Alexander (Sandy) Milne

I was mightily encouraged when I read your lead letter in the Beacon of December 4.

Jacki Thomson's critical comments on the approaching boat harbour (ratepayer-subsidised luxury marina) scheme were faultless.  

Only two days later, we learned via the Beacon that the marina project was to be scaled down. This was revealed by the project manager at a public meeting.  The snag is that the project may not survive the major hiccup of project bosses having yet to find a place to dump the toxic waste. Nor should they.

I will be surprised if that problem gets traction if we in Whakatāne give honest neighbourly advice to those at the hoped-for dump site, so they are fully informed of the risks the poisons present.  

Think about it. How would residents of Whakatāne react if, for example, a Tauranga group wanted to dump their toxic waste on our patch?  

The December 6 Beacon featured another good article by Dianne McCarthy; this one on the outrage expressed by Te Teko residents at the apparent attempt to ram through a plan to dump the Te Rahui Herenga Waka Boat Harbour toxic waste on land in Tahuna Road.  

Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa chairman, Councillor Tu O'Brien's anger at the idea of land in his area being used as a dump site is understandable, and his actions commendable. Rangitira Mr O'Brien's concerns should be respected by us all on this issue.

I note that the volume of contaminated (dangerous) waste to be "relocated" (dumped elsewhere) is now estimated to be only 100,000 cubic metres.  That could require more than 12,000 return truck journeys for waste disposal alone.  That would also mean more pollution and more traffic congestion and undoubtedly more cost since Te Teko is just around the corner; it is 22 kilometres away. (12,000 X 44 = 528,000km – that will burn around 150,000 litres of diesel).
Trucks with replacement fill for the marina design will add to the diesel-related pollution.

I am not surprised past and current district councillors allowed this boat harbour scheme to get off the ground; they have an unfortunate history of mismanaging Whakatāne river issues, and not listening to advice from local experts.

In the case of the boat harbour, the fact that earlier checks on the extent and concentration of toxins were totally inadequate is surely an indication this project has been badly scoped, managed and audited.  Councillors failed to apply the due diligence expected when dealing with a serious public health matter.  Did they consult retired Whakatane Board Mills dump truck drivers, or former members of SWAP (Sawmill Workers Against Poisons)? Or our Medical Officer of Health?

Mayor Dr Victor Luca is an expert in handling and disposal of dangerous chemicals. Did he alert councillors?

I call on our mayor and council to pull the plug on this scheme right away, and councillors to spend our rates and taxes more wisely for a change.

It took six years of lobbying council before the council saw the light and agreed The Heads kiddies' pool structure should be demolished and replaced with safe steps leading to the riverbank. I organised/paid for faecal bug count testing on the pool children were playing in and advised the council of the danger. They failed to act.  In comparison, last week Auckland City Council closed 30 beaches because of faecal contamination of the water. Their lab results were no worse than ours.

As that is how the council handled the minor kiddies' pool issue at such great cost to us all, I have no confidence they will represent us more wisely with bigger schemes.