Letters: Council regularly inspects walkways

The council says it regularly inspects and maintains walkways and boardwalks. PHOTO/FILE

In response to Mr McCully's letter in your paper (October 27) in which he raised concerns about damaged walkways and platforms around the district, we would like to reassure your readers that council does have an inspection schedule to regularly check walkways and platforms/boardwalks.

Regarding Mr McCully's reference to reporting damaged boards to council on October 24, the broken boards were replaced the following day, along with others further along the walkway.

Wooden structures that are exposed to sulphur do deteriorate faster and the significant increase in rain this year has resulted in more rapid damage than usual.

Council manages about 45km of walkways (not including footpaths or cycleways) in Rotorua and recently started a programme of works to replace boardwalks with raised causeways within the Sanatorium Reserve, to try toreduce issues with treated timber. This will be an ongoing process.

We appreciate Mr McCully's reports to council and urge the public to contact the 24 hour Customer Centre on (07) 348 4199 to report issues to ensure people can safely enjoy Rotorua's outstanding open spaces and active environment.

ROB PITKETHLEY
Sport and Recreation Manager, Rotorua Lakes Council

It's nothing new for us to read that council's Thomas Colle has announced council debt has risen yet again (October 27), along with the usual excuses. Ratepayers will totally agree with him that "the result was disappointing". We should be hardened to this news by now but we're not. Any other business would have gone into liquidation, or a private home face a mortgagee sale, but not council debt. There's no problem with that, the unfortunate ratepayer will come to the party, once again!

Ratepayers could possibly accept this result if at the same time as announcing the increased debt, we were told that the equivalent value of capital expenditure would be cut eg no skatepark, no roundabout sculpture, a halt in refurbishing the council building, but no, glorification must go on.

As councillor Kent said, councils must "operate within their revenue". No excuses. The coat must fit the cloth. Contingency funds should have been included in the budget, as it usually is with us mere ratepayers.

PADDI HODGKISS
Rotorua