Planners block ideas
I wish to support Murray Douglas in his idea of trying to regenerate the eastern end of Heretaunga St by incorporating housing within the first floor of existing buildings within this area.
It is interesting to note that a similar subject was discussed on this morning's national programme. This idea was also mooted in the 1960s but did not proceed because council planners at that time applied their inflexible rules.
If this latest attempt ever gets to council, I hope the current planners are more sympathetic to the notion.
Peter Holland, Hastings
Texas fracking
Further to P. J. Krueger's letter on fracking in Texas (January 24), it was not suggested that fracking in New Zealand, a country whose land mass is the size of a US state, was a good idea.
Krueger took issue with an earlier letter which stated incorrectly that Texas' fracking practice pollutes from the Gulf of Mexico to Fort Worth and causes earthquakes.
These allegations are false or unproven at best. Krueger did not recommend fracking for New Zealand, where the energy demand is only 1.3 per cent that of the US. Texas also has a less sinuous coastline than New Zealand and therefore is less subject to long-term damage from oil spills.
The US must strive for energy independence. Unfortunately Americans, like everyone else, have an increasing demand for energy. Until fusion or other renewable energy sources are safely and economically available, we Americans must develop our country's available energy resources.
We have the unused area to make use of fracking and provide needed jobs.
Judith NewmanNapier/Texas
Dolphins in danger
So the population of the Maui dolphin, the world's rarest, could now be down to fewer than 80 individuals. In this situation, the killing of yet another breeding female last month was a disaster.
What an indictment on a country that prides itself on raising kiwi hatchlings from incubated eggs at a cost of thousands of dollars to ensure species survival.
A pending Department of Conservation report shows that this small intelligent dolphin, unique to New Zealand, is far more critically endangered than kiwi and is facing extinction.
"If something is not done," Forest and Bird advocate Katrina Subedar says, "the dolphins don't have a hope."
What chances do we have of altering the fishing practices that are killing them off? Without public outrage, few.
Since dolphins are mammals, we can't incubate their eggs.
Meanwhile, as the clock ticks to midnight, the potential lifeboat breeding environment of Napier's now disused Marineland goes to waste for want of trial.
Russ Spiller, Napier
Inner-city delusion
I see the Hastings District Council has brought out its begging bowl and is approaching various trusts to raise $394,000 to complete the inner-city "greenspace," and skatepark in St Aubyn St.
The trusts they will approach are mainly charitable trusts and I can't see the trusts handing out money for a failed Hastings council plan.
Weren't we told that the sale of Nelson Park would cover the cost of a greenspace in Hastings, plus the new all-weather athletic track, velodrome and so on?
The new park, of course, looks good. But there is no velodrome and ratepayers will still be footing the bill to keep the pace going for many years to come.
As for the so-called St Aubyn St greenspace and skatepark planned by our dreamers in council, I say wait and see - the place will become, when it is built, a blot on the city centre and a blot on the peace of local residents who live across the road.
Brian Steele, Hastings
