South Dunedin a better site for new hospital

IN reply to Dejan Mandich’s wonderful letter in the ODT (25.5.18) he is correct. Building a new hospital directly between two major motorways would be nothing but a nightmare.

People would get killed crossing the road and the traffic accidents, doubtless, would be horrific.

However, the correspondent’s suggestion of Wakari Hospital as an alternative does not consider the heart attacks lots of us would have daily in trying to reach it — let alone what to do in freezing conditions on steep roads.

And building by the bus depot might spoil the Oval’s playing fields.

So why not try the Railway Workshops of South Dunedin — try turning Carisbrook, ‘‘The House of Pain’’, into the Hospital of Healing.

Carisbrook is ‘‘sacred turf’’ known around the world for cricket and rugby and rock concerts. It is 10 times the size of the Cadbury site and is totally unutilised.

It is also a sun trap with no surrounding hills — I know this because I live nextdoor.

The streets have no traffic problems. The soil is good and it is flat, which is good for old people.

I’m sure those at the medical school could catch a bus easily.

Anthony Skegg

South Dunedin

Councillor contributions

LIKE a lot of Dunedin ratepayers, I’m concerned by the current council’s plans to finance ‘‘cityenhancing’’ projects by progressive annual rate increases.

However, I might feel more supportive if the current batch of councillors made private contributions over and above their rates contributions, let’s say based on a dollarfordollar system.

Enthusiasm is all very well, but hard cash makes for a convincing argument. So the $20 million bridge gets $10 million from ratepayers, and $10 million from pockets of councillors.

Sound like a good idea? I thought so. I. Williams

Dunedin