A selection of letters to the editor. Have your say by clicking the link on this page. Please see letters rules at the bottom of this page.
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I share the concerns of Dave Cumberlidge (The Daily Post, April 11) regarding debris in Rotorua cycle lanes.
I have often reported to council excess debris levels, mainly glass, and have seen zero action or incomplete clearing. The sweeper trucks used are less road sweepers than gutter cleaners that often spread some of the gutter debris across the lefthand margin of the road, often rendering the cycle lane unsuitable for riding.
Good money and effort has been put into creating these lanes but lack of clearing has diminished their worth, wasting the initial outlay.
With regard to the Northern Gateway four-laning, some lefthand margin seems only to have been cleared by rainfall. The northern corner section still hasn't been cleared of excess stones from the sealing process, on both sides of the road.
Also of note, the fog lines are only about 1.2m out from the kerb, narrowing down to 0.8m at the end of the two lanes. A scary place to be when passed by big rigs that fill their lane travelling at 80km/h and close enough to reach out and touch.
The Transit NZ traffic engineering practice guide lists the desirable minimum width for a 70km/h zone as 1.9m. The barriers rule out any escape to the left.
This could be a great city for cycling around - but opportunities for improvement seem to be missed.
KEVIN RIDDLER
Ngongotaha
Rotorua District Council works manager Peter Dine responds:
We understand Mr Riddler's wish for higher levels of road edge sweeping. Increasing these services does, however, come at a cost to ratepayers and needs to be balanced against the council's objectives to minimise rates increases as much as possible. If Mr Riddler believes more should be spent on this service we would encourage him to make a submission on the council's draft Annual Plan, for consideration by the mayor and councillors. Submissions close May 3.
With regards concerns about fog lines etc, we would invite Mr Riddler to provide us with more detailed information on the specific problems and the actual locations he is referring to. This can be emailed to the council at cycling@rdc.govt.nz.
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I was interested in Isaac Broome's idea to introduce the European honey buzzard to New Zealand to control wasps.
I took a look at Wikipedia to learn more about this bird. Isaac Broome is correct in that its primary food source is the larvae of wasps and hornets but I also see it will take small mammals, reptiles and birds.
One has to remember that the stoat was introduced to New Zealand because it was thought that its primary food source was rabbits. I think Isaac Broome's idea needs a bit more work.
PETER McKELLAR
Rotorua
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Regarding John Sax's new vision for Rotorua - having spent considerable time in New Zealand and staying at Treetops, I can only say he is a man of vision and would love to see what he could do with Rotorua.
It has so many natural resources but my friends prefer something a little more, shall we say, "polished". We don't mean to put Rotorua down. The people and place are lovely, but to attract the big spenders it does need to improve.
The great outdoors is the best destination point available, but we're all spoilt and want the best.
Best of luck. Hope your visions for Rotorua become a reality. You truly live in the most beautiful country in the world and your people are gracious and charming.
CAROLIE SWINDLE
Las Vegas, US
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The Fun Runs on Marathon Day Rotorua are quite expensive to be called a Fun Run - chiefly around the Government Gardens.
Fees of $30 and $40 make it difficult for families to participate - $40 and $50 if it's a late entry.
It has become a main athletic event instead of the original promotion as a Fun Run.
The expense of the marathon could be reduced by say $25 if competitors were not compulsorily issued with a T-shirt (fee, $110).
ALAN LORD
Rotorua
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I refer to your front page story April 13 regarding the Rotorua events at risk. Having suffered the sad act of Glen Campbell at the Rotorua Energy Events Stadium, which has all the appeal of the inside of a shipping container and seating more suitable for a Dickensian poor house, I'm not surprised at the lack of enthusiasm for attending future events.
What a surprise no one wanted to see Three Dog Night (how many dogs are left?). They haven't been here for 40 years! Hello, they are only coming here because they are suffering with the recession and think us Kiwis are a soft touch.
How many last world tours is Cliff Richard going to do? The last Mission Concert I attended featured the Four Tops and surprise, surprise there was only one Top and a whole load of sheilas pretending to be the Supremes. Same with the Beach Boys - only Mike Love showed. What next, the Bee Gee?
I suffered the crap seats for Billy Connolly at the Events Centre as he took your mind off the numb-bum.
If they want us to patronise the Events Centre, get some decent seating and acts that don't disappoint. To be quite honest, the shows put on by the Shambles, Casa Blanca and the Bath House are far more fun and enjoyable.
ANDY WATSON
Rotorua
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