10 Tuesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>27</strong> <strong>2018</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi <strong>News</strong> Have your say on the plans for West Broken Run Reserve • By Anan Zaki CONSULTATION IS open for a proposed landscape plan at the West Broken Run Reserve in Wigram. The city council made the proposal after suggestions from residents. The proposal includes planting native species, fruit trees, a nature play area and boardwalk over the stream at the reserve. Public feedback opened last week and closes on December 12. Should the landscape project be approved at a meeting to be held in February, the project will start in winter. Neighbours of the West Broken Run Reserve sent a request to plant the park in May. The city council said planting more of the reserve will reduce the grassed area and create a more “inviting” environment. The reserve is on the corner of Broken Run and Wigram Rd. The city council is also planning a community planting day in winter. Top-selling Yaldhurst author now a quarry fighter • By Anan Zaki SORAYA NICHOLAS has recently made a name for herself fighting a quarry in Yaldhurst. But away from opposing the Road Metals quarry extension near her home, Nicholas – who publishes under the name Soraya Lane – is a top-selling author writing historical women’s fiction. She started writing books 15 years ago, with little results. But that changed after she published her first novel, Voyage of the Heart, in 2013. Fast-forward to today and Nicholas is currently in the process of pitching her novels to United States television networks. “It’s very surreal. When you’re writing a novel . . . it’s a movie in my head and to think that someone might actually take that story, stamp their own creativity on it and turn it into something visual is pretty exciting,” Nicholas said. She published Voyage of the Heart independently. “That novel did really well and sold about 20,000 copies on my own and then I was offered a publishing deal by Amazon Publishing through their Lake Union imprint and the rest is history,” Nicholas said. Nicholas’ second novel, Wives • By Anan Zaki FRUSTRATION is mounting over rubbish bags being dumped on roads. A number of residents went on Facebook to report that black rubbish bags have been dumped near the Quarry View subdivision in Halswell and in rural Selwyn since <strong>November</strong> last year. Prebbleton resident Miriam Martin said on most occasions the bags are full of discarded WRITER: Soraya Nicholas is a top-selling author who is also leading the campaign against the proposed Road Metals quarry extension in Yaldhurst. of War, debuted at No 2 on Amazon Kindle in the United Kingdom and United States in July last year. She was the first Kiwi to reach No 2 in the list. “I couldn’t quite crack noodles or other food scraps. But household rubbish has also been dumped. Last week household rubbish was found dumped on Tosswill Rd, Prebbleton. “It’s a bit weird as to where they are coming from,” Dr Martin said. The rubbish is also only found on quiet rural roads, she said. “They are obviously going through the back roads from Halswell or to Halswell,” Dr Martin said. No 1 [overall]. But I took out the No 1 spot in historical fiction, women’s fiction and also romance,” Nicholas said. Wives of War sold more than 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom and United States. She notified the Selwyn District Council about the rubbish last week. “The food scraps are attracting flocks of birds, rats and mice. It’s a health hazard,” Dr Martin said. Others business pay to have their rubbish cleared she said. “It’s criminal behaviour,” Dr Martin said. “We’re not allowed to drop rubbish on the side of the road for good reason. You don’t have WESTERN NEWS Local <strong>News</strong> Now Fire rages, homes at risk She has focused on romance novels due to market demands. “When I first started writing romance it was purely because from a business point of view romance is one of the biggest genres in the world,” Nicholas said. Nicholas said she has chosen to stay out of the public limelight in New Zealand until this year, when she decided to fight the proposed Road Metals quarry extension in Yaldhurst. Nicholas initially studied to be a lawyer, but never practised due to her love for writing. The knowledge in law was one of the reasons she has vocally campaigned against the Road Metals quarry extension. “I’ve been wanting to do work for charities or unpaid work and then this [quarry extension] came up. With quarrying so close to homes it’s nice to know I’m helping people who need it.” Frustration grows over illegal rubbish dumping in Halswell Hanleys Essential Dog Roll • Pure meat Formulated for dogs • No chemicals • No fillers • Contains 18% protein a right to pollute other people’s property, even if it is the council’s.” Said a Selwyn District Council spokesman: “We have received complaints about rubbish being dumped in the Prebbleton area, and have removed it once we have been made aware of the dumping.” Dr Martin urged more people to report rubbish dumping and take pictures of the people if caught in the act. Available from The Feed Shack Shop 33, Bishopdale Mall | Phone 359 5118 or visit www.animalessentials co.nz Wednesday 5th Dec - Cnr Wilkinsons & Johns Rd (Access via Gardiners) Thursday 13th Dec - Cnr Linwood Ave & Keighleys Road
WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Tuesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>27</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 11 Get Your Jingle on @ JuST INCREDIBLE don’t forget the pets dress-up bling fun, funky & traditional ornaments bows, cards, gift labels, wrap & more elf magic lots of treasures to discover santa stockings & sacks a christmas hat for everyone 3 Exciting POP UP CHRISTMAS Stores now open Barrington Mall outside past The Warehouse entrance The Hub Hornby near Farmers South City Centre beside Whitcoulls Barrington Mall • The Hub, Hornby • New Brighton Mall • South City Centre