Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
12<br />
Tuesday <strong>December</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2016</strong><br />
Your Local Views<br />
Looking back at a year<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
Delicate river<br />
marked by change<br />
AS THIS is my last column<br />
for the year I would like to<br />
take this opportunity to wish<br />
everyone in <strong>Selwyn</strong> a very<br />
merry Christmas and a safe and<br />
enjoyable New Year.<br />
I hope that you have the<br />
opportunity to take a break<br />
and spend time doing what you<br />
love, whether that is relaxing<br />
with family and friends at the<br />
beach, reading a good book or<br />
getting out for a tramp in the<br />
bush.<br />
It has been a busy and<br />
positive year. I have enjoyed<br />
meeting many of you at events<br />
around <strong>Selwyn</strong> during the year<br />
and have also hosted coffee<br />
meetings at various locations<br />
to give you the opportunity to<br />
discuss with me any matters<br />
that you have wanted to bring<br />
to my attention.<br />
It has also been a year of<br />
change. Here in <strong>Selwyn</strong> we said<br />
farewell to our mayor Kelvin<br />
Coe and welcomed our new<br />
mayor Sam Broughton. On<br />
the national stage, we saw our<br />
prime minister step aside from<br />
his role as leader of our country<br />
and, on the international<br />
Amy Adams<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong> MP<br />
stage, we saw surprise results<br />
in the United States election<br />
and in the United Kingdom<br />
referendum on whether to<br />
remain in or leave the European<br />
Union.<br />
Change is an inevitable<br />
part of life. Here in <strong>Selwyn</strong>,<br />
we reflected on how much<br />
Rolleston has changed as we<br />
celebrated the town’s 150 th<br />
anniversary. Our region’s<br />
evolving role as an important<br />
industrial and logistics hub was<br />
strengthened by the opening<br />
of Lyttelton Port Company’s<br />
Midland Port, which joined the<br />
Port of Tauranga’s inland port<br />
at Rolleston.<br />
Meanwhile, in my<br />
neighbourhood of West Melton,<br />
I was pleased to open the new<br />
West Melton Village shopping<br />
centre, which offers the<br />
opportunity for new businesses<br />
to establish themselves in this<br />
growing area.<br />
Next year is set to be another<br />
exciting one in <strong>Selwyn</strong>,<br />
with Rolleston College and<br />
Lemonwood Grove School<br />
opening their doors to students.<br />
We will also be able to see the<br />
next stage of the Southern<br />
Motorway beginning to take<br />
shape as work continues on this<br />
important project.<br />
If you have any concerns or<br />
issues that you think I may be<br />
able to assist with, or would<br />
just like to make your views<br />
known to me, please get in<br />
touch with my electorate office<br />
in Templeton. The office will be<br />
closed for the Christmas-New<br />
Year period from <strong>December</strong><br />
23 and will re-open again on<br />
January 16.<br />
Environment<br />
Canterbury<br />
chief scientist<br />
Tim Davie<br />
writes about<br />
why tuna (eels)<br />
have become<br />
stranded in the<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong> River and why flows<br />
are so low<br />
The <strong>Selwyn</strong>/Waikirikiri River is<br />
a classic Canterbury Plains river<br />
with headwaters fed from rainfall<br />
in the foothills, mid-reaches that<br />
frequently dry up and springfed<br />
lower reaches which flow<br />
constantly.<br />
Ngāi Tahu ancestors eloquently<br />
described the river as waikirikiri,<br />
meaning ‘river of gravel or stones,’<br />
confirming that the mid-reaches<br />
have always dried up as surface<br />
water becomes groundwater.<br />
In mid-November, there was<br />
substantial rainfall in the <strong>Selwyn</strong><br />
headwaters. This caused a small<br />
