Bay Harbour: March 20, 2019

Wednesday March 20 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
BAY HARBOUR
Local
News
Now
PAGE 5
Fire rages, homes at risk
Catch-22 for Black Cat
Rocket launch
• By Louis Day
BLACK CAT Cruises is in a
catch-22 situation over the
ongoing saga of its disability
ramps on Akaroa wharf.
In July last year, the Banks
Peninsula Community Board
gave Black Cat Cruises three
months to remove all nonconsented
structures, such as
disability access ramps, seating,
signage and canopies.
But the two ramps remain in
place nearly five months after
they were meant to be removed.
Black Cat Cruises chief
executive Paul Milligan told
the Banks Peninsula
Community Board at its
meeting on Monday that if the
ramps were removed the Black
Cat Cruises’ building would
become non-compliant.
“We are not asking the
council or community board to
bend the rules here. If we could
get rid of the ramps, we would,”
he said.
The community board has
also received advice from city
council staff, saying if the ramps
were removed the building
would become non-compliant
and may be closed down.
However, Akaroa Fishermen’s
Association head John Wright
said the group wants to see the
HON AMY ADAMS
MP FOR SELWYN
Working hard for our communities
ONGOING: The unconsented disability ramps at Black Cat
Cruises continue to be debated.
ramps removed.
“We are definitely sticking
by our guns. We require the
unconsented structures to be
removed,” he said.
Mr