Let’s see the sums behind Eskdale bike hub claims

In reply to Lance Simon’s letter re the HBMBC developing a bike hub at Eskdale Park, is he aware that HDC has granted consent for the club to develop land off the Waipunga Road?

The club has consent to develop 200 car parks, and install a bike repair and bike hire shop , as well as a coffee shop on that land. Access through to the well-established bike track is possible from here.

There is absolutely no need for the HBMBC to disturb the current peaceful and easily accessible Eskdale Park. For those that are disabled or confined to a wheelchair this park is invaluable. Their vehicle can be driven right up to the spot where they want to enjoy the outdoors with their friends and family. I’m not aware of any other park in Hawke’s Bay where this is possible.

The club has argued that the development of Eskdale Park to incorporate a bike hub will be of increased financial benefit to the region through increased tourism and new jobs. I invite the club to make public how they arrived at this conclusion.

I do not support the HBMBC proposal to install a bike hub in a public park. They have the option of installing the hub on land off Waipunga Road. Obviously this will cost the club money to develop it but I don’t believe the burden of developing it on public land should fall on the ratepayers.

Nina Andersen

Napier

Don’t forget Wahine

The April 10 Hawke’s Bay Today forgot one of New Zealand’s worse maritime disasters.

In the first insert of “This Day in History” you wrote that the Titanic left Southampton on its ill-fated journey to disaster.

Well our own beloved Lyttelton – Wellington ferry the Wahine sank in Wellington’s harbour after striking

Barrett’s Reef in a stormy morning on the same date in 1968, with the loss of 51 passengers amid a gigantic effort by small boats and Coastguard.

There are many survivors and families still around to mourn this tragic day. I myself sailed past the partly exposed sunken wreck on board the Rangitoto in September of that same year, as recovery took months to complete.

Jimmy Anderson

Greenmeadows

Count your blessings

What is it with this country of moaners?

Just be thankful that you live in God’s Own, with what’s going on in the world.

Businesses are moaning about the lack of customers, orchardists about the lack of pickers, landlords are charging an arm and a leg for rent.

Whose fault is it? Not the Government’s – get your thinking caps on and find solutions, ie subsidised travel. Gone are the days when you could travel by train from Napier to Dunedin and beyond.

(It is now cheaper to go to Australia, and England, than see our own country).

Cut down motel/hotel and rent prices for Kiwis, some income is better than none. Orchardists — provide transport for pickers plus take on part-timers.

There are plenty of people with children at school who would like to earn a bit of extra money , plus people like me in their 70s who cannot climb ladders but could work part-time. I applied for orchard work, when they had their expo in Hastings, but they wanted me to work 6 days a week from 7am to 7 pm and to provide my own transport. It is this type of thinking that gets nothing done, so it is easier to moan than provide solutions.

(abridged)