Delay denied

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 663, 19 November 1996, Page 4

Delay denied

• In your report 'Bridge repairs delayed,' Ruapehu Bulletin 12 November 1996, Gerrard Eckard told the Waimarino Community Board: "Winston Oliver has decided to delay work". Before accepting responsibility for materials Mr Oliver sent a fax to the District Council stating that: "Due to our heavy workload (docking, shearing etc) the repair work would be done at our next possible convenience. Unlike the Council some of our work cannot be put off until the next month or year! If Mr Eckard was doing his job correctly he would at least have had the courtesy to contact Mr Oliver before wasting Community Board members' time. If he had done so he would have found that not all materials being supplied by council have been delivered yet and also that work had already commenced two weeks prior to his report to the board. Mr Eckard then goes on to say: "Pressure of time was placed on council by Mr Oliver". Mr Oliver has been lobbying council for nearly five years over this issue yet Mr Eckard seems concerned over a four-week delay. Maybe a few public relations lessons are required. After all, Mr Oliver is fixing a council-owned bridge.

S and J

Merson