little concerned at the new proposals for parking in our city, particularly in areas north of the museum and around the university.

These are areas where people don’t come to shop and don’t need high turnover of parks.

They are areas where people come to work and require parking for most of the day.

We already have lost many car parks due to the new cycleway, which isn’t the prettiest cycle path ever designed with it’s abhorrent border of concrete slabs (obviously the vote for Dunedin as the ‘‘Prettiest City’’ was decided before this new layout).

Isn’t it time the council looked after its citizens who choose to live and work in this great little city.

Perhaps the modern world is indeed for business, not the people, as suggested by a young secondary school pupil (ODT, 31.10.18).

Gaye Ellis

Waverley

Waterfront development

IAN Taylor, in an ODT article (30.10.18) hopes that the Government Regional Development Fund will help with the proposed new foreshore development.

He also claims that it has widespread regional support but there is a paucity of hard evidence for this in the public arena.

There is no provision for this project in the latest 10 year plan, except for the $20 million ‘‘bridge to nowhere’’ as a prequel to the full development.

It is not likely that the Government will pay much of the cost via the government fund, so ratepayers will be left to cover the balance of the huge cost of this visionary, but really unnecessary, project. Deja vu the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

If so, it is also unlikely the latest 8% increase in rates will drop back to 4% as proposed and, in fact, may have to be increased well above 8% in coming years.

The mayor and council seem unconcerned and were also prepared to levy a petrol tax on ratepayers, knowing full well that it would disproportionately disadvantage those on low and fixed incomes — the majority of Dunedin ratepayers.

Thank goodness Jacinda Ardern stepped in to stall that illconsidered move.

I note our mayor is undecided about standing for office again.

Many will by now be hoping he does not. Stewart Webster

Halfway Bush

Central cycle trail

READING (ODT, 23.10.18) the writeup on the proposed cycle track from Clyde to Cromwell is to go ahead, with interested parties to tender.

Why build it on the west side anyway, when it could be built alongside the main road up the gorge.

It would then be only a fraction of the cost and all reasonably easy going, with one underpass already constructed.

I am not against cycle tracks, but can’t see the point of all the millions of dollars being spent on a project that will never in a lifetime pay for itself, and be just another burden on ratepayers for maintenance.

The people who dream up these ideas don’t stop to think that every hospital in the Otago area, plus St John, the Salvation Army and rescue helicopter, all struggle for finance to keep them going and supply a necessary service to the general public.

They say it will bring extra finance into the Queenstown area, with all the people using the cycle track every day.

Where do all these people stay at night, as the area can’t handle what they have now.

The whole idea, while it sounds good for some, is just another moneymaking scheme to fill some bright boys’ pockets with a lot of cash.

John Loudon

Alexandra