Letters to the editor: At least make the lakefront boardwalk safe

Rotorua's lakefront re-development. Photo / NZME

Your front-page article of July 27) is about a toddler on a trike falling off the new boardwalk into the lake.

A witness says once submerged the child could not be seen.

Some years ago, I was at a swimming hole and saw a small girl go under without re-emerging. I still wonder what would have happened if I had not seen it happen because once under, she was invisible.

The Rotorua Lakes Council says the boardwalk meets all health and safety standards.

In my opinion, this is another way of saying all care and no responsibility.

All bodies of water on private land have to be made childproof with the use of fences.

I am no fan of spending $20m of ratepayer money on this edifice.
At least make it safe.

Lesley Haddon
Rotorua

Are there two sets of rules?

I am sure there were lots of people not surprised by the headlines in today's Daily Post (July 27).

It is surprising that after the expense involved in getting this project off the ground no one gave a thought on how to stop visitors to the Lakefront from falling in the water.

We are assured that the boardwalk meets all health and safety regulations. Perhaps the council could tell us which set of regulations - obviously none relating to fencing off bodies of water that children are likely to access.

When one considers the rules laid for residents who have pools - the fencing, securing and safety requirements which have to be adhered to - one has to wonder if there is one rule for residents and another set of lesser rules for the council.

Mike Long
Lynmore

Do something about the lakefront

Ever since the design of the lakefront boardwalk was made public, I and others have questioned its safety both via the media and directly to the council, to be assured repeatedly that it met health and safety requirements.

How could anyone have thought that a low ledge could be an adequate barrier to an unplanned swim?

It was proved that it is not late morning July 25, only days after its well-publicised official opening. A well-supervised youngster riding a small bike accidentally clipped the low barrier ledge and tumbled into the lake.

Thankfully a quick-thinking man jumped in to rescue the child.

Thank you, to the man whose name I don't know.

I think there's mud and weed on the council.

Do something about it - immediately. And explain to the public why.

Paddi Hodgkiss
Rotorua

Two-lane Tarawera Rd entry not good road planning?

At last, driving from town to Tarawera Rd on Monday, July 26, I was able to try out the intersection with its new lights. I spotted two right-turn lanes and decided to take the left hand one, as I planned to turn off into Neil Hunt Park.

But - and a big but - just around the corner I was confronted with a row of vehicles angle-parked outside the business premises.

The left lane had vanished and traffic had to merge.

Traffic was light and I had no problems in merging.

I guess most drivers will use just the right lane, bad luck for anyone using the left one in peak-traffic times.

But if two long queues of traffic happen to turn into Tarawera Rd, I foresee problems as drivers attempt to merge.

Traffic will slow and some unfortunates will find themselves stranded in the middle of the intersection.

Okay, you are not supposed to enter an intersection unless the way out is clear, but how many people follow that rule?

Many Rotorua drivers display no courtesy at merge points - just watch the fun at the northern end of Fairy Springs Rd and in Ranolf St just around the corner from Lake Rd.

The two-lane entry into Tarawera Rd does not to me seem to be very good road planning.

Ronald Mayes
Rotorua

Stop pussyfooting around

Dare I suggest that anyone committing any crime while in possession of a firearm or illegal weapon receive a mandatory life sentence?

This has worked so well in Singapore though, there, the punishment is capital.

We need to stop pussyfooting around with soft sentences, look at what works overseas and start getting our country into the egalitarian balance it needs to be for everyone's sake.

Richard Kean
Ngongotāhā

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