How much?!

I could not believe my eyes reading that the council has removed the steps to Back Beach because to repair the damaged last 10 or so metre section to the beach would cost ‘‘at least $150,000’’ (Daily News November 6). I had to carefully count all the noughts to verify this laughable cost estimate.

Adding to this stupidity, the perfectly good hundred or so other steps covering the climb have now been removed (no doubt at eye-watering cost) and replaced with a $7000 viewing platform, which is within a stone’s throw of the lookout/car park that affords much better views of the islands.

As a former Egmont National Park manager who built thousands of steps, staircases and other outdoor infrastructure, I can claim some expertise in this field and can only shake my head.

Herb Spannagl, New Plymouth