Letters: Aquatic Centre needs a revamp, not the skatepark

Rotorua Aquatic Centre. Photo/File

What, if anything, is proposed in the multitude of future plans for Rotorua for the development of the Aquatic Centre?

The existing complex is a rundown, almost neglected facility that is shamefully outdated and obviously underfunded.

The entrance is shabby and uninviting, the changing rooms are bordering on third-world status, paint peeling, showers that are broken, cubicle doors with broken latches and the list could go on.

It has obviously been designed for swimming clubs and aquatic sports and is not a user friendly place for recreational swimmers or passive bathers.

During the school holidays I asked the grandkids if they would like to go to the Aquatic Centre for some fun time. The reply was "Nah. It's a bit stink. We can't have fun there but can you take us to Baywave or the AC baths?" As it turned out the Aquatic Centre was not available during the last school holidays anyway as it was booked out for some swimming event.

Tough luck Rotorua kids unless you can afford the Polynesian Spa or the Blue Baths.

I congratulate the staff who work in this complex and provide a brilliant service under some trying conditions.

I drive past the skate board park every Monday to Friday and over a two-week, day-time period I observed three people using the park. Last Saturday morning there were seven users. I guess this number of users justifies a multimillion-dollar upgrade here.

ERIC SMITH
Rotorua

Submission from RDRR leaves bad taste

The RDRR's submission on the Rotorua Lakes Council's spatial plan reminded me of Friday a couple of weeks back. After getting fish and chips and parking at the Lakefront, I was happily scoffing down my hot chips.

But then, after one bite into my crumbed kahawai, I discovered the middle was raw, inedible and seemingly prepared by someone who didn't know what they were doing.

Despite the well-cooked chips, I was unable to get the lingering terrible taste of uncooked fish that it left behind.

Just like the RDRR's submission, it has a couple good bits, but due to the callous ideological attacks launched on those who beat the RDRR candidates at the last election, it leaves the reader with a bad taste in their mouth.

The submission speaks of the need to allow more intensive housing in the CBD, which is good, with an ageing population and the central government encouraging tertiary education providers to double international students, this type of housing will be in demand.

But the next paragraph talks about the inter-city footprint by saying the council plans to "consolidate the interests of the elite group who largely control the City Revitalisation portfolio".

The way the submission quickly changes from concise and logical presentation of ideas to a baseless, illogical argument filled with spiteful innuendo is astounding.

So just like my fish and chips, this submission won't be remembered for its few good bits, it will be remembered solely by the bad taste it leaves behind.

RYAN GRAY
Rotorua