Sustainability should be everyone’s intention
Jacqui Dean disagrees with Waka Kotahi’s objection to the proposed residential development at Parkburn (ODT, 7.8.23). Waka Kotahi is concerned because if this development goes ahead it would increase congestion due to the likelihood of the residents of those 500 sections relying heavily on private vehicles to travel to towns like Cromwell for the services they need.
I tend to be wary of Waka Kotahi because it focuses primarily on motorised transport, but in this instance it is taking a sensible long-term view.
The only form of regular daily public transport in Oamaru and Wānaka are Intercity buses once or twice a day. I prefer to live as sustainably as I can, and have never owned a car. I use active transport: I cycle, walk or use public transport if travelling further afield.
Very few people I know don’t have a car, and if developments like Parkburn go ahead this trend will continue. People need housing, but in order for communities to thrive the places where we live must be safe to access on foot or by bike.
Towns as sizable as Oamaru and Wānaka should have public transport serving the local area. Those planning new residential developments need to consider the health of the planet, and to choose locations carefully in order to improve the health of our current population and of future generations.
Wild about wood
Regarding your article (5.8.23) on pine felling. The information released to me via an OIA request from DOC (the contract is between DOC and the contractor) in part covered the "Statement of Work" which was issued to the felling contractor.
It said in plain black and white, and I quote "All logs, branches, and any other tree debris to be taken off site", and "stumps should be trimmed to remove scarf and all excessive broken hinge wood, leaving clean stump edges". Also "ground disturbance to be levelled off to a flat surface".
Irrespective of what David Scoones said in your article, none of those contract requirements have been completed. The contractor has long gone, along with our taxpayer/rates dollars. It’s obvious that the PR spin does not want to acknowledge the short comings, rather talk up rocks, pipes and lizards.
To suggest that the contract failures can be rectified with "working bees", is just ludicrous.
Apart from the up to half meter deep slash, there are shards of splinter wood left all over the 15ha reserve, not to mention trip hazards every where. What’s happened to the "duty of care" in our public place?
This is a recreation reserve, where the majority of the trails are buried, and now impossible to walk like before, let alone mountain bike. For those that visit Alexandra from the South, look at the mess left behind along side SH8. Not a good look.
Taieri MP apologises for ill-advised haste
In the ODT (31.7.23) there was a very good photograph of the opening of the new Beaumont traffic bridge. When I was walking (shuffling) over this same bridge just after noon it was so crowded that it was impossible to walk freely. I would think that there were a lot more than 1500 people attending. Also, I noticed that a van with the local MP Ingrid Leary’s name on it.
This vehicle seen queue jumping at more than the temporary speed limit (30kmh), passing a long line of other vehicles waiting to go over the old bridge. At the same time vehicles going both ways were still being ushered through in a controlled manner. I had seen this same vehicle parked up in Lawrence less than an hour before. Not really a good look for someone who should know better.
Ingrid Leary replies: While I was actually driving very carefully and was extremely aware of other traffic, I 100% accept it was an unwise thing to do. Everyone is busy and being late for an appointment is no excuse.
It was a spur of the moment thing and I am kicking myself. I apologise unreservedly to those I offended. It won’t happen again.
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