John Taylor

WHAKATĀNE District Council has been derelict in its duty of care of the environment at the far eastern end of Harbour Road in Ōhope.  

One of issues of concern is the broken decorative pole structures which used to form a pleasant welcoming entrance to the Ōhope isthmus. These have been in this ugly state for several years.  

A galvanised steel sleeve that once housed a pole (of another five) reclines in the verge on the other side of the road. I wonder if this ugliness is ever noticed by any of the council staff as they drive by.

My second beef is the state of the green area on the opposite side of the road to the golf course.  

The grassy area is marred by deep muddy trenches where mud-larking four-wheel vehicles have ploughed deep furrows into the field. During rainy periods, these form trenches which fill with water much to the liking of ducks. It is an ugly feature, and it too has been in this state for several years.

It is shameful that the council has neglected both of these eyesore situations, which could easily be remedied. I suggest rebuilding the pole structure and filling in and re-sowing the ugly trenches. Bollards should be installed to keep  vehicles from entering the area.

Visitors come from around the country and overseas to this harbour location for recreation while others arrive to play golf at the highly rated course.  I am bewildered as to why this neglect has occurred. Yet there are plans to bundle $436,500 into an upgrade of Mitchell Park. That figure seems staggering.  

I wonder who prepares these elaborate designs and the cost analysis for these beautification schemes. Seems to me that ratepayers have to grin and bear decisions that are made while rate demands increase and the loans mount up.

Please get the Ōhope job done before the influx of summer visitors.

Whakatane District Council responds:

WE invite all requests for service, general feedback, or enquiries to be made through Council’s formal channels. You can do this by calling 07 3060500, filling out our online fix it form at www.whakatane.govt.nz/fixit or by emailing [email protected].