flood wave to move across the<br />
plains, but it did not reach the<br />
bottom.<br />
The flood wave travelled from<br />
Whitecliffs to Greendale, but did<br />
not reach Coes Ford.<br />
Tuna in the upper reaches<br />
used the flood wave to move<br />
downstream. They did not reach<br />
the coast and became stranded<br />
in the mid-reaches. As the flows<br />
in the headwaters subsided, the<br />
flowing part started to retreat,<br />
stranding more fish.<br />
In the lower reaches, flows are<br />
very low due to extremely low<br />
groundwater levels. Every month<br />
since July this year has seen record<br />
low flows.<br />
Groundwater gains water<br />
(recharge) from two sources:<br />
Water infiltrating from rivers as<br />
they cross the plains, and rainfall<br />
infiltrating past the soil.<br />
Most rainfall recharge happens<br />
in winter when soils are wet,<br />
evapotranspiration is low<br />
and rainfall moves rapidly to<br />
groundwater.<br />
The two most recent winters<br />
have been extremely dry, meaning<br />
very little rainfall recharge.<br />
Groundwater loses water<br />
(discharges) through springs as<br />
part of groundwater fed streams,<br />
and through extraction for<br />
irrigation and drinking water.<br />
HARD TO WRAP<br />
EASY TO GIVE!<br />
STORE OPENING HOURS:<br />
Fosters, Blenheim Road Store<br />
Mon - Fri 8am til 5.30pm,<br />
Sat 9.30am til 3pm<br />
Rangiora & Northwood Stores<br />
7 DAYS - Mon - Fri 8am til 5.30pm,<br />
Sat 9.30am til 3pm, Sun 10am til 3pm<br />
Gift Card<br />
HSA66<br />
Battery<br />
Hedgetrimmer<br />
FS55R Brushcutter<br />
EU20 Inverter<br />
Generator<br />
Unsure what to get?<br />
How about a gift card?<br />
Available in any denomination<br />
from $10 - $1000<br />
NOW<br />
$???<br />
incl GST<br />
36V 3.1kg 500mm blade<br />
No lead, no exhaust, no smell and low noise<br />
Comes with a AP200 battery<br />
and AL300 charger<br />
Save $89<br />
NOW<br />
$596<br />
incl GST<br />
27.2cc 5kg 0.75kW<br />
Handle bar configuration is also available<br />
Easy to start model<br />
Save $65<br />
NOW<br />
$430<br />
incl GST<br />
Save $245<br />
8 amp/12 volt DC, max<br />
2000W/240 volt<br />
Size: LxWxH (mm)<br />
510x290x425<br />
Operating Hrs (on eco<br />
throttle) 15 hrs<br />
Weight: 21kg<br />
Recoil Start<br />
NOW<br />
$2350<br />
incl GST<br />
Save $800<br />
12 months interest free & no<br />
payments! See in-store for details<br />
917HE Ride on Mower<br />
Engine: 17.5HP Briggs &<br />
Stratton Intek OHV<br />
Drive System: Hydrostatic<br />
Cut Height: 2 - 12cm<br />
Deck: 92cm/36”<br />
Catcher: 280 litre<br />
NOW<br />
$5499<br />
incl GST<br />
3500AL Lawnmower<br />
Engine: Briggs & Stratton 163cc<br />
675EXi ReadyStart engine<br />
Cut Width: 460mm (18”) - Alloy<br />
Cut Height: Adjustable 10 - 78mm<br />
Save $150<br />
NOW<br />
$799<br />
incl GST<br />
Save $300<br />
12 months interest free & no<br />
payments! See in-store for details<br />
Ride on<br />
Raider 17/42<br />
Mower<br />
Engine: Kohler 17HP<br />
Drive System: Hydro<br />
Cutting Deck:<br />
107cm/42”<br />
Cut Height: 3.8-10cm<br />
Turning Radius:<br />
30cm/12”<br />
NOW<br />
$4999<br />
incl GST<br />
MSA200 Battery<br />
Chainsaw<br />
36V 3.3kg 14” bar & chain<br />
No lead, no exhaust, no smell and low noise<br />
Comes with a AP300<br />
battery and AL300<br />
charger<br />
Save $127<br />
NOW<br />
$848<br />
All pricing includes GST. Images may vary from in store product. Offers valid until 24th Dec <strong>2016</strong>, or until stocks last. Finance is available -12 months interest free no payments - conditions apply, see in-store.<br />
incl GST<br />
STIHL SHOP Fosters - 559 Blenheim Road, Sockburn, Christchurch - Ph: 03-343-6339<br />
STIHL SHOP Northwood - 554 Main North Road, Belfast, Christchurch - Ph: 03-974-2469<br />
STIHL SHOP Rangiora - Corner Lineside and Station Road, Rangiora - Ph: 03-3<strong>13</strong>-3398<br />
www.stihlshopchristchurch.co.nz<br />
LOVE YOUR LAND
Change language