This letter is in the view of the majority of the people I have spoken to over the last few months about the state of the Tauranga harbour, estuaries and waterways that head into it. They all need a major clean up - dredged, de-silted to a good level. Leave the mangroves alone.
Spend the money on getting rubbish out of the waterways. Stop wasting ratepayers money on roads and streets that don't need attention. Upgrade our parks and reserves facilities – toilets, showers, changing rooms and green areas that need shade.
There should be no parking fees in the CBD and no wardens either.
Do the planned Strand waterfront project ASAP. Promote the Bay as a major tourist spot to view, stay and do all forms of activities which the council should be backing 100%. Lets all remember to be tidy Kiwis. Put the rubbish in the bin, not on the ground or in waterways. We need that clean green image for Tauranga and the greater Bay of Plenty.
A Barnaby, Te Puke.