Much has been made of the opening of Tauranga's new Pyes Pa by-pass road. The total cost of this road was $45 million being shared between NZTA, Grasshopper (have they paid their share?) and TCC whose share is around $12.5 million. This 4.5 km stretch of road was a completely unnecessary spend-up and at around $10,000 per metre. Taxpayers, and TCC ratepayers are entitled to ask why did this ever see the light of day? Politicians clearly believe the bigger the spend-up, the more openings you can attend and the more ‘kudos' and acclaim you will receive. There will be no subdivisions at the top end for many, many years and only traffic going to and from Rotorua (and then only that, using Route K) and The Lakes residents Rotorua bound will find it any use at all. Why have we built this thing? When I drove on it recently to check it out there was no other traffic using the road.

Let's put recent local spend-ups into perspective;
• Route K, $50 million = $10,000 per metre
• Pyes Pa by-pass, $45 million = $10,000 per metre
• Southern Pipeline, $450 million est. =$20,000 per metre (mainly pipes and plant)
• Eastern Arterial, $550 million est. = $27,500 per metre

Now consider the Beijing (China) to Llaso (Tibet) Railway constructed in the last few years at a total cost of NZ$5 billion. The 1,956 km of railway line, was completed over some of the toughest terrain in the world, formidable mountains (up to 16,700 ft. above sea level, average height 13,500 ft with mountain tunnels) unstable permafrost and swampy wetlands, a fragile eco system, minus 45C temperatures), and a 11.7 km bridge all completed one year ahead of schedule. Probably ten times more difficult than anything we encounter locally on predominantly flat BOP land, yet the final cost was only NZ $2,500 per metre – a quarter of our minimum cost.
R Paterson, Matapihi.