We have lost two-and-a-half years' work of the Northern Link roading project being undertaken because the announcement by this government is the same as the Northern Link ready to go to tender under the previous government. Tragic really.

For two-and-a-half years Omokoroa has continued growing and people are petrified getting onto SH2 alive; we have protested, lobbied with anyone from Wellington who would listen; leaders and lobbyists have flown to Wellington to beg for action from Ministers; we have endured economic hardship because the road is unfit for purpose; we have endured queues and crawling at nearly all times of the day---bumper to bumper driving conditions; and worse still too many people have died, and now we discover the proposal is just the same as the original proposal, two-and-a-half years late.

Was this the plan of the government all along to hold the decision so it could be part of a lolly scramble for September 19?

It's time for our central government politicians to front and tell us that they will get planning done for the Katikati bypass; that they will ensure that the narrow bridges will be widened as part of this programme being undertaken at the present time. We want honesty and answers for this growing economically successful region.

M Murray-Benge, Bethlehem.