Time to cash in Waipori Fund to keep rates down

THE Waipori Fund’s value has now surpassed $100 million (ODT, 10.2.21), and the Dunedin City Council uses the fund ‘‘as a source of revenue and a source of liquidity, if the need arises’’.

With a rates rise of about 10% being proposed, I suggest that the need has well and truly arisen.

The council should liquidate this asset, and perhaps some other assets, to reduce the burden of skyrocketing annual rates increases on ratepayers.

Former city councillors and the directors of councilowned companies, who neglected expensive but essential infrastructure maintenance by voting to spend many millions of dollars on luxuries like the Dunedin stadium, should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

While it does give me some satisfaction to say ‘‘I told you so’’, it does not alter the fact that I’m still having to pay dearly for their folly along with every other ratepayer and electricity user.

Mark Clark South Dunedin

Timaru’s upside

ON a recent trip to Timaru, we were pleasantly surprised and envious of the parking available in that city’s main street.

In the CBD, parking is restricted to 30 minutes, and on the outer areas of the CBD, extended to 60 minutes — and it is free.

We were able to move to four different parks near shops we wished to visit. Business owners seemed proud that the parking system allowed shoppers easy access to their premises.

Parking attendants patrol their allocated areas on foot and take time to talk to motorists and pedestrians.

The lady we spoke with saw her role as ambassadorial rather than adversarial, a refreshing change from helmetclad motor scooter riders in the Dunedin CBD.

The Dunedin City Council would be well advised to reconsider its attitude to motorists and parking in the CBD to cater for the needs of ratepayers and visitors to the city. Royce Rivers

Mosgiel ..................................

BIBLE READING: The Lord’s spirit make us more and more like our gracious Lord. — 2 Corinthians 3.18.