The Star: January 25, 2018
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
Thursday <strong>January</strong> <strong>25</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 17<br />
I will vote for chlorination plan<br />
I STARTED writing this column<br />
last week and began with the<br />
words “happy new year and may<br />
<strong>2018</strong> bring all that you hope<br />
for. I hope that those who have<br />
had holidays over Christmas<br />
have come back refreshed and<br />
ready to take advantage of all<br />
the opportunities that our city<br />
offers.”<br />
When I came back to work<br />
on Monday, <strong>January</strong> 15, I was<br />
told that my regular column<br />
started this week, so I thought I<br />
could just submit it a week later.<br />
However, on the same day, I was<br />
given an update on our obligations<br />
as a drinking-water supplier<br />
under the Health Act.<br />
It transpired that on the last<br />
working day before Christmas,<br />
the Canterbury drinking water<br />
assessor had removed our secure<br />
groundwater status.<br />
Let me explain. <strong>The</strong> Drinking<br />
Water Standards currently<br />
have three criteria for achieving<br />
secure groundwater status:<br />
1. Bore water is not directly<br />
affected by surface or climate<br />
influences.<br />
2. <strong>The</strong> bore head must provide<br />
satisfactory protection by being<br />
sealed at the surface.<br />
RISK: Christchurch’s drinking water could be temporarily<br />
chlorinated after it was found the city’s wells may be in danger<br />
of contamination.<br />
3. Demonstrating an absence<br />
of past E. coli positive results.<br />
Water drawn from confined<br />
aquifers that satisfies the three<br />
criteria is considered secure bore<br />
water.<br />
Unfortunately, we could not<br />
satisfy the second of the criteria,<br />
as the independent engineers<br />
who are engaged each year to<br />
sign off on the security of the<br />
bore-heads would not sign off<br />
on them this time. I immediately<br />
asked that the recess committee<br />
be called together, so that as<br />
many city councillors as were<br />
available could be briefed on the<br />
situation and to ensure we could<br />
get a paper to the first city council<br />
meeting of the year.<br />
One of the questions that was<br />
asked was what had changed?<br />
We were meeting the criteria before,<br />
but suddenly we were not?<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a view that since the<br />
Havelock North incident, the<br />
appreciation of the risks (both<br />
likelihood and consequences)<br />
has brought a sharper focus to<br />
Drinking Water Standards compliance<br />
and greater diligence in<br />
signing off secure bore status.<br />
<strong>The</strong> risks haven’t changed<br />
– the probability remains low<br />
and the consequences remain<br />
high, which is why we have had<br />
a more rigorous testing regime<br />
than strictly required.<br />
That’s also why city council<br />
staff had the below ground wellheads<br />
investigated in June last<br />
year and why work is already<br />
Lianne Dalziel<br />
under way to bring each of them<br />
up to secure status.<br />
<strong>The</strong> issue for the city council is<br />
that without the engineers sign<br />
off on the well-heads, we are<br />
advised that we have an obligation<br />
to consider another layer of<br />
protection in order to meet our<br />
duty to ensure that the drinking<br />
water is safe.<br />
Our city council takes its<br />
drinking water responsibilities<br />
very seriously. And that is why<br />
today I am supporting measures<br />
required to restore our secure<br />
groundwater status and the<br />
temporary chlorination of our<br />
drinking water in the meantime.<br />
•If you want to ask Ms<br />
Dalziel a question, email<br />
mayor@ccc.govt.nz. Put<br />
Reader’s Question in the<br />
subject line<br />
BOOK YOUR FREE<br />
APPOINTMENT TODAY!<br />
0800 324 678<br />
www.dcis.co.nz<br />
QUIETLY<br />
COOLSALE<br />
Sleep easy this summer<br />
in whisper quiet comfort<br />
… all night long.<br />
$1,999 INSTALLED*<br />
GE<strong>25</strong> HIGH WALL HEAT PUMP<br />
*Basic back to back installation<br />
CREATE A BRIGHTER<br />
FUTURE FOR YOU<br />
AND YOUR FAMILY<br />
Get skills for employment for FREE<br />
through the Pasifika Trades Training<br />
programme at Ara. You’ll gain valuable<br />
skills that can earn you good money<br />
and you’ll learn within a supportive<br />
environment that celebrates your<br />
Pasifika identity. Training options<br />
include construction, roading, electrical,<br />
plumbing and more.<br />
Apply now for a free Pasifika Trades<br />
Training programme, start February.<br />
ara.ac.nz/pasifika<br />
WE REPORT THE FACTS!<br />
15<br />
new residents<br />
every week *<br />
3000<br />
residents now<br />
living here<br />
1300 sections<br />
sold<br />
1000<br />
new homes built<br />
200<br />
homes currently<br />
under construction<br />
14<br />
FHN LIVE<br />
parks and reserves<br />
completed<br />
Faringdon’s numbers<br />
are growing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> stats stack up. Rolleston is the fastest growing town in NZ with<br />
the most buoyant local economy. It’s here you will find Canterbury’s<br />
most sought after residential development. Fact is, Faringdon is an<br />
overwhelming success and the community is flourishing. Be part of<br />
the success story - come out and do the math; bottom line is you’ll<br />
find you’re home.<br />
New stage 23 now selling.<br />
Sections 400 to 887m 2 from $166,000.<br />
Call Bruce Harvey 0800 667 849<br />
or visit www.faringdon.co.nz<br />
Visit our info centre, corner Goulds and East Maddisons Rds.<br />
Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm - 4pm.<br />
FHN<br />
LIVE<br />
Faringdon Home<br />
News Team<br />
You’re home.<br />
FRD31662-90x260