Trucks coming down the hill from Tauranga or over the Omanawa Bridge and around the bends from the Kaimais, at state highway speeds and suddenly encountering a roundabout are a potential for even more accidents.
Perching a roundabout on a 5m hill might improve sightlines from the Omanawa Bridge (doubtful) but it would make the other approaches, from Tauranga and Belk Road itself, completely unsighted and more hazardous.
Mr Clarkson has been trying to divert State Highway 29 through his own land behind Tauriko School for his advantage and this appears to be yet another attempt.
Raye CatranTauriko
Street race here?
I see that the Australian V8 Touring cars are looking for another street race venue in NZ after Hamilton has pulled out.
What a great place Tauranga would be to stage such a race. With the backing of the City Council such an event would be a success.
They could erect big spectator stands - oh no - the council's finicky consent process would stop that. Never mind, if you couldn't get to the track then we could watch it on big screens, oh that's right, that didn't work either.
Surely, we could broadcast the race over the tsunami loud speaker warning system, oops, wrong again.
But finally at the end of the race the drivers could soak in a nice piping hot saltwater pool with sunshades and hot showers to finish. Golly, I'm dumb, we used to have that, not any more. On a successful note we could ignore the "technical breach" of the consent process and fly the V8 flag on our city flag pole. Oh well, I'm confident that the go-ahead Rotorua Council will pick the race up. And good on them, too.
Dave DunbarMount Maunganui
Minimum wage
Increasing the minimum wage does not put people out of work or reduce government tax income as a writer recently suggested.
During the last Labour government the minimum wage was increased from $7.55 an hour in 2000 to $12 an hour in 2008 by annual increases.
During the same period the unemployment rate dropped from 6.6 per cent to 4.6 per cent, and economic growth averaged 3 per cent per year. Economic growth increases government tax income.
This is not economic theory. This is what actually happened. These are NZ Treasury figures.
Increasing the minimum wage helps families and helps local business because workers on the minimum wage spend all their money locally. They do not spend money overseas as wealthier people can do with their tax cuts.
Peter DeyTauranga
Transport users
Why is it that the people who decide how public transport moves around the city rarely, if ever, have to use the service themselves.
Perhaps they should put away their cars for a couple of weeks and experience the realities of using the buses to move around the city. I am sure with this insight they would be able to make informed decisions that affect our mode of travel.
The issue of routes 1 and 2, seems to be creating some upset in some quarters, may I suggest that they continue along Golf Rd, left into Beach Rd/ Marine Parade, left into Tay St, right into Ocean Beach Rd, (as it used to be) then left into Salisbury (this last part is a lot safer crossing Maunganui Rd than the suicidal entry from Tweed St).
The return journey could be down Maunganui Rd, hence the bus stops are on the left and few people would have to cross the road. With the frequency of buses I believe this could be a reasonable solution.
I have some years of experience travelling these routes and think that a circular route could be the way to go as all the streets that are encompassed aren't too far away.
D RichardsBethlehem
Brash joke
I suppose we should be grateful to the RWC for not getting too worked up articles featuring our local and aspiring-national politicians. Let's lead off with Mr Brash's contention that we should legalise marijuana because it costs too much to police, therefore, is a waste of taxpayers' money. Such logic I suggest should lead to to the conclusion that all crimes that are committed are indicative that the efforts to enforce their prohibition are also a waste of taxpayers money and they, too, should also be legalised. Surely he jests.
The other article features one of our own: It is mind-boggling that one of our councillors considers that because another member is a Baptist, that member should be required to declare as such when debating an issue affecting a Baptist meeting hall. Hardly a Christian sentiment. Just think what he thinks should happen if the council were to consider putting funds towards a modern Christian Heritage Centre, should only non-Christians be allowed to vote?
The shame, of course, is that our youngsters read these articles.
The potential for political indifference and lack of confidence in our political leaders should be all too evident.
J GordonTauranga
Money for RWC
I find it most interesting that, despite the fact this country, like all the others, is having increased unemployment and we are supposed to be in a recession, that there is no shortage of money to buy expensive Rugby World Cup (RWC) tickets and travel to games and even more puzzling, the many people (extra planes laid on) flying over to Australia to watch a Warriors match. Add to this the after-match boozing, where is all this money coming from? I hope it is not at the expense of their families, especially the children.
Mary BrooksTauranga
Leave Coro alone
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to reply to the idiocy of Jeff Latch and his cohorts.
Fancy changing the viewing time of a quality show like Coronation Street for the rubbishy Master Chef Australia.
And then deciding that the programme will be "edited" to make it more suitable for the children's time slot.
Does he not realise that those discerning viewers who watch Coro Street come from a real cross-section of viewers?
Many of them will be travelling home from work. Others will be preparing meals, or even dining.
For goodness sake, TV1 controllers, leave well enough alone.
I for one will be turning my TV off, rather than watching MCA if this move is forced on us.
Frank J Cammock Te Puke
