The Star: September 28, 2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4 Thursday September 28 2017 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi The Star News •HAVE YOUR SAY: What do you think of the condition of the city’s roads? Email bridget.rutherford@starmedia.kiwi Seven years on and our roads • By Bridget Rutherford THE STATE of more than half of the city’s roads is rated average or poorly, nearly seven years on from the February 22, 2011, earthquake. The city council’s transport asset management condition indicator said 25 per cent of roads were rated average, 21 per cent poor and 14 per cent were very poor. Eighteen per cent were rated excellent and 22 per cent were good. But the city council is confident the statistics will improve in the next assessment. The report was prepared for the city council’s finance and performance committee this month. Automobile Association Canterbury-West Coast district council chairman Roy Hughes said the emphasis of the roading work was wrong. “There’s been a major downturn in tourists visiting Christchurch because they are not happy with the surface condition. Millions of dollars are being spent on changing the layouts, but not on the surfacing.” He said motorists were still having to spend a lot on suspension and tyre damage because of potholes and bumps. “Our members are very concerned that seven years on we have seen a lack of co-ordination and sequencing of repair work to improve the surfaces.” The now defunct Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team, which wrapped up in December, repaired and replaced more than 1.38 million sq m of road. City council head of transport Chris Gregory said a “significant number” of roads were smoothed and resealed in last year’s programme, and that would show in the next round of assessment. POOR: The roading surface around the New Brighton Rd and Wainoni Rd roundabout is bumpy. PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER “Council will be continuing in the 17/18 sealing programme to improve the condition of roading assets.” Further smoothing of roads will be considered as part of the long term plan, he said. Mr Gregory said a significant part of SCIRT’s focus was repairing underground water and waste pipes, and the roads affected were made safe and functional by SCIRT. New Zealand Taxi Federation Canterbury president Stan Gane said taxi vehicles were still damaging wheels and tyres from potholes and bumpy roads, particularly in the east. “It’s hard to present a good, professional vehicle when we’re constantly driving on muddy and dirty roads.” Mr Gane said although the surface on newly reconfigured roads, such as St Asaph St, were good, the layout was an “absolute shambles.” It was dangerous for people getting in and out of taxis, because they could not pull off the road due to the high kerbs, he said. “We have major concerns for dropping off and picking up customers, we need to be able to pull over,” he said. The condition of the 2043km of sealed roads, and 349km of unsealed ones is assessed annually. All roads receive a roughness rating, and 25 per cent of each road gets a visual condition rating. Tickets on sale now! Every ticket purchased online in September goes in the draw to WIN A Rarotonga escape for two! Terms and conditions apply. JOAN PERARNAU GARRIGA SECTION PRINCIPAL BASS NEW ZEALAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LET IT FLOW THROUGH YOU RACHMANINOV WITH JOYCE YANG EDO DE WAART CONDUCTOR JOYCE YANG PIANO RACHMANINOV VOCALISE RACHMANINOV PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 IN D MINOR RACHMANINOV SYMPHONIC DANCES CHRISTCHURCH 31 OCT HORNCASTLE ARENA 7.00PM VISIT NZSO.CO.NZ FOR TICKET DETAILS 11 – 18 NOVEMBER 2017 Celebrate in style nzcupandshow.co.nz Canterbury Master Painter Wins Big “A big shout out to the fabulous Master Painters members in the Canterbury region who always go the extra mile in providing the highest quality services to our customers,” says Gary Fyfe, the Canterbury Master Painters President. 2017 Canterbury Award Winner New Exterior - Character - Mitchell Decorators Ltd, Canterbury Congratulations again to all the Canterbury members who have done a fabulous job and who make the Master Painters Association proud. Spring is here. Time to think about those painting and decorating jobs you have talked about over the winter. Call Canterbury Master Painters on 0800 PAINTNZ or look for painters who have the Master Painters logo. Master Painters, put your trust in their painting skills and service. www.masterpainters.co.nz
