In 2007, Tauranga City Council (TCC) thought the main thrust against the Memorial Park/Strand Walkway was coming from residents whose houses fronted it and while not entirely true these residents did have a justifiable complaint because it doesn't take much imagination to work out who will walk the planks at night – hoons and robbers.

Statements made by councillors' at the time showed a complete disregard/arrogance toward TCC ratepayers' funding because elected members didn't appear to grasp that it was the obscene cost, probably in excess of $16million for this bit of fiscal lunacy that was so wrong and unacceptable to TCC ratepayers. This along with the inane $25million museum-on-the-water proposal saw voters throw out and dump most councillors.

Devonport Road, only 50 metres away, has footpaths and cycle options that lead right to The Strand and Matapihi Railbridge, more or less. For an 800metre walkway the 2007 cost was $20 000 per metre and 12 years later that cost will have doubled. Seems there's no RMA consent for this aberration either.

Unfortunately, this type of cuckoo-land thinking is still currently rife in the council palace and should be dealt to before it becomes compulsory. This and other recent council feedback consultations are a joke.

Regards,

R Paterson, Matapihi