Well before I became a Napier City Councillor, I made the call to link the Napier CBD with Ahuriri using an appropriate public vehicle.
One of the first things I did as a City Councillor was to renew that call and the Council Officers are now investigating that proposition as part of their review of Marineland and other tourism facilities.
Exactly one year ago on this radio station, I again canvassed the idea of a tourist link between the Aquarium and the old Customs House in Ahuriri.
Now Councillor Mark Herbert has embraced the idea but he wants to install a transport system that was all the vogue over 100 years ago.
Well I’ve got to tell you Herbie – I would not want to be the one who had to tell Marine Parade residents that their peace was going to be destroyed as we installed the tracks down an already narrow transport corridor – as we installed the ugly poles that will carry the untidy mess of wires overhead. I would not want to be the one who had to tell the Motelliers along Marine Parade that their ongoing peace was going to be shattered by noisy trams and that the view from their premium rooms would be blighted by the ugly infrastructure required by trams.
And what about at the other end? Hardinge Road would look great with poles and wires everywhere and if we decided to sneak down the bypass there could be major disruption to port traffic.
In my view, a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem makes no sense at all. We need to be thinking about an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sound, energy efficient solution that gives us flexibility. For instance, it may turn out that the service is only viable for 6 months of the year. Nothing could be a sadder look for a city than all the infrastructure that trams require sitting there with no trams running.
So I support Councillor Herbert in his call for a proper link between Napier’s CBD and Ahuriri – I just don’t think that old fashioned trams are the answer.
What next Herbie – are we going to see Vinnie delivering our council papers on a Penny Farthing.
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