We own one of the front Heritage Villas and have read with interest your two articles on Rod Nielsen
(MS July 2, 9).

While we’re absolutely disgusted by Nielsen’s actions, we’re extremely happy with the villa we purchased and the way it’s managed by the Heritage Hotel.

We’d been looking for a holiday home in Queenstown for some time before deciding on these villas. We bought one not because of some far-fetched investment return – that was never promised anyway – but because of the convenience of this type of ownership, compared with owning an individual holiday home.

From our experience, any holiday home we’ve owned has had a negative cashflow every year due to rates, insurance, and repairs and maintenance. With the Heritage Villas, we receive cash after all these costs and can use the villa whenever we like with all the benefits of a hotel attached eg room service.

We don’t have to turn up and mow lawns, fix maintenance problems, deal with break-ins or clean up when we leave.

In relation to the reserve in front, Queenstown Lakes District Council has clearly dropped the ball on this and are wanting to take it out on the innocent villa owners, years after the event.

QLDC should be suitably embarrassed by its actions.

HAMISH PLIMMER
By email

‘Ridiculous idea’

I’d like to bring to the attention of all Wakatipu residents that Queenstown Lakes District Council is considering constructing an all-weather hockey training facility where the tennis courts are on Frankton Reserve.

This involves doubling the size of the tennis courts and erecting large lighting towers, up to 10 metres high. 

A more ridiculous idea I have not heard before. There are so many reasons that we all should be up in arms over this proposal, the most obvious being the detrimental visual  effect of lighting towers on Frankton Arm. It’s a stunning view looking down towards Kelvin Heights golf course. 

It’s obvious to me that if local hockey needs an all-weather pitch, the Events Centre is a much more logical location, for reasons far too many to mention. 

JIMMY ANDERSON
Frankton