Suzanne Williams

I AM responding to Vern Scheffer’s letter on the lovely roundabouts. The staff certainly excel themselves working on these; in fact they change the plantings too soon, in my opinion – I think how nice the discarded ones would look in my poor garden.

However, I took some of my visiting family to the “flagship” Whakatāne Gardens last summer – what a disappointment.

Apart from the border along the walkway to town, the gardens were really sad. There were a few nice roses, but the bulk of them were white and boring.  

The raised gardens with mixed perennials were untidy (it looks as if there might have been an attempt to have a herb garden there, because I saw a few chives, rosemary and thyme, but long since abandoned to chaos).  

It would be nice to have the roses tagged as to varieties, too, as most civic rose gardens are.

The only notice I saw was a large “Do not pick the flowers”.

The overgrown area under the huge, beautiful trees near the parking lot were the worst – a  few large perennials, many weeds and large areas of bare soil.  

Then I walked around the Japanese Garden – not too bad, apart from the sign explaining the – what?  

There was a bold notice on the board telling us that it was being worked on.  

I had put in a “request for service” to the council on this subject when I arrived in the town six years ago.  

This also included a sign explaining the sacred? “Paru Source” on the Warren Cole Walkway near New World, which was, and still is, totally unintelligible.  

Six years – where is the town’s pride?  Were these shameful shortcomings hidden from the “Top Town” delegation?

Perhaps the 10-year mark may see a repair of these potentially interesting tourist information notices.  

Or is the town trying for some sort of record for lack of self-respect and interest in citizens’ concerns?

What do the council staff, (to whom we have apparently just added another 32) do, apart from working around the CBD?

Further to my letter of Wednesday last on manners:  

Those of us who went to the trouble of speaking to our submissions to the council’s long-term plan are waiting for an acknowledgement and hopefully a comment on these, which were heartfelt and important to us.  

Another example of bad manners.  

I believe the regional council sent out thanks for responses to plans.