Letters to the editor: Good luck squeezing cars off Cameron Rd

A letter writer says: Good luck Tauranga council as you try to squeeze our cars off Cameron Rd. Photo / NZME

As huge empty buses clog up our streets for this geographically-challenged environment, it has got me thinking.

I love my car, and I am far from alone.

One of the finest inventions this century has to be the invention of the motor car. The finest invention because it gave people the freedom that would change lives.

To begin with, only the very wealthy could afford to buy, and the rest continued with horse and buggy or trains.

But as the price of cars came down and society was able to buy from other countries, we have found nearly everyone today can own a car. It can be a huge status symbol or just a means for a family that can suddenly find they can travel together distances that were out of the question years ago, and at an affordable price.

Think of the young people who love to work on old cars, which gives them the freedom to get to work, sport, family and holiday. Regardless of what people may say, our cars have changed our lives for the better. Good luck Tauranga council as you try to squeeze our cars off Cameron Rd.

Margaret Murray-Benge
Bethlehem

Thanks for managing the traffic

This past weekend, the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre was fortunate to host both the Te Haka a Toi (secondary schools) and Tawharautia Mataatua Kapa Haka events.

What an amazing crowd of people who attended of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to support and partake in such a unique community event.

Unfortunately, an event of this size in the central city does create some traffic congestion.

A big thank you to the residents of 11th Avenue, the businesses, the public and the locals who were very gracious and patient during this time.

Thank you also to the staff at TCC and to the Tauranga Māori Wardens who assisted in traffic management.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

Kelly Kuka
Community Venues Manager
Bay Venues Ltd

Enough is enough

The critics of the cost for Memorial Park pool (Letters, July 14) are justified. Yes, Linwood /Christchurch are in the process of completing a new pool complex for $22 million due to open on schedule and within budget, it seems on October 1, 2021.

It is a full-depth eight-lane 25-metre pool with a splash pool, family spa, learn to swim pool and toddlers water deck. Multi-use with community facilities meeting rooms and cafe.

Yes, it is only 25 metres and would be of no use to us as we already made that inane mistake with Baywave and a 50-metre full-depth pool could, in my view, cost 30 per cent more for say $30m - but it ain't $54m.

Let's also look at the Invercargill (Splash Palace Southland Aquatic Centre) pool built at much the same time as Baywave and one of the top pools in the country.

It can be split in half with baffles, has a family spa and sauna. It also has springboard diving facilities, learners' pools and excellent public viewing the whole length of the pool. Far better, in my view, than Baywave.

I question how much longer are Tauranga citizens going to put up with this nonsense.

Speak out and demand quality and "bang for buck" projects completed on time and within budget. Enough is enough of the fiscal madness, just get it right.

(Abridged)

S Paterson
Ohauiti

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:

• Letters should not exceed 200 words.

• They should be opinion based on facts or current events.

• If possible, please email.

• No noms-de-plume.

• Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.

• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.

• Local letter writers given preference.

• Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.

• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor's discretion.

• The Editor's decision on publication is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz