Re: Tidal stairs. It is beyond belief that Tauranga City Council, which has the compliance and regulatory role of ensuring that private swimming pools are fenced as per the Act are about to spend $3.2 million on building an ‘accident waiting to happen'.

We, the ratepayers know the cost overruns will be excused by councillors and staff.

Any boatie will tell you how slippery concrete gets with marine algae and if you chucked a non-swimmer over the existing embankment on an outgoing tide there would be little chance of survival. People will gather at night in an alcoholic haze, fights will happen and who will be responsible for the injuries or deaths?Not the councillors or staff but the ratepayers who don't see it as a priority. A mini referenda would see this ‘dead in the water'.

MJ Anderson, Pyes Pa.