Editorial: Frustration reaching boiling point on mill noise

Lumbercube Mill.

When do you make the call that enough is enough?

It's fair to say tensions are running pretty high out eastside at the moment as the saga of the Lumbercube mill noise debate goes on, and on, without any real solution.

For those who don't live in the area, it's probably pretty easy to ignore what is happening.

Not so for residents. And now, as reported in Saturday's Rotorua Daily Post, Lynmore School principal Lorraine Taylor has come out saying that the noise is impacting on learning as students and teachers suffer the effects of sleepless nights.

At the same time, a resident has expressed his concerns "someone will get killed" because people are so tired.

Strong words perhaps - certainly the strongest so far - but sleep deprivation is a powerful thing and if residents are having their sleep affected night after night then perhaps it's not such a long bow to draw.

There's no need to rehash the arguments - those in support of the mill will argue the mill was there first (by way of Tachikawa operating on the site for many years) and that they are working within the limits of the consent.

Those against argue the noise is completely different and nobody should be kept up by the crashes and thuds.

As a Lynmore resident I can't help but sympathise with those who are suffering. We're in the lucky position that while we hear the noise at night (and it's fair to say aren't completely happy with it) we haven't yet been kept awake or woken by it.

But when the school principal comes out and says it's affecting children's learning then we need to take it seriously.

Like many others out there, I don't want to see the mill closed for good. It's great to see it creating jobs and employing locals.

But I do think those in the area have a fundamental right to a decent night's sleep.

I'm passionate about the community. I grew up there and chose to move back to raise my children there.

Many of the residents are growing more frustrated by the day. It's starting to turn personal, and nobody wants to see it heading that way.

It's time that something is done so the community feel like they are being listened to.