OVER TO YOU

I was astounded to read Herb Spannagl’s letter of March 1 advocating for the mayor’s plan to build housing on the Fitzroy Golf Course. The issue is not that of the concerns of ‘‘a small group of selfish golfers’’ but of the greater good of the public. The amenity of open space is a precious asset (and this applies even if one does not actually walk on the golf course —it is still a vital backdrop creating expansive views.)

To have the walkway and seashore encroached upon by new housing is a severe blow to those who enjoy this park-like part of New Plymouth (and that surely includes everyone who walks or bikes, on the beach, on the walkway, and on the other open space in the area). Housing will benefit the new householders, but at what cost to everyone else?

From what I understand the original donors of much of this land gifted it, with great forethought, as a public amenity. We surely must be very thankful that they did, and we should not let this Council stifle that vision. Nor is New Plymouth’s eastward expansion ‘‘unstoppable’’ as Mr Spannagl says. Development can take placed on other fringes of the city which are far less sensitive open space. Building on this land would be like building on Pukekura Park.

So we should all support its maintenance as open space and willingly pay rates for the purpose; otherwise we fall into the camp of development at all costs, and measure values purely by the dollar.

Mike Spencer

Okato

Hope more will follow Following the February 28 article ‘Companies pull rodeo sponsorship’ I congratulate all those companies who have pulled their sponsorship to rodeos for compassionate reasons and no longer wish to be associated with animal cruelty. I hope there will be more. New Zealand Rodeo and Cowboys association spokesman Michael Laws said rodeo sponsors had been bullied and harassed by animal activists, he obviously is OK with the bullying and harassment of the animals used in his rodeos.

Bullying and harassment of horses and bulls enclosed in the small holding pens consist of poking, repeated kicking, twisting of tails, poking with electric cattle prodders, sitting on their backs and stirring them up before they are pushed into the arena.

Many of these animals are so stressed and frightened they fall injuring themselves in those small spaces, sometimes breaking bones. Such as happened at the Martinborough rodeo several weeks ago. A bucking bull left with a broken leg was staggering in pain for 10 minutes before being dragged out of the ring. Horses are suffering bloodied shoulder blades from the continuous raking of the spurs from the cowboy’s boots. The more they buck the more the spurs rake into that area. Small calves chased by heroes on horseback who than leap to the ground throw the little animal heavily twisting the neck around into a painful position and then hog tying the little legs together. How can this inhumanity to animals be looked upon by many as entertainment? (Abridged) Judy Eva

New Plymouth.

Three obstacles

The NPDC’s proposal to sell half of the Fitzroy Golf Club’s land (to fund flagship projects) faces three major obstacles. The land in question has Reserve Status, so selling it would be illegal, unless permission is given by DOC or Parliament. The Golf Club has a contractual right of lease renewal with the council (in 2023 for another 21-years).

However, technically speaking this would be void if council deem the club doesn’t have a viable future. And can the council refute the allegation, that there’s been an appalling lack of preliminary consultation with key stakeholders, such as the Fitzroy Golf Club, neighbours and iwi before they put the proposal into its public consultation document?

In spite of these concerns, I support the proposal going out for public consultation. We need to find out if there’s a public mandate for the council being innovative, with respect to procuring alternative revenue, apart from spiking rates and increasing their borrowing.

In all probability the sale option will not proceed, especially after further legal advice is sought. And the public says: ‘‘Don’t sell our reserve land and council should eschew getting into risky property development.’’ Mayor Neil Holdom and the NPDC intend doing things differently, and this is commendable. So let’s have the debate and see what the public think.

Bryan Vickery

New Plymouth