Letters to the editor: 'Plot has been lost' over 'draconian' speed humps

A reader says speed humps on Kawaha Point Rd are overkill. Photo / Getty Images

The Rotorua Lakes Council by and large does a great job of running our city and I really appreciate its dedication and hard work, so I am reluctantly writing this letter.

But I do believe that the plot has been lost on Kawaha Point Rd with the draconian "traffic calming" speed humps.

A speed limit of 50km/h on this stretch of road was generally agreed to be safe so adding traffic humps which cannot be traversed at a speed higher than 20km/h seems to me to be overkill.

If the problem was some drivers going faster than 50km/h surely a traffic officer or speed camera is a better solution than making life more frustrating for every citizen.

This safety at all costs ideology is getting pretty expensive in the way of general frustration at unnecessary impediments to our freedoms.

If people who feel the same don't start making themselves heard our lives are going to get more frustrating.

David Carman
Rotorua

'Safe as houses' no more

There are fundamental flaws in the Government's tax changes on rentals with non-interest deductibility.

When home loan interest rates increase, rents will increase, less rental stock will be available when owning rentals is unaffordable, which will increase the amount of homeless. It will also increase the dependency on the Government for superannuation and accommodation grants as landlords exit the market, instead of being self-sufficient in their retirement.

There are also changes ahead with a MBIE Building Code revision – with building costs set to rise with the shortage of materials and labour, and some building materials or systems not even available in NZ to meet the required changes.

So, while the Government is promoting new builds as rental investments it is making it more expensive to build. What will the rents be then for the return on an expensive new-build investment? Much higher than a currently fully renovated, second-hand healthy home?

Remember the Labour Government for creating more homeless by creating an even more shortage of housing stock available with their policies.

It is commonly accepted that the Victorian expression "as safe as houses" means "secure; with no risk of failure".

However, with these Government changes it could be destined to fail.

Tracey McLeod
Lake Tarawera

Lights vs roundabouts

Over the years the UK has replaced traffic lights on many roads with roundabouts for the simple reasons of safety, economy, and faster traffic movement.

What does Rotorua do? Put traffic lights where roundabouts should be.

With New Zealanders' almost total disregard for red lights, I would suggest that an ambulance and police car be permanently stationed on Te Ngae Rd.

I fear the accidents there will beat all records.

Jim Adams
Rotorua

Mob no anarchists

I agree with John Williams' opposition to the Mongrel Mob (Letters, June 11).
However, I part company over the assertion that they "...could become an arm of an anarchist movement".

Anarchism is a political theory based on principles of non-hierarchical and voluntarily derived democratic social, political, and economic association.

The mob's anti-social, heavily hierarchical, anti-democratic structure and actions are anathema to anarchism.

Barrie Sargeant
Rotorua

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