Letters to the Editor

Thank you Mercury Bay

Thank you to all of the Thames-Coromandel District voters of the Mercury Bay Ward, who voted me onto the new Mercury Bay Ward Community Board in the recent Local Government elections. I look forward to being of service to you.

Firstly though, I am hoping to find the lady who left a message on my answerphone, 020 4069 5016, as she didn't manage to leave her phone number before the answerphone cut her off and unfortunately, her number came up as Private on the caller ID. If you see this letter, thank you for voting for me and please feel free to ring me back, leaving your phone number first, just in case you get cut short again. I am very interested to hear your concerns face to face.

Kindly, Caroline Hobman

Repairing Pot Holes -accomplishing a civil engineering feat!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to NZTA or “Waka Kotahi” on their new “PB” (personal best)in repairing the potholes at the junction of Marlin Road and Buffalo Beach Road. With latest attempt, the repairs have lasted well over two months which must be a departmental record. It certainly tightens the grip on the “Incompetence Cup” and in the face of fierce competition, they could even be outright winners and keep the trophy. 

I acknowledge that NZTA has had a lot of practice at this particular corner, but this is the longest any previous repair has lasted. Although I would have to say, the last attempt of skilfully placing a road cone in the biggest hole, doesn’t really count. 

I admit I am not a engineer, but I think a permanent fix wouldn’t be too difficult. After all, the area stretches about ten metres and it is only on the left hand side of the road. I’m sure it would take merely, four trucks, a digger, a dozen or so men, three traffic controllers, an engineer, two consultants, several safety officials, a few signs and a couple of hundred cones and it could done in under a month. Even after paying for a resource consent and an expensive traffic plan, it shouldn’t come to much over a million bucks. But even then, that’s only taxpayer dollars and not real money. 

Alternatively, there is a bloke living nearby who has his own wheelbarrow, a shovel and a spare ten minutes. I believe he is prepared to fill in the potholes. No charge. 

Wayne Hill

Whitianga