Not surprised
Al Weeks, Ōrewa
The recent article on cost overruns on Penlink (HM June 16) must have raised a few eyebrows or even some computer rage. Actually, I don’t think there is any great mystery here. If we look at the numbers, the average cost escalation for a while now has been roughly 10 percent a year to build pretty much anything. I don’t know when the estimate for $400 million came in but let’s just say it takes seven years from ‘hey that’s a great idea – how much?’ to ‘I now declare this road open – snip’. This means that the original $400 million is now roughly $800 million. Add to this cost some fish hooks, these are ‘good grief there’s a big swamp in the middle that we didn’t see’. So, guess what? You have a billion-dollar project, and the only way to reduce this is to cut out the red tape and build it as fast as you can.
Changing faces: Driving Miss Daisy Hibiscus Coast
Dave and Kathryn Tyrrell
Companion driving service Driving Miss Daisy has two new faces at the helm on the Hibiscus Coast, with Dave and Kathryn Tyrrell recently taking over the local region.
After years of IT consultancy for Dave and child-rearing and craft teaching for Kathryn, the Hatfields Beach couple decided to have a complete change and are already loving their new roles.
With five vehicles including one that is wheelchair accessible, they are well equipped to transport anyone who makes a prebooking. Dave, Kathryn and their team are happy to accompany clients to appointments, the hairdresser, the doctor, help with shopping at the supermarket, school drop-off and pick-up – in fact, anywhere clients need to go. They are always mindful of their clients’ wellbeing, ensuring that they are comfortable and safe.
Winning mum
Molly Mennie
Congratulations to Molly Mennie of Hatfields Beach (pictured) who won a gift basket full of goodies from Silverdale Mall in
Hibiscus Matters’ Mother’s Day competition.
To enter the draw, people had to nominate a mum in their life and tell us their favourite thing about her. Molly was nominated by her daughter, Kathy Woomack, who said her favourite thing about her mum is “how hands on and involved she is, not just as a mother, but also as a grandmother to four grandchildren”.
Kathy says her mum is available to help 24/7 and always with a smile on her face. Molly’s gift basket included vouchers from Farmers and Everlast Nails, a watch from Pascoes The Jewellers, and products from Fabulous Flowers.
2021
People’s Choice Accessible Business
Awards.
A nature-based forest school, a
multicultural Catholic school, and an online global learning
community, are the three who topped the voting from a total
of ten organisations nominated by the public.
In
Hatfields Beach north of Auckland, nature-based education
provider
The Forest School gives students
the opportunity to discover, play and engage in authentic
real-life learning opportunities one day a week, and attend
their regular school for the other four days. The Forest
School was nominated because their approach encourages
students to overcome individual challenges and gain
confidence.
St Mary’s Catholic School
Rotorua is a special character school catering to
2021 People’s Choice Accessible Business Awards.
A nature-based forest school, a multicultural Catholic school, and an online global learning community, are the three who topped the voting from a total of ten organisations nominated by the public.
In Hatfields Beach north of Auckland, nature-based education provider
The Forest School gives students the opportunity to discover, play and engage in authentic real-life learning opportunities one day a week, and attend their regular school for the other four days. The Forest School was nominated because their approach encourages students to overcome individual challenges and gain confidence.
St Mary’s Catholic School Rotorua is a special character school catering to families across the socio-economic spectrum and from a wide cross-section of cultures. The school’s special character is integrated into all aspects of the school’s programmes, environment and culture. St Mary’s was nominated for providing excellence in learning