The Star: October 04, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday October 4 2018 3
News
$5000 to remove stricken yacht
ECan in
discussion
with new
owner as to
who pays
• By Sophie Cornish
•From page 1
Detective Inspector Greg Murton
said police are very concerned
about hospital admissions as a
result of synthetic drug use in
Canterbury.
“Users are taking chances
with their very lives . . . there are
inherent risks for users of these
drugs because they don’t know
what they are taking.”
Dealers and manufacturers have
no scruples whatsoever about what
they are putting in these drugs and
they are the only ones who know
IT TOOK five hours and $5000
to remove a yacht stranded on
New Brighton beach.
At 3am yesterday, Environment
Canterbury, city council
and a team from Protranz
Earthmoving Ltd began dismantling
the yacht.
The yacht ran aground on
September 12, when it’s former
owner Sean Grant jumped overboard,
after it is believed he ran
out of fuel.
The job, which was done early
due to tide conditions and fewer
people being on the beach, took
five hours to complete.
ECan zone manager Christchurch
West Melton Banks Peninsula
Steve Firth said the removal
came after several attempts to
have the owner of the yacht arrange
its removal, which didn’t
happen.
Previously, Mr Grant attempted
to sell the yacht ‘as is, where is’
on Facebook Marketplace with
an asking price of $1.
It is not clear who the new
owner is.
Said Mr Firth: “The owner attempted
to sell the yacht, which
led to confusion as to who the
legal owner was with a few people
all claiming to own it. It was
important to clarify who legally
owned it, as the removal of the
what’s in them, end users don’t
know at all.’’
Detective Inspector Murton said
anyone with information about
dealers and manufacturers of party
pills or synthetic drugs should
phone the police at any time.
They can do that anonymously on
Crimestoppers 0800 555111.
NO MORE: Detective
Inspector Greg Murton says
police are very concerned
about the increasing use of
synthetic drugs.
boat and associated cost, which is
about $5000, is the responsibility
of the boat owner.”
ECan has paid for the cost of
the removal and are in discussions
with the owner over this.
Delaying the removal was no
longer an option, said Mr Firth,
as it was a health and safety
risk to the public and had the
potential to result in adverse
environmental effects.
GONE: The
yacht which
Sean Grant
(inset) ran
aground on
New Brighton
beach was
dismantled
yesterday.
“We were conscious that if it
stayed there any longer it might
break up, which is potentially
hazardous for anyone on the
beach,” said Mr Firth.
The yacht was then taken to
Kate Valley to be disposed of.
Interim operations manager at
Protranz Earthmoving Brendan
Webber said about eight staff
were needed to pull apart the
yacht.
Synthetic drug theory in two deaths
Local
News
Now
in brief
A PLAYGROUND
FOR CHILDREN.
NOT FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.
Fire rages, homes at risk
Cyclist receives
serious injuries
A man received serious injuries
after being knocked off his bike
by a car on Yaldhurst Rd on
Tuesday morning. Emergency
services attended the crash in
Sockburn around 7.50am.
Cathedral site
cleaned up
The site of the Christ Church
Cathedral has been cleaned
up. It comes after it was
announced clearing the site
would begin in July and would
involve removing asbestoscontaminated
rubble and
weeds. The Cathedral has
been sitting derelict since the
February 22, 2011, earthquake.
The clean-up has revealed
damage to the ground where
the Cathedral’s spire fell.
Scott statue reunited
with walking pole
The statue of Robert Falcon
Scott near the corner of
Worcester St and Oxford Tce
has been reunited with his
walking pole. Within weeks
of it being restored, the statue
was vandalised and the pole
snapped in two. But city council
manager capital delivery
community Darren Moses
said the pole was recovered.
“However we never recovered
the round mesh footing at the
base of the pole which had to
be refabricated.” He said it is
expected to cost about $7000.
Cat loses leg after
being shot
Police are appealing for
information relating to the
shooting of a cat in Burnside.
Between Sunday and Monday
afternoon the pet, Bubby, was
shot with an air rifle. The pellet
shattered the bone in Bubby’s
leg and it had to be amputated.
Anyone with information
should phone Constable
Kenneth Marriott on 363 7400,
or Crimestoppers anonymously
on 0800 555 111, quoting the file
number 181001/7687.
Our country is a target for criminal networks, looking to clean their money. It’s estimated
that over $1 billion a year comes from drug dealing and fraud, and can be laundered
through New Zealand businesses. Risking our reputation and economy. So, we’re making
law changes to protect New Zealand and everything we love about it. To find out more,
visit keepourmoneyclean.govt.nz