At worst it is a serious misuse of hard-earned money that house owners entrusted to the local government to allocate effectively.
Leading the fray for the screen's late erection is Councillor Terry Molloy. I am sure he has done many great things for Tauranga. Now he is saying we have failed miserably in showcasing our city. No we haven't. That blame can be laid at the Rugby World Cup organisers who did not allocate a game to Tauranga.
Local bars have already forked out for their own screens. If some of them are lobbying for a big screen at this late stage then it is they who should get behind it and pay for it as they will benefit commercially.
Most people with friends have made their rugby plans for the final stages. I have watched games at bars in The Strand and there has been a great atmosphere.
The drifters who have no plans might be excited about gathering on the waterfront. As a rate payer I am not excited about funding their party.
They are likely to be youths, drinkers and stragglers. Someone has to police them and someone then has to clean up after them.
There have been accusations of Tauranga having no life and soul. Really? And a wide screen for drunks on the waterfront is going to create one?
Those who bag Tauranga should dig deeper. It is not all about sport. Tauranga is not only one of the most stunningly beautiful New Zealand cities, but has many great things happening in art, fashion, food and music.
Simon Bridges once said that Tauranga will one day compete against great cities like London. That our aim should not just be to be the best city in New Zealand, but in the Southern Hemisphere.
Councillor Molloy says we need to build a city in which our great-grandchildren can thrive. He says we need vision. I agree. But you are not going to find this vision just by staring at men chasing balls on a big screen.
To throw good money after bad decisions now is reckless.
I can't help thinking of local girl Zahnee Campbell whose mum Jade busted her gut raising money for an operation through hard work not hand outs.
Zahnee, and many others in our town, are more deserving of this money than the local sports mob.
Followers of life's ironies will know how it works.
If we spend thousands the All Blacks will crash out on Sunday.
Better not have the screen, and live with the original decision. Then if the big wheels of fate turn like they usually do, the All Blacks will win the World Cup.
Everyone in Tauranga can jump up and down on the screenless waterfront berating Murray Guy.
But when the hangover's over we will have a good deposit left to use in growing this town into a place everyone can be proud of.
