The Star: November 03, 2016

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20 Thursday November 3 2016 follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch The Star Viewpoint Broader regeneration remains in full swing CANTERBURY’S earthquakerelated consents have totalled $3.9 billion since September 2010. Last month alone, the value of Canterbury’s earthquakerelated building consents was $41.3 million. Figures released by Statistics New Zealand this week showed in the year to September, almost 30,000 new homes were consented nationwide – up 14 per cent from the previous year. In Canterbury, while not all earthquake-related building are easily identified, 31,505 new dwellings have been consented in the last six years. The total value of these consents is almost $19 billion. In spite of a decrease in the number of new homes consented last month in the region, figures remain at historically high levels. While the bulk of earthquake repairs and rebuilds have now been completed, the broader regeneration remains in full swing. It’s not just new homes that are being built. The commercial core of Christchurch is continuing to benefit from significant investment. In the last 12 months, Canterbury contributed the second highest value of nonresidential building consents, valued at $1.6 billion. The steady pace of the earthquake recovery has helped prolong the economic benefits of the rebuild, rather than producing a boom and bust effect. The Earthquake Commission, New Zealand’s natural disaster insurer, has paid out about $9.4 billion settling Canterbury claims. In a commercial sense, the vast majority of investment in Christchurch has so far been Gerry Brownlee from local and national sources, which I view as a major success. There has been international capital flowing into Christchurch too, including recently with the Christchurch Adventure Park and the health research and education facility in the city’s new health precinct. In May, Treasury estimated the volume of investment associated with the residential rebuild was about $15 billion and about $9 billion so far for the commercial rebuild. The social and infrastructure rebuild estimate is $11 billion. Around $28 billion of the rebuild is expected to be finished before June 2020. Gerry Brownlee is Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration We said: Former Labour MP Sir Kerry Burke and his former wife Faimeh Burke spent nearly $25,000 on taxpayer-funded travel in the past financial year. Christchurch-based Sir Kerry was the biggest spending former MP claiming $16,147 in travel while Mrs Burke claimed $8265. Mrs Burke unsuccessfully stood for the city council in the recent local body elections. You said: Neil Stuart – He’s not working so shouldn’t be entitled to it. Most likely all he needed to do while working was vote a few times woop dee doo. Time to put pressure on and get it changed. Lack of pay increases is not a decent reason to keep it or we would all get paid long after we finish our jobs Maree McNeill – They need to change and stop a lot of their perks. Jo Hart – The ‘rules’ need to change! Marcus Isbad – Shameful but they don’t care what we think. The old boys make the rules to fill their pockets. Denise Amesbury – So glad she never got voted in, with an attitude like that to public money, it’s a lucky escape. Colleen Gee – It should not be allowed, once you leave that should be it, no more taxpayers money! Marc Tyron – Rules are rules. We have changed them and fixed them but they are entitled to these perks. THE HOME OF GOOD BAKING SOUTHERN PLAINS BREAD VARIETIES (Excludes Spicy Fruit) ONLY $ 1 99 EA HOT DEAL! SALTED CARAMEL TRUFFLES 12pk ONLY CHEESE ROLLS 12pk Soft and fluffy, generously topped with cheese, perfect for BBQs and kid’s lunches. RASPBERRY SLICE $ ONLY 2 99 A divine ONLY raspberry slice $ 3 49 for all occasions. EA EA MILK Dairy Dale 2L varieties. $ 5 98 2 FOR or $3.19 each ANZAC FAMILY PACK BISCUITS $ 4 99 EA Promotional pricing available while stocks last from 31/10/16 to 06/11/16. Images are serving suggestions only. Open 7 days | 8 Convenient local locations Hornby • Barrington • Ferry Rd • Papanui • Riccarton • Upper Riccarton • New Brighton • Rangiora www.couplands.co.nz
The Star follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch Thursday November 3 2016 23 News $165,000 plan to manage old trees • By Bridget Rutherford ABOUT $165,000 will be spent developing a plan looking at ways to mitigate the effects of the city’s ageing tree population. The city council decided to write an Urban Tree and Forest Plan to plan how to manage trees in the future. It will look at ways to deal with the ageing population, climate change, urban heating, transport-related greenhouse gases and airborne pollutants, and ways to support Christchurch’s garden city image. City council head of parks Andrew Rutledge (left) said the plan, which will be completed in 2018, will provide “strategic direction” to deal with those factors. He said older trees could be managed by removing branches, or placing a mulch layer over the roots, however, it became costly the further the tree declined. “If trees decline to the point that personal health and safety may be at risk we act accordingly.” Meanwhile, the city council TO GO: An Edmonds Park tree that was assessed for the Bells Creek flood mitigation scheme. has spent more than $257,000 over the past year on reports and assessments of trees. Figures released to The Star under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, showed from August 2015 to August 2016, $257,872 was spent on these reports. That figure related to assessments done for any reason, not just in relation to tree removals. In July, the city council set aside $30,000 for carrying out tree assessments at Bells Creek in Woolston, as part of the flood HUGE CLEARANCE sale INSTORE don't miss out mitigation scheme. City council land drainage manager Keith Davison said to date, $11,553 had been spent on arborist services for the $9 million project. He said that included the in-house assessment of 317 trees across five sites. Thirteen of those trees were removed and replaced. The work was done to see what condition the trees affected by the work were in, and whether the scheme could be designed around them, Mr Davison said. Three reports and a memorandum were produced from the work. In all cases, the city council’s operational arborist team conducts its own assessment on the trees first. Additionally, it may commission an independent arborist for a report to get a peer review, during high demand periods, in relation to significant trees, or for trees in heritage parks. A tree survey of the Avon River’s stopbanks in June was costed at $8798, while tree condition surveys along Dudley Creek was costed at $5416. July was the most expensive year for tree reports, costing $60,708, while in August, $27,334 was spent. New bishop will decide future of school • By Bridget Rutherford THE FUTURE of Marian College will not be decided until a new Catholic Bishop of Christchurch is appointed. The diocese has been looking at permanent options to rebuild the school after being forced from its North Pde site following the February 2011 earthquake. However, none have been set in stone. In a letter to the school, administrator of the diocese Reverend Rick Loughnan said the decision would be deferred until a new bishop was appointed, and further investigations were carried out. “We must be 100 per cent sure of our reasoning when the final decision is made and, with a new bishop soon to be appointed, it would seem appropriate for him, with our guidance, to have input into this final decision,” the letter said. Marian principal Mary-Lou Davidson said the school was in good heart while it waited to see where it would be rebuilt. “It’s an important decision. We want one that has the best outcome for the school.” this weekend! fri - sat - sun only 10% TAKE ANOTHER OFF THE SALE PRICE with presentation of this coupon only PHIL & DANS’ MORE GREAT DEALS INSTORE!! 15a Bishopdale Mall • Ph. (03) 359 1663 www.furniturewarehouse.co.nz • philanddansfurn@gmail.com * Q Card lending criteria, fees, terms & conditions apply, see in store for details. GE Creditline & Gem Visa are provided by GE Finance & Insurance. Minimum purchase for hire purchase $500. All applications are subject to normal credit & lending criteria. Application and/or annual account fee may apply. Prevailing interest rate may apply to any balance outstanding on expiry of the interest free start-up period. Please note: Proof of address & photo ID required. PHIL DAN
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The Star: November 03, 2016

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