Selwyn Times: May 30, 2017

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4 Tuesday May 30 2017 Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi SELWYN TIMES Your Local Views Be tidy at Arthur’s Pass Arthur’s Pass Association Committee chairman Richard Holyoake writes about the demands the township is facing as visitor numbers grow Arthur’s Pass village is a gem in the Arthur’s Pass National Park with a rich history and stunning scenery. It lies on State Highway 73, the midland rail line (both critical links between Canterbury and the West Coast) and on the Te Araroa trail running the length of New Zealand. The community is tight-knit and is made up of a small resident population and numerous bach-holders, all with a passion for the special character of the place. Its beauty is in its remoteness, the steep rocky slopes, the bush, the wildlife, the high rainfall and the big rivers. These features, and its proximity to Christchurch, also make it attractive with increasing numbers of trampers, backpackers and tourists passing through the area on an annual basis. A number of these features also contribute to its vulnerability, illustrated by large slips closing the state highway earlier this year, and fire has also cut off access recently – along the state highway and on the midland line. Remoteness breeds resourcefulness and resilience, and the Arthur’s Pass community has this in spades – however, this will be more and more tested as visitor numbers increase. We are upgrading our community centre and have upgraded the squash court. We recently lobbied for, and now have a recycling facility, and have regular community gatherings. The community also fulfils a huge role in pest control, now managing about 800 predator (stoats and possums) traps in the area – much of this voluntary. More visitors means more SCENIC: The midland rail line through Arthur’s Pass takes a large number of tourists to the village. demand on toilets, camping areas, walking tracks and other visitor facilities – or even worse could mean more litter along the road side, more uncontrolled toileting, more fires, more road accidents and more mountain rescues. Locals provide a volunteer fire brigade (emergency response) dealing with emergencies. They assist tourists, and clean up the mess after careless visitors. Partnership is required to protect what we have, not just with agencies such as Department of Conservation and district council, but with all our visitors. Everyone needs to do their bit and be a safe and tidy Kiwi. A reader responds to an article in Selwyn Times about the new skate park which will go next to the Lincoln Event Centre Jacqueline Reid – I can understand the reluctance of Lincoln residents to have a skate park located close to their homes. We owned a property close to the Prebbleton skate park and it does impact on a property’s sale ability. We found numerous potential purchasers who came through the open homes expressed concern about how close the skate facility was to neighbouring homes and felt this detracted from the appeal. There was increased vehicle traffic in a previously quiet culde-sac, we often had cars parking over our driveway and visitors to the park would often walk over our property to get to the park. There is also the constant noise SET PLAN: The new skate park will be built where the seating and barbecue shelter near the Lincoln Event Centre are currently located. from skaters dropping their skateboards while preforming jumps. I understand the district council’s wish to cater for the youth of Selwyn. However, the local residents’ (ratepayer) concerns need to be heard and seriously considered before any future development is undertaken, especially within a subdivision. In spite of the district council’s assurances, these facilities do have an impact neighbouring properties. Ready to get your land use consent to farm for Selwyn? We’ll help you get started, so you can get sorted by the June deadline. There is a lot to figure out – Consents, Farm Environment Plans, Nutrient Budgets and Audits. For help, drop in and have a chat with Environment Canterbury staff about getting your consent to farm, or call 0800 324 636. Regular information sessions are held in Leeston and Darfield. “ I would thoroughly recommend other farmers go to these sessions. There’s nothing like talking to someone. At the very least, they will tell you what you have to do. I know now where I can get help and they can take you through all the information on the computer.” Ness, Leeston, cropping farmer. SELWYN WAIHORA ZONE TEAM DROP-IN SESSIONS The first Wednesday of every month. Darfield Vet Clinic, South Tce, 1-4pm. The third Tuesday of every month. Leeston Library, 19 Messines St, 1-4pm. For session information visit www.canterburywater.farm/events ECN/014/SEL_D2A
SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi Tuesday May 30 2017 5 News INFLUX: The Coes Ford camping ground is one of the areas experiencing an increase in freedom campers. A reader responds to an article in Selwyn Times about ensuring the district can cope with the influx of freedom campers David Taylor – Very simple. Keep it black and white. Do we want second-tier tourists who add little and cost New Zealanders heavily? Simple answer is no. Do we want high-quality tourists who add value? Yes. Ban freedom campers period. Make people stay in Department of Conservation camps or normal camping grounds. It’s not fair that campground owners invest and provide a good service. Why should people camp essentially where they like? This country attracts tourists based on our clean image and the beauty we have. Keep this up and no one will want to come to New Zealand, which will just be another trashed, filthy country like so many others. Tourism, if managed properly and if we invest heavily into infrastructure, can work. But typical of all Governments, and at the local level too, they are reactive and lazy, rather than being proactive and anticipating likely outcomes before they happen. Our politicians and councillors are too self-serving and interested more in keeping their jobs than doing the hard yards necessary to protect what we have . . . the environment is being severely compromised all in the name of money. As a New Zealander, I’m far from happy the way we are being sold out. Like the state of our waterways, it’s a disgrace. Clean and green is the biggest con. New Zealanders will soon wake up, as will the rest of the world, and see that New Zealand is a rout. We invest too much on marketing how great we are. I only wish so much effort and money went into protecting what we have for future generations. Sustainability springs to mind. Lincoln firefighters involved in big house blaze Hannah’s goal to swim at Olympics • By Caitlin Miles LINCOLN firefighters were among those who attended a major house fire in Kaituna yesterday. A paraplegic man was rescued from the fire by a farm worker. The blaze consumed the wooden, 100-year-old-plus property quickly. The man’s son, Brent Thomas, said he was just thankful his father got out. Six fire crews from Lincoln, Akaroa, Little River and Christchurch battled the blaze. Little River chief fire officer David Irving said the fire started in the roof. •From page 1 Hannah, who attends Christchurch Girls’ High School, said while there is no expectation to get into the finals, or to win medals while in the Bahamas, she has big plans to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. “Tokyo is definitely on the cards to go hopefully . . . but if I don’t make Tokyo then definitely the 2024 Summer Olympics,” she said. She thinks the 2024 Olympics will be a more realistic goal. If she qualifies for the Olympics, she joins other swimming Olympians from CGHS – Lydia Lydia Lipscombe and Sarah Catherwood (Atlanta 1996) and Helen Norfolk (Beijing 2008) Her weekly training schedule sees her swim eight to nine sessions a week morning and evening at the Selwyn Aquatic Centre along with attending the gym three times and doing a pilates class once a week. She said she gets up at 5.10am on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday to train at the aquatic centre while also training Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. But for now Hannah (left) is concentrating on the youth games, with her weekly training schedule made up of swimming at the Selwyn Aquatic Centre eight to nine times, along with attending the gym three times and doing a pilates class. Hannah will need to raise $6000 to get to the The blaze burned through the beams of the house and it collapsed. The fire service received multiple calls. The fire started at about 10.35am. When firefighters arrived the house was “well-involved.” It was too early to say what the cause of the fire may have been. Commonwealth Youth Games late July. “I just want to embrace the experience, culture and going over again with a New Zealand team,” Hannah said. The quiz night will be held at the Silver Dollar Bar and Restaurant, Jones Rd, Rolleston, from 7-9pm, July 3. Teams can be up to six people and will cost $10 per person. •To help Hannah get to the Bahamas go to https:// givealittle.co.nz/cause/ hannahrepresentsnz or supporters can follow Hannah’s journey by giving her Facebook page “Hannah swimming my life” a like. •To book tickets phone Susan on 027 682 6992 or email bates-family@clear. net.nz Saturday and Sunday Breakfast from 8am Great new lunch menu Tues Quiz night Free to enter, Teams of up to 6 Prizes to win Open 7 days Coffee/Lunch/Dinner Open 10am Mon-Fri West Melton Village, Weedons Ross Road Ph 03 421 6481 Courtesy Van available
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Selwyn Times: May 30, 2017

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