The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday September 28 2017 5 sale rate poorly A report by the Controller and Auditor-General Lyn Provost last year said as part of the 2013 cost sharing agreement, the Crown would spend $1.8 billion on horizontal infrastructure, while the city council estimated to spend $1.14 billion. Over time the arrangement changed. In 2015, the Government revised its contribution to $1.689 billion, saying it would not fund renewals, the report said. City councillor Yani Johanson said the repairs carried out by SCIRT were not up to scratch. “I think people have been conned, they thought they were going to get their streets fixed.” Yani Johanson He said the roads were poorer quality, because under SCIRT they were only sealed once, and the Crown contribution changed. But Cr Johanson said city council staff were putting more energy into making sure the road maintenance was done well. But Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Nicky Wagner said the roads were being repaired under the Civil Defence Emergency Management manual standard, which required one seal. She said a second would need to be done as part of ongoing maintenance. Ms Wagner said there was a lot of betterment through the SCIRT works to both roads and underground infrastructure. “I do think there’s part of our city the roads aren’t great that will need to be repaired in the long term. But overall, it’s a lot better.” Forty-five per cent of footpaths were in an excellent condition, while 87 per cent of cycleways were. Doctor tells of bid to save pensioners •From page 1 Dr Beaumont has since moved to the United Kingdom. Canterbury district commander John Price said their actions had put them at considerable risk, and required fortitude and courage. But Dr Clarke said he did not feel like a hero. “You can’t watch something like that happen and not do anything,” he said. They were able to open Mr Imrie’s door and get him out, and pull him back to the beach. But he said the car was swept away within minutes, before they were able to rescue Mrs Imrie. By that time, he said other passersby had joined the pair in the water, including several surf life savers from Sumner. Mr Imrie said he believed he had “blacked out” before the crash. The crash and his wife’s death still haunted him everyday. What happened afterward was a blur. The only thing he remembered from the rescue was Dr Kubba bending over him on the beach, trying to revive him. Dr Clarke said the water had been “freezing”, and both he and Dr Beaumont were shaking from the cold after only minutes in the water. “I think we were in first stage hypothermia,” he said. He had a bright red triple XL knitted jersey in the taxi which he planned to wear to the party, which was fancy dress, so he huddled on the beach in that. Mr Imrie said he called Dr Clarke for the first time after the commendation, inviting him out for a pint to thank him. They had since built a friendship, bonding over a shared love of rugby. Mr Imrie said Dr Clarke and Dr Beaumont had been incredibly courageous. They had saved his life. He said the past six months had been incredibly difficult for him. His daughter, Gaenor, died suddenly in Sydney two months after Maureen’s death. He has also had to wait for the outcome of the police investigation into Maureen’s death to hear if charges would be laid against him. Police decided last week to close the case without laying charges. Mr Imrie said Maureen was an incredible person.“She didn’t deserve this,” he said. He had met her when he moved to London from Dunedin as a 19-year-old in the 1950s. She was 15, and lived across the road from him. He said children were her life, especially the couple’s son, daughter and two grandsons, and the countless children Mrs Imrie had taught as a nanny and a teacher. Mr Imrie said his wife had a stroke shortly before the crash, and had been terrified she would have another one. “She always said she didn’t want to get old,” he said. But after her stroke he said the couple had made an effort to spend as much time as they could together, and had always said “I love you” many times every day. He struggled to face life without her. “I’ve found it tough to do anything. You wonder why you’re doing it, to be honest,” he said. IT’S THE FINAL MONTH OF OUR ROAD TRIP! our fiat spider, fiat lounge + $20,000 travel are the last to go! ENTRY TICKETS ARE FREE ROAD2ROME.CO.NZ FOLLOW US ON THE 30 VICTORIA ST | DRESS CODE APPLIES | ROAR Terms & conditions apply.
Page 1 and 2: SUPREME NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR Natio
Page 3: The Star Latest Christchurch news a
Page 7 and 8: The Star Latest Christchurch news a
Page 25 and 26: BETTER LIVING & LEISURE SEPTEMBER 2
Page 27 and 28: Leadership | 3 Flying is another pa
Page 29 and 30: ecreaTion | 5 Taking a break on the
Page 31 and 32: gardening | 7 The art of garden des
Page 33 and 34: Law/puzzLes | 9 Property ownership
Page 35 and 36: moToring | 11 new-generation OF Suz
Page 39 and 40: z The Star Latest Christchurch news
Page 55 and 56:
The Star Latest Christchurch news a
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61:
WOW! FABULOUS BEDROOM SALE NOW ON W
Page 65:
Gianni 4 Piece Bedroom Package Incl
show all

The Star: September 28, 2017

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?