Not so super

THE letter from Barry Southon (Times, September 19) defending Len Brown and Auckland Council deserves some response.

Firstly, check your rates bill, Barry. I’m sure you’ll find the actual increase is more than 3.94 per cent. The transitional rate for 2011/2012 has increased 3.94 per cent, but this is GST exclusive.

The wastewater charge is a uniform increase across the region of 4.5 per cent in rates from the 2010/11 rating year and is GST exclusive also.

My total rates bill has gone up over five per cent from last year.

You also say we are all one city, not smaller, self-interested groups. Is this a good thing? I, for one, am not really interested in what is going on in Kumeu, or Glenbrook, but I am interested in my own area. It might sound selfish, but true for most people, I think.

While on that subject, why should the good people of somewhere like Glenbrook pay more to Auckland to improve Auckland transport, waterfront and roads?

In local government bigger is not better. We lobbied for years to have an East Auckland separated from Manukau City.

I still feel this is the way to go. You do say amalgamation was “forced on us”, which is something we agree on. That was a disgrace. If ever a referendum was called for it was on the not-so-super-city idea.

John Graham, Howick

Appropriate site

I HAVE read the letters from people who describe those who oppose the proposed Thurston College as heartless, uncaring and not prepared to give the pupils a chance.

It’s interesting none of them appear to live in the near vicinity of the college, or mention if they have children attending the adjoining schools. I doubt whether they’ve read in depth the information on website www.stopthurstonplacecollege.com. Clearly there is absolutely no opposition to the target group of children being given the educational help and care they need in a specially designed and staffed facility.

However, more than 2000 local residents and caring parents of children attending Pigeon Mountain Primary and Bucklands Beach Intermediate do not believe the facility should be placed on the pocket handkerchief site at the end of Thurston Place.

More appropriate sites abound in South-East Auckland, where playing fields and workshops could be provided to teach these children life skills and self-worth, as opposed to force-feeding them subjects for which they will have little use or interest.

A quick look on Google Maps shows there’s no room for a footy field or basketball courts, as well as a facility to house 100 students of varying ages.

Some more effort from the Ministry of Education to find a more appropriate site will make everybody happy.

Murray Ralls, Half Moon Bay