Commuter parking in suburbs a scourge | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

Your letters to The Aucklander

Pay? No Way (October 27) raised a few points. Commuters parking in residential suburbs are a scourge. Roads are primarily for vehicles, not for prolonged parking. Those who bought property in areas such as St Marys would have been aware of the parking problem beforehand.

Clearly residents have a problem but the suggested $70 yearly or 20c a day for owners of million-dollar properties is not unreasonable to allow administration of the proposed parking scheme.

Parking for residents should be limited to two cars only, and tradesmen working in the area should be free.

St Marys College should sort out their parking problem for staff. School pupils can walk in rather than travel in the usual "Ponsonby Tractor". Also, parking outside the school is occupied all day by school buses. Parking for anyone else should be limited to two hours and strictly policed.
- Michael Baylis, Ponsonby

Property Valuations - Fair or Flawed? (theaucklander.co.nz article)
The key word here is "might".You cannot assess a value by what a property might bring. You can only assess by the amount "like" or what similar properties in the area have sold for in the immediate area within a certain time frame.

This process is flawed because of the word might.
- Gary Strath

Bikers Making Tracks (November 3)
The Heart Foundation believes the development of more local recreation areas are key to New Zealand becoming a healthier nation and supports initiatives like the proposed mountain bike track on Hamlins Hill, in Penrose.

Assuming the historic features and native flora can be protected and preserved, the development of a mountain biking track, approved by local iwi and the Historic Places Trust, would enable local residents to utilise a valuable resource.

In New Zealand, only half (50.5 per cent) of adults are regularly physically active. This high level of physical inactivity within our population is a contributor to lifestyle-related illnesses such as heart disease and stroke, currently the biggest killers of our people. Development of sites within urban areas, such as a Hamlins Hill mountain bike track, would give more people a chance to be physically active.

With motivated and organised groups such as the Auckland Mountain Bike Club and Underground Trailblazers willing to contribute to the project, a mountain bike track could be established with relatively low cost and inconvenience to the Auckland Council.

The Council has the opportunity to not only provide an invaluable recreational space but to foster local interest in a site which has important historical and cultural significance to the region.

- Ashleigh Cussen, Heart HealthAdvocate, Heart Foundation

Bring it on ... whatever it is (October 27)
I agree Auckland needs another big event, but it also needs a decent transport system. The issues on the first night were patched up for the rest of the tournament but every day there are train debacles, buses running late or not arriving, not to mention the nose-to-tail chaos on the roads.

Yes, have an event, but let's work first on making it easier for people to travel across this city.

Trains, tunnels, bike tracks, efficient buses - bring that on!
- Suz Smith

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