Pegasus Post: February 27, 2018

PEGASUS POST Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday February 27 2018 5
Feedback sought
on $21m Linwood
Woolston pool
•From page 1
The city council has allocated
about $21.6 million in its Long
Term Plan for the facility and
outlined its preferred location as
the nursery site at Linwood Park,
near the corner of Linwood Ave
and Smith St.
“This location meets all
our criteria, which makes it a
standout option for the community.
Currently this section of
Linwood Park is an old nursery
that is no longer used and has
good quality land that is already
owned by the city council,” the
report said.
Other benefits of the Linwood
Park site include proximity to
Eastgate Shopping Centre and
the Linwood Library. There is
also a major cycleway next to the
site and room for the facility to
grow.
Further possible locations
identified include Woolston
Park, 180 Smith St, the Linwood
Service Centre, an alternative
location on Linwood Park and
Bromley Park.
Construction of the pool is not
expected to start until the end of
next year and be completed in
2021.
“Once this round of engagement
has closed . . . a recommendation
on where it should
be built will be made to the
Linwood-Central-Heathcote
Community Board. At this stage,
we expect that they will decide
on a site mid-2018,” the consultation
document said.
There will be a second round of
consultation regarding the facility’s
concept design.
“We expect this will kick off
early in the second half of 2018.”
The former Woolston Outdoor
Pool, which was next to the old
Woolston School, was removed
in 2006.
The community has been campaigning
for a new one for years.
•HAVE YOUR SAY: What
do you want to see in the
development of the new
Linwood Woolston Pool?
What’s your preferred
location? Email your views to
julia.evans@starmedia.kiwi
•Your Local Views, p6
NATIVE FISH, including eels
and whitebait, are being rescued
from the Linwood Canal to
ensure their survival while a new
cycleway is built.
Work on the second stage of
the Rapanui-Shag Rock Cycleway
along Linwood Ave between Linwood
Park and Dyers Rd started
in early January.
A cofferdam – an enclosure
built in the water to create
a dry work environment for
construction – is being built in
the Linwood Canal to widen the
shoulder of Linwood Ave.
Water will be drained from
the cofferdam leaving resident
fish – likely including eels,
inanga (whitebait) and common
bullies – marooned if they’re not
removed first.
WPS Opus Ecologist Annabelle
Coates, who is carrying
out the rescue mission for the
city council, is unsure how many
fish she will find: “We’re not
expecting huge numbers because
traditionally the Linwood Canal
hasn’t been that diverse, however,
we could be surprised by the
numbers and species as that has
been known to happen at other
locations.”
She is hopeful there could be
some endangered long-finned
eels living in the canal.
Ms Coates will use fyke nets
to catch as many fish in the
cofferdam as possible before collecting
the rest using an electric
fishing machine that attracts
and then stuns the fish. She’ll
remove them from the water in a
net before releasing them in the
main part of the canal. The process
does not harm the fish and
is deliberately being carried out
outside of spawning season.
The ecologist will also be on
hand when water is drained from
the cofferdam in case there are
any fish left behind. “The council
has an obligation to protect
native fish and to maintain fish
passage so this has to be done
and it’s an easy thing to do to
save them,” she says.
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FISHY:
Ecologists
Annabelle
Coates
and Eloise
Taylforth
relocate
eels
from the
Linwood
Canal. ​
manager Adrian Thein said fish
conservation is a condition of resource
consent and an important
part of minimising the impact
of cycleway work on the local
environment and ecology.
“Native fish and their spawning
habitats are legally protected
so we have to take care not to
harm them when doing essential
work around waterways. We’re
always happy to do our bit to
make sure the local flora and
fauna is preserved.”
Last year about 26 shortfin eels
were removed from a Woolston
drain using a similar electric
fishing method to make way for
the development of the Te Oranga
Waikura Urban Forest and
Stormwater Basin in Linwood.
2 down, 4 to go!
We’re working in three key central
city intersections over six weekends,
8pm Fri to 6am Mon, until 26 March.
We’ve finished work in the Montreal/
Tuam intersection. There are four more
weekends of work in two intersections
to go.
These intersections need replacing.
We’re digging them out and rebuilding
them to extend their lifespan.
Road layers need ‘curing’, or drying time.
If you don’t see us on site, don’t worry –
we’ll be back again soon.
The intersections will remain rougher
than usual until April or May, when the
final surface will be applied.
Project delivered by:
• Avoid unnecessary travel through the
city. Go around using the four avenues.
• When we’re working on Durham
Street, use Barbadoes and Madras
Streets to get in and out of the city.
• Expect delays. Allow extra time and
plan your travel using tfc.govt.nz.
• Buses will run as usual. Expect
short delays.
• Bike or walk if you can.
INTERSECTION 2 — Durham St
2 — 5 March
Durham Street between Lichfield Street and
Tuam Street is closed. Tuam Street is one lane.
Use Barbadoes and Madras Streets to get in and out of the city.
INTERSECTION 3 — St Asaph St
9 — 12 March
St Asaph Street between Antigua Street and
Hagley Avenue is closed. Antigua Street is
one lane.
Use Moorhouse to travel west.
16 — 19 March
Durham Street between Tuam Street and St
Asaph Street is closed. Tuam Street is one lane.
23 — 26 March
St Asaph Street between Montreal Street and
Antigua Street is closed. Antigua Street is
one lane.
Note: All works are subject to weather. In the event of bad weather, works will be rescheduled.
E: info@otakaroltd.co.nz
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