Letters to the editor: Unnecessary referendum, glass recycling, TECT cheques

February 27: Cost of a referendum, civic duty to recycle, leaving a legacy.

Referendum cost

I am disgusted, as a Tauranga ratepayer for 30 years, that seven councillors can impose on ratepayers the ridiculous cost of $45,000 for a referendum. May I suggest the simplest way would be: a) Call a public meeting of all ratepayers pro the erection of a museum and the referendum at Baypark Stadium to verify their approval, or b) Give the seven councillors a pad and pencil and advise them to beat their feet around all ratepayers and record their for or against vote in said pad.
MP O'Connor
Mount Maunganui

Illuminating the past

Oh dear. In response to Andy Craw's letter (Letters, February 21) opposing the museum and stating that "a lot don't want it" - it's staggering that you feel there is no place for a museum in this incredible, history-rich city. I wonder what the word museum means to you? Is it really that negative? A museum done well is one of the most iconic, fascinating parts of any town or city. It illuminates our past, celebrates the present, and points to the future. Go on council - get on with it and make it a beauty! I know "a lot" of people who think the same.
Paul Cornwell
Bethlehem

Civic duty

Recycling is not a profit-making enterprise, it is our civic duty to our community, our country, our planet. The council needs to step up and include rubbish collection and recycling as part of our rates-funded services. Farming out our recycling collection and processing to private contractors who, rightfully, expect to make a profit is nonsensical and is why most of it ends up in the tip. Rates-funded recycling and rubbish collection would also significantly reduce the illegal dumping of household rubbish, as well as have the positive environmental impact of not having eight different rubbish trucks up and down every road, every week. We have taken a huge step backwards and now the majority of Tauranga's glass will end up in the rubbish bin.
Laura Mueller
Tauranga

TECT proposal

As a TECT beneficiary, I have read carefully the TECT proposal documents and attended a meeting organised by Trustpower. All of us know our bills from Trustpower are higher than other energy suppliers, which Trustpower confirmed at the meeting I attended. The trustees, supported with competent advice, have carefully looked at the future of the energy industry and decided on a proposal for consultation. It is, in my opinion, inappropriate for Trustpower to confuse the issue by sending out documents which look like the TECT consultation but with a whole range of options that TECT is not consulting on. The proposal is quite simple. You can either agree or not. If you agree and after a binding referendum the High Court does too, you will get your TECT cheque for the next five years plus $2500. If ceasing the cheques after 2022 benefits our communities by around $24 million per annum, I am happy to relinquish personal benefit in favour of a better future for all of us in the Western Bay. With prudent management, TECT will build its investment into a thriving charitable trust able to fund the many social, environmental and charitable needs of our communities. What a legacy to leave our children. (Abridged)
Mary Dillon
Maungatapu