Alexander (Sandy) Milne

I was not impressed by Mayor Nandor Tanczos’ waffly response to my Beacon letter of December 12 regarding the location and cost of public toilets, and the over-the-top design of raised pedestrian crossings.

I hope that in future, both of our local bodies would follow the example of the Northland Regional Council, which on Monday made public a proposed rates freeze for the 2026/2027 financial year.

(I remind readers of the front-page warning in the October 15 Beacon, “Nice to haves” contender takes the lead; “Rates are going up, says mayor elect”).

I plan to cease my seven years’ watchdog role related to Whakatāne District Council’s frivolous spending now, and refocus on serious healthcare matters.  

I know of other residents who are dealing with the loos issue.

I note that the Mitchell Park toilet remains locked for 95 percent of the time, and I am advised that the Lovelock Street/Pak’n Save facility is, unsurprisingly, little used.  

I invite Mr Tanczos to fill in the gaps in his December 12 response re the cost of raised pedestrian crossings.  He quotes the cost of the most recent raised crossing in Goulstone Road as a mere $60,000.  

If he is referring to the new crossing at Whakatāne High School, I suggest that it is little more than an over-priced speed bump.  

If not, perhaps he could give us all a heads up?  

My information was that the more obvious Whakatāne street crossings cost ratepayers around a quarter of a million dollars each.

Would Mr Tanczos or council chief executive Steve Perdia please let us all know the cost of the crossings at each end of little-used Salonika Street which I’m told are a problem for drivers with trailers?.

I now leave the surveillance of spending by our mayor and councillors in the capable hands of the Whakatāne Action Group and others, especially Beacon reporters and correspondents, and I wish everyone a happy 2026.