Halfway Bush deserves some love from council
I AM proud to live in a suburb that is often maligned as ‘‘a bit rough’’ and on the wrong side of Taieri Rd. Halfway Bush, in particular the Ashmore St side, lies well to the sun, has a workingclass honesty about it and an upandcoming feel to it.
I often walk around the neighbourhood and am deeply saddened and angered by the state of the large park adjacent to Halfway Bush Primary School. It is rarely used and largely wasted. The reason is blatantly obvious — for nine months of the year, it is more urban swamp than park, and completely unusable. You can often see water running out of the park along the paths. Urgent work needs to be done, either extensive drainage or a dynamic project like retiring the worst areas to create an extensive wetland planting. It may as well be subdivided for housing rather than left in this state.
I invite an informed response to this from both the community and the DCC, rather than the standard ‘‘we will look into it’’ rhetoric. Dean Wilson
Halfway Bush
[Dunedin City Council parks and recreation group manager Robert West replies:
‘‘We acknowledge that this ground does get very boggy at times, and particularly so at the moment given a much wetter than usual spring. There are similar issues with drainage at some other reserves and sportsfields across the city. Fixing these issues requires significant investment. Therefore, work is prioritised according to resources available. In respect to the building on the site, the DCC has worked with Plunket to try to identify another user for the building and is also open to suggestions from the community.’’]
Euthanasia
I THINK it is grossly irresponsible of Rev Richard Dawson (ODT, 30.11.18) to imply that what the End of Life Choice Bill proposes is in any respect comparable to the murderous regime implemented in the concentration camps by Hitler and his gang of evil thugs. To attempt to make such a connection by writing about ‘‘mass euthanasia’’, and a ‘‘final solution’’, and a ‘‘concentration camp approach’’ is arrant scaremongering unworthy of publication in a column headed ‘‘Faith and Reason’’.
I invite Mr Dawson to reconsider the main points of his article in the light of section 4 and sections 6 to 18 of the End of Life Choice Bill, which set out who qualifies, and under what safeguards, for assistance in dying, and think again about just how what happened in Nazi Germany might be even remotely possible under the proposed law, and in our New Zealand system.
Alan Roddick
Waverley
St Matthew’s
MARTIN Platt (ODT, 4.12.18) states that Civis speculates a lot in his condemnation of the antigay St Matthew’s. I find that ironic, since anyone who suggests that samesex orientation is by choice can hardly know, unless they are gay themselves — thus are guilty of the same.
If Mr Platt’s ‘‘creator’’ says it is a sin, then he should have not made people gay. Or are gay people supposed to just oppress this desire and not find the joy of love their whole lives because of an old book?
A person does not consciously choose his/her sexuality. People worldwide have that urge for a reason, and it’s not just about the sexual side, but the emotional, love and companionship side as well. Let’s not forget that over 400 species of mammals, also birds, have been commonly found to have homosexual members. However, there’s only one form of mammal that has antigay members drumming up hate and prejudice. So which is unnatural now?
In the dark ages, where such mindsets come from, being lefthanded was also very unnatural. Love is love.
Paul Jeffery
Dunedin ......................................
BIBLE READING:
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. — John 10:10