My wife and I attended an interesting meeting of council candidates at Papamoa on 23 September. This was well organised and run by the Papamoa Progressive Association.
The specific question was asked 'What was being done about the 'tsunami danger”, escape routes and warning systems for the Mount and Papamoa residents”. The current councillors when answering, in my opinion shot themselves in the foot more than once and their answers made me shudder. The problem was more or less brushed aside. The one answer that a plan was being prepared and would be available mid 2011 did not appear to go down well . Wayne Moultrie said that everyone should plan their own escape route, which is right but is only about 50% of the solution.
The other 50% is having sufficient and suitable escape routes available, which the Mount and Papamoa do not have at the moment. Mayor Crosby effectively said 'If you want additional escape routes (roads) you will have to pay for them”. This problem does not appear to have the necessary high priority with Council. One audience member commented that the same matter had been brought up nine years ago at a prelection meeting and the problem has still not been solved.
My view is that as there is the possibility of thousands of residents along the coastal strip losing their lives this problem must be given a much higher priority than the current 'nice to have” costly projects. This is a 'must have” requirement. However the current mayor and councillors do not seem to see it this way.
I wonder who they will blame when (not if) a disaster of this magnitude does occur and thousands of lives are lost. (abridged)
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach.