The $1.2 Million Steps

Thanks to our friends over at the Tax Payers Union we’ve become aware of a plan for the NPDC to build a set of steps and a ramp at Fitzroy Beach for $1.2M.
The article tells us this was in the Long Term Plan. Did any of our supporters notice it there ?
Mayor Holdem is quoted as saying “safety with prams, bikes, wheelchairs and mobility scooters is an issue with a narrow 2 lane road” down to the carpark.
It is being suggested mums are taking their prams down the hill for the kids to use the pool – then they are pushing the pram back up the hill ? That’s an epic walk back up that hill when there is a great carpark right by the pool. We’re not sure how many parents are actually pushing prams up and down that hill.
We did a Roving Reporter trip out to the steps in question. Mobility access is very important but we had a simple idea of how mobility access could be promoted to a nice flat access to the walkway.
If you turn into Beach Road – with the offending steep steps at the end – halfway along Beach Road meets McLean Street.
How about on that intersection signage is put up to turn left for safe Mobility access to a lovely flat beach – East End Beach at Strandon.
Travel down McLean Street and where it meets Nobs Line, put in more signage to turn right - straight down to East End Beach. Nice and flat and so easy to access.
Fitzroy Beach is also accessible from Strandon along the nice flat walkway.
Is there a reason the NPDC needs to find a really expensive way of doing projects ? Do we believe this project would come in at $1.2M or will it blow out ?
And the NPDC seem to love combining a project in New Plymouth with Government money. They don’t seem to understand that is just using our tax money without asking us about that first either.
P.S Come back in a few days when we will have a story about how well the NPDC are doing at managing their budgets – it ties in really well with this article.