Selwyn Times: July 26, 2016

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday July 26 2016 7
News
Selwyn history in print
• By Tom Doudney
DAYS GONE BY: Rolleston in the late 1950s. Celebrations
planned to mark the town’s 150th anniversary have inspired a
new book on Selwyn’s history. ​
A NEW book which would be
the first to extensively cover
Selwyn’s history is in the works.
The impetus for the book came
out of planning for Rolleston’s
150th anniversary celebrations
in October.
District council staff member
Wayne Stack, who has a masters
degree in military history,
volunteered to write it after an
approach from district councillor
and Rolleston anniversary
committee chairman Jeff Bland.
It is expected to take 12 to 18
months to complete.
Mr Stack said the exact scope
of the book has yet to be decided
but it was likely to be a substantial
work covering the history of
the whole district, rather than
just the Rolleston area.
“There have been books written
about the Ellesmere county
and the Malvern county which
were part of the amalgamation
to bring Selwyn together but
there is nothing there to actually
put Selwyn on the map as a
district in itself,” he said.
Selwyn was formed in 1989
when the Ellesmere and Malvern
counties and the rural half of the
Paparua county were amalgamated.
Cr Bland said the writing of
the book was an exciting development.
A previous book had
covered the history of Rolleston
up until the period before the
town’s growth had really taken
off but with the milestone coming
up it was important to have a
book which also reflected recent
history.
“Since we have been talking
about this 150th it has become
obvious that we need to update
our history,” he said.
“We think of history as 40, 50,
60 years ago but hang on, history
is yesterday as well.”
Mr Stack will also be working
on a display of historic photographs
and other items from the
Rolleston area which will be part
of the 150th anniversary celebrations.
It will be one of a number of
displays and events to take place
over three days from October 14
to 16. The main celebrations will
be held on October 15 at a site
on the corner of Jones Rd and
Hoskyns Rd.
•Anyone able to contribute
historic photographs, or
other items and material
which might help Mr Stack
with compiling the book and
150th anniversary exhibit
can phone 347 2851.
Roundabout work to start
WORK WILL start within a
week on changes to a five-legged
roundabout in Rolleston.
The Goulds Rd, Tennyson St,
Springtson Rolleston Rd and
Lowes Rd roundabout is ‘not
suitable’ for the growing amount
of traffic using it.
The access to the roundabout
from Goulds Rd will be cut off
later this month and will be
permanently closed from August
1, changing the current five-road
intersection to four.
Goulds Rd will become a dead
end near the dog park.
The Selwyn Times previously
reported that the Rolleston Residents
Association and Rolleston
College has safety concerns
around students navigating the
roundabout once Rolleston College
opens next year.
Broadlands Drive has been
extended past the college
to create a roundabout at
Springston Rolleston Rd.
The extension to Broadlands
Drive past the college to create
a roundabout at Springston
Rolleston Rd have finished so
now work to change the fivelegged
roundabout will begin.
District council asset manager
of transportation, Andrew
Mazey said the changes will be
made because the roundabout
has had an increasing amount of
traffic use it .
“The existing layout of the
roundabout as a five-road junction
is not suitable given the
growing vehicle numbers and
the change is designed to improve
the roundabout’s safety,”
Mr Mazey said.
During the work on the
roundabout people will still be
able to access it from Goulds Rd
until August 1.
Traffic lights are planned to be
put in place at the intersection in
three year’s time.
TWELVE YEARS IN PREBBLETON
• WOF Safety inspections
• Full mechanical repairs
• Servicing and warranty servicing
• Tyres
• Full diagnostic equipment
• Cars, 4WDs, light commercial, all
cars including European vehicles
• Loan cars available (conditions apply)
Photograph by
Lily Nicholas
Our newly
painted premises
More than repair work has occurred at Marks Automotive Ltd lately. The
landlord has had the building strengthened to bring it up to code and Kumho
have painted and sign-written the premises.
Owners, Leona and Mark Nicholas are delighted with the changes, and proud
to be members of the Kumho Tyre Team which allows them to offer excellent
prices on new tyres.
Marks Automotive provides a range of automotive repairs and servicing
including European vehicles, campervans, quad bikes, small trucks and horse
floats. They carry out WOFs, sell tyres and batteries, and offer Gas Bottle
swaps.
Mark has the latest scanning diagnostic equipment allowing diagnostic
analysis on a variety of vehicles and with Mark and Sam’s enthusiasm for
automotive electronics it is not surprising that they take care of this work
in-house.
Mark and Leona have another workshop with resource consent to perform
the larger jobs such as engine and transmission replacements.
As a member of the MTA, their high standard of workmanship is also
assured. This fits with their policy of affordable and sensible repairs whilst
emphasising vehicle safety. It explains why so many people locally and from
further afield, are loyal customers who they look after.
The team at Marks Automotive
Mark’s Automotive Ltd
Hours: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.30pm
PHONE 349 3344 | 559 Springs Rd, Prebbleton
Email marksautomotive@xtra.co.nz
They have five loan cars. The mechanics note servicing and repairs that will
be due in the future while WOF, service and recommendation reminders are
sent out to clients.
A new mechanic, Fyn has also joined Mark, Sam, Matt and Macca in the
workshop, supported by apprentices, Will and Isaac and four efficient office
staff (Jamie and Leona, full-time and Ellie and Sarah, part-time), along
with after-school helpers, Matt and Dylan who keep the workshop tidy and
loan cars clean.
“Our team’s awesome. It’s a polite and happy group including Rosie our dog,”
adds Leona.