The Star: August 23, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday August 23 2018 9
buildings
WORK: The Thomas Edmonds band rotunda and pavilion
will also be restored.
Staff will report back to the city
council with recommendations
for each building before the end
of the year.
The city council has completed
a separate application process to
explore funding and future use
options for 13 heritage buildings.
City council general manager
citizens and community Mary
Richard said Chokebore Lodge at
Riccarton Racecourse, Penfold’s
Cob Cottage, Little River Railway
Goods Shed, Kapuatohe Dwelling
and Kapuatohe Cottage in Belfast,
Spreydon’s Coronation Hall, and
Kukupa Hostel in Pigeon Bay
have received funding in the Long
Term Plan.
“Chokebore Lodge will be for
residential, Penfold’s Cob Cottage
is being restored for education
purposes. The Little River Railway
Goods Shed will be restored
as a storage shed,” she said.
Ms Richardson said the future
use of Kapuatohe Dwelling, Kapuatohe
Cottage, Coronation Hall
and Kukupa Hostel is yet to be
determined.
But the city council will be
consulting on whether they will
be for commercial or community
use.
Ms Richardson said the other
heritage buildings, which did not
yet have funding set aside, would
continue to be cared for by the
city council.
“The other buildings will
be maintained to stop further
deterioration until funding is
available in the Long Term Plan
for restoration.”
• By Anan Zaki
STOLEN URNS belonging to a
widow were part of a $100,000
antique haul seized in a police
sting last week.
Retired Woolston resident Jill
Walker made a plea in The Star
last month for the return of the
copper urns that were restored
by her late husband of 43 years,
Barry Walker.
Police executed a search warrant
at an address on Aynsley
Tce, St Martins,
last week. A
29-year-old-man
and a 44-yearold
woman were
charged with
burglary and
Jill Walker receiving stolen
property.
On Tuesday, the two alleged
offenders entered no plea in the
district court and will appear
again on September 11.
Other items recovered include
outdoor ornamental pots,
statues, street lamps, wrought
iron gates, and other antiques,
police said.
Detective Karen Simmons
said the alleged burglars targeted
antiques and the items
were stolen around Beckenham,
Opawa, Somerfield and
Woolston.
Said Detective Simmons: “To
be able to return the urns to the
victim and her family is absolutely
wonderful.
“We do still have a number
of items that we haven’t identified
an owner for, and we’d
obviously like to get these back
where they belong.”
Mrs Walker said the copper
urns were one of the few memories
left of Mr Walker, who
passed away nine years ago. She
was delighted that the items
were found.
“It’s just wonderful news,”
Mrs Walker said.
She thanked everyone who
Local
News
Now
Police recover stolen urns
Fire rages, homes at risk
RECOVERED: Above left –
One of Jill Walker’s copper
urns. Police are looking for
the owners of the other
items.
sent in messages of support
after her appeal for help.
“I’m sure the newspaper article
helped. When a lot of people
know about it, it makes it hard
to get rid of it doesn’t it?”
Mrs Walker now plans to
plant two camellia plants called
‘donation’ in the urns because
her husband was an organ
donor.
“Once they are full of dirt
they will be much harder [to
steal].”
She will now make sure her
courtyard gates are always
locked and plans to install
security cameras.
•Anyone with information
about the stolen items
can phone police on 363
7400.
Late night Lyttelton Tunnel closures
From Sunday 26 August, you’ll
need to plan your travel around
late night tunnel closures.
These are essential to both install
and test a new fire protection system
inside the tunnel.
Work on this $28.7 million project
is expected to be completed early
next year.
Traffic lane closures are timed
for late night/early morning on
the lightest tunnel traffic days of
the week, ie Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday.
TUNNEL
CLOSED
11pm to 4am
Sunday 26 August
Monday 27 August
Tuesday 28 August
The tunnel will open to
traffic for 10 minutes on
the hour on these
nights.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Real-time traffic information for the Lyttelton Tunnel area is available
at www.tfc.govt.nz
• A three-month look ahead schedule of tunnel traffic lane closures
can be found at www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/projects/lytteltontunnel/lyttelton-tunnel-lane-closures.pdf
• Emergency access will be maintained through the tunnel at all times.
• For more information about the Lyttelton Tunnel fire protection
upgrade, go to www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/lyttelton-tunnel/
• Find up-to-date information on road conditions, delays and
closures at www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Check the Transport Agency’s official Twitter @nztacwc and
Facebook facebook.com/nztasouthisland pages.
• For traffic and travel information, call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS
(0800 44 44 49) to speak to one of our team.