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A matter of charges

The article from Southland District Mayor Gary Tong in Saturday’s Southland Times headed ‘‘It’s unfair we pay for those in the North’’, talking about New Zealand transmission line charges, is a good one and I certainly agree with what he says, on that.

However, in Gary’s own Southland District Council, the ratepayers, for properties owned in Martins Bay, pay the same rates for council roads and rubbish collection, when they have neither, as ratepayers in other parts of the council.

I consider that to be completely unfair too, but Mayor Tong and the Southland District Council do not agree with me on that.

Does this weaken his argument about transmission charges? Neil Wyeth Invercargill

Promoting the south

The new Dee St hotel, initial ground floor construction will cost local drinkers $40 million dollars.

The corporate and sports club visitors are getting cut rates on accommodation and little money is spent in local businesses.

Tourists wanting to spend money are returning to Queenstown, where you can get a decent breakfast, somewhere to shop all year round, lacking in Kiwis, but good friendly service. And the views.

Our hotel’s site is situated on the corner of a tired and worn Dee St, where it has a view of the new developments in Don St, law offices, and the local courts.

How does this promote our area? What does it show of economic growth and wellbeing?

Southland has so much to offer and Invercargill has a workforce, learning institutions, and great lifestyles, activities and sites, all under utilised.

Most people want to see their kids in good jobs and have good lives. They are here for the quality of life but are not getting close. The answer is to leave, taking with them the growth the region needs.

I am not anti-farming but I do see a change in the way we farm and how the consumer chooses to eat. We need to take care with only one option to make money.

Diversity assists greatly in times of change. Why would we put visitors off? Some visitors want the freedoms Kiwis have, including camping.

All the complainers out there would be better at asking visitors what they need and give them basics like toilets, rubbish bins and local knowledge. They are not here to destroy our place.

It could make way for a person to think about options and get started in a business or venture, or meet some interesting people. Debra Ellis Invercargill Abridged, Editor

Surprise, surprise, surprise

What a surprise that the two councillors, who we still don’t know who they are, have now met with the other councillors at a workshop (away from public view) and are in agreement that the Chinese Garden should not be reconsidered.

Interesting to note that the work is already under way and that a delegation from Suqian, our Chinese sister city, are coming to review the progress.

That later point is the truth about why this garden can not be reconsidered because to do so would upset our sister city.

Who would be brave enough to tell the Chinese that we have had a rethink on whether this is a good use of ratepayers funds, given that we built a garden for our Japanese sister city?

Out of curiosity, are the ratepayers of Suqian funding a marae in their city? This sister city development will not attract Chinese tourists, as suggested, just as a local Kiwi going on holiday to China, goes to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and the terracotta artifacts, and not Suqian.

Has anyone, other than councillors, visited Kumagaya, our Japanese sister city in the past 24 years?

I think that in future, it would be wise for councillors to open the process up for public debate and that that debate is focused, on a case-by-case basis, and not hidden in a wider planning process.

That would avoid ongoing dissatisfaction that councillors are out of touch with those who voted them onto council to represent us, ratepayers.

As a final reflection, with the proposal for an inner-city art gallery and possibly a new museum, can someone from council advise whether the council owned Andersons Park could be sold to raise some funding or it held in perpetuity? Nobby Clark (Spokesperson) Invercargill Ratepayers Advocacy Group