Rates rise pain

I agree with Tony Clemow when he states that businesses in the Whangarei Council area are hurting and yet council still plans to go ahead with city centre and new offices whilst raising rates post Covid-19.

Rates should be frozen, rents on council buildings waived or reduced substantially and rates received spent only on essential services and repairs until we are out of level 1 and some normality returns to the business world.

They are open at present but operating at half capacity. We all need to tighten our belts and shop local as much as possible because the tough times are only beginning if we go the way of the last depression.

Private — public partnerships only work to the advantage of the privatesector shareholders.

It has been calculated that 68 years will be the time it takes to build a fourlane highway to Whangarei.

It will be at great expense toll-wise if every section is tolled.

Transmission Gully has come to a halt, we are still waiting for Puhoi to Warkworth after countless years.

Northlanders deserve a decent road and rail service, which will bring tourists into the area in the future and carry freight.

Marie Kaire Ngararatunua