I could not really believe what I heard today with reference to the proposed busway between Pakuranga and Botany.
I believe they have already made up their minds as to what is going to happen, I doubt whether public opinion will be given any consideration.
That diversion will only save about 5-8 minutes on the journey between the bridge and Bunnings and will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, to save a trip of about 1 kilometre in traffic which is heavy for about 1 x hour each way only on weekdays.
It will cause enormous disruption and, in my opinion, nobody will want to walk back from their places of employment to the bus station, particularly in the winter months.
And the biggie, dozens of properties will be taken for the project at a time when we are crying out for more homes, and the innocent home owners will receive compensation which will not provide them with enough funds to replace the homes and facilities that they have now.
Councillors and local board members should be demanding that this project be stopped before it is started.
Bob Wichman
Botany
