Letter: Central residents wake to big rigs

Is a dedicated overnight truck stop the answer to Taupō’s early morning rumble.

For some time now the big truck parking in town overnight is nothing less than a nightmare.

Neville Hutchinson

Council has grappled with this problem for years and not come up with a satisfactory solution.

To this end we have big noisy rigs passing through suburbs when exiting the city in the early hours of the morning one after another awakening all those unfortunate people who happen to live in Town.

With the new Town layout, trucks have to exit the city through the suburbs in the early hours as there is no other way.

Currently many berms are nothing but mud holes, not to mention the restricted view when trying to pass through a busy intersection and the council sits by and lets it happen night after night.

I have counted more than 25 trucks parked in the streets of town of a night.

I have a suggestion to solve the problem as it has been done in little ole Picton and it works.

The council provides a park area of some acres where trucks park overnight at a cost of $10 per night. The charge is made by a swipe card to open the gate - payment is made.

The truckies love it. It is close enough for a fast-food delivery to be made and also for a taxi to take drivers to a motel or restaurant and return at a moderate cost.

The first establishment to offer a courtesy vehicle will also love the scheme.

Picton council [Marlborough District Council] I believe have a partner investor and they share the income.

An enterprising council could enjoy an income over time as more than 2000 trucks pass through Taupo every day.

I have identified a perfect site the council currently owns, so it is really a no brainer in most minds I have spoken to including several truckies.

It also gives them security at night. It is not far out of town but away from suburbs. Down the track it could become like Riverlands south of Blenheim, look at that facility on the net, it works well. I am told that Gisborne is also looking at a similar facility.