Selwyn Times: October 04, 2016

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday October 4 2016 9
Coe’s final meeting
• By Tom Doudney
MAYOR KELVIN Coe has paid
tribute to a group of district
councillors who “play the ball and
not the man” in his last meeting
in charge.
Mr Coe will step down
following Saturday’s election after
nine years as mayor and 12 years
before that as a district councillor.
In his valedictory speech, he
said that throughout his time as
mayor councillors had shown the
ability to work together and keep
disagreements at the table from
becoming personal – something
which wasn’t always been true of
other councils.
“That’s a real strength of this
council,” he said.
He said the fact that most of the
incumbent district councillors
had been voted back in at the last
two elections showed they had
been doing a good job.
Other district councillors
thanked Mr Coe for encouraging
discussion, which allowed for
consensus decision making.
District councillor Nigel
Barnett, who is also retiring,
said he was proud of the way
the district council had gone
from lagging behind in dealing
with some issues relating to
the district’s runaway growth
JOB DONE: Mayor Kelvin Coe will step down after Saturday’s
election.
to getting on top of things
during his own nine years at the
table.
“When I look back at some
of the big decisions we took
on board, with the benefit of
hindsight, there really wasn’t any
other decision that could have
been made,” Cr Barnett said.
He acknowledged his
reputation as a joker.
“It would be a bit of a shame if I
couldn’t have some fun along the
way.”
Jeff Bland
• By Tom Doudney
MEMBERS OF the Selwyn
Central Community Board
have lamented its loss as it
enters its final days.
The board held its final
meeting last month and will be
officially disestablished following
Saturday’s local government
elections.
The district council decided
to disestablish the board after
consultation last year and the
Local Government Commission
supported the decision.
District councillors Jeff
Bland, who took over from
Diane Chesmar as chairman
at the start of the year due to
tensions between fellow board
members, said the district
council had been too quick to
Bruce Russell
Last days for
community board
get rid of the board.
He would rather have seen
Selwyn Central residents given
the chance to vote on whether
to retain the board as part of
local body elections.
“I’m a great believer in democracy
and I am sad myself
that the board has been dissolved,
I would have liked to
see it continue,” Cr Bland said.
Deputy chairman Bruce
Russell said that in turning
away from community boards
Selwyn was out of step with
other parts of the country.
“In Christchurch the mayor
and councillors there are saying
‘we must give more power
to our community boards
because they are the heart of
the community’.”
KEEP IT SAFE
& SECURE
You’re invited to
a free workshop on
irrigation efficiency
Manage your irrigation to make every drop count
Selwyn Waihora Workshop
Come and hear from IrrigationNZ and get your questions
answered. A practical workshop designed to get the most
out of your irrigation water.
• Understanding soil/water needs & pre-season check
• Scheduling, using climate info to budget water use, etc
Wednesday 12 October, 9.45am – 3pm
110 Brook St, Southbridge
For more information call Sylvia McAslan, 027 705 9735
Lunch sponsored by:
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BIG RANGE OF GARDEN AND STORAGE SHED
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CHRISTCHURCH
55 Hands Road
Ph: (03) 338 9063
www.stratco.co.nz