Your views: Readers' letters

Flood protection

Jim Ennis (letters, Dec 6), thank you for raising your concerns about possible repair work to the riverbank near the Red Lion Hotel.

Horizons' Lower Whanganui Scheme provides a degree of protection from flooding to some of the communities that adjoin the river through Whanganui. Accordingly, Horizons will only undertake riverbank protection work if a flood protection asset is at risk. This is not the case at this location.

These proposed works will require a consent under our One Plan. It is up to the party wanting to undertake the works, NZTA in this case, given that the slumping has the potential to impact the State Highway, to determine what form the works might take.

Horizons as regulatory authority for the One Plan will assess the potential adverse effects associated with the work, not the wider merits of the work itself. The riverbank erosion at this location would seem to be a particularly difficult issue to address and relates to an important component of Whanganui's infrastructure -- with the steepness of the riverbank and the height of the slump, it would in my opinion be very difficult to address with a rock lining.

RAMON STRONG
Group manager river management
Horizons Regional Council

Wrong direction

WWTP -- This project smells already. The recent full-page communication on this project by the four new councillors shows us that this project is still heading in the wrong direction.

Our council is determined to build a $46 million desludging and pelletising plant at our pristine Airport Rd facility because to back out now will incur million-dollar litigation costs!

The only waste producers that would use this facility are Affco and Tasman Tanning, who have refused to be part of the project. This project is starting to develop a "Pike River" smell, where unqualified Government petty officials refuse to back down, despite the risk to human life.

I believe the real risk is pumping one ton per second of toxic chemicals and dangerous animal wastes several kilometres and under our wide, turbulent Wanganui River.

The logistics of safely conveying this quantity of hazardous material over this route would seriously challenge any engineer. Why not just build the plant in the industrial area at Imlay, where the waste occurs, and pipe the clean residue to the ocean, as happens at present and as the plant owners want to do?

The cost to ratepayers will then only be a few million for litigation and to reinstate our WWTP to handle our wastes.

ROB BUTCHER
Whanganui

Retiring reporter

Councillor David Bennett displays his thoughtful, community-minded side in moving a vote of appreciation for retiring reporter John Maslin.

Over time, I have probably praised David Bennett in these columns as much as I may have had another opinion over a very few actions of his. Well and thoughtfully done, David.

The unanimous support from mayor and councillors to this motion bodes well for a cohesive council (one of my hopes for this council over the next three years). And, of course, I add my appreciation to John Maslin's well-research articles over years. He has been a credit to the Chronicle.

Let's hope the Chronicle's editor can persuade Mr Maslin to write the occasional article. We don't want to lose his wisdom altogether.

STAN HOOD
Aramoho

'Duck soup'

While out in my car, I witnessed a couple of near misses. I was amazed at the "gentlemen" drivers who were cut off as they called out for "duck soup".
My 9-year-old grandson thought they said something else, but I reassured him that they just wanted soup. One was very eager and called loudly several times, "Duck soup, duck soup".
What I didn't understand was why he used only one finger to wave to the other driver.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
PS: I don't like duck soup.

KARYN COLEMAN
Whanganui