Bay Harbour: August 17,

FREE Wednesday august 17 2016 379 7100 Bay Harbour News Proudly locally owned and published by Star Media Brookhaven, Heathcote, Ferrymead ,Redcliffs, Mt. Pleasant, Sumner, Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Governors Bay, Akaroa Black Billed Gull YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL Mark Gardner p: (03) 331 6757 m: 021 633 669 e: mark.gardner@raywhite.com Prier Manson Real Estate Ltd (Licensed REAA 2008) Razor, Digger honoured SUMNER PRIDE: Canterbury and Crusaders head coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson and Greg ‘Digger’ Digby were awarded life membership of the Sumner Rugby Club on Saturday night. They were presented with the awards at the club’s senior prize-giving dinner at the Woolston Club. Development officer Lawrence Babe said more than 140 people attended the evening. Tourists drivers subject of petition • By Annabelle Dick FRUSTRATED Akaroa residents are petitioning for road signage and sealed shoulders on State Highway 75 in a bid to beat slow tourist drivers. They say tourists don’t pull over because of the conditions of the shoulder on the road, holding up people who want to pass. A petition containing 97 names has been sent to the New Zealand Transport Agency, the city council and presented to the Akaroa-Wairewa Community Board. Marie Haley, of Goughs Bay, organised the petition. She said residents have endured years of frustration over road conditions and slow drivers between Akaroa and Little River. “It came about because each summer there’s a lot of very slow tourists on the roads. There’s a lot of tourist buses and vehicles on SH75 and nowhere for them to pull over and let people pass,” Ms Haley said. Akaroa has seen an influx in visitors since the area became a tourist port for cruise ships in 2011. Dyers Road Landscape & Garden Supplies • Barks • Peastraw • Composts - we supply the best available • Aggregates - Chip, Round and Basecourse • Pavers & Schist products • Pungas • Decorative Stones & Landscaping Rocks • Trailer Hire first hour free with purchase • Bag & Bulk - pick up or delivered David, Carol & Mike We will deliver! SOIL AND HARDFILL Phone: 03 384 6540 183 Dyers Rd, Bromley • OPEN 7 DAYS Weekdays 7.30am-5pm. Weekends 8.30am-3pm www.dyersroadandlandscapes.co.nz “There’s a huge amount of traffic over summer due to visitors and they don’t know the roads,” Ms Haley said. “If they’re going to drive slowly they should pull over and let others pass, but there’s nowhere to do that.” Akaroa residents often travel DUMPING See centre spread for more details OPEN 7 DAYS 1005 Ferry Rd, Ferrymead | Ph 366 6306 the SH75 route for work in Christchurch. In summer, a round trip can take three to four hours. Ms Haley and other residents want to see driver courtesy signs put in place. “I would like to see signs with messages on them like ‘pull over area coming’ and ‘photo area ahead’ so they know where good photo spots are and can also let traffic pass,” she said. Road shoulders should also be sealed so drivers can pull over safely, she said. The petition received 97 signatures – about 15 percent of the Akaroa community. The community board is backing the petition and the city council will discuss it at the September 15 meeting. Ms Haley hasn’t received a response from NZTA on her petition. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think State Highway 75 needs sealed shoulders and tourist signage to improve the route? Do you find tourist drivers a problem? Email your thoughts to annabelle. dick@starmedia.kiwi FREE Mitre10 Rugby or Soccer ball With any item purchased from our advert… 119775 / 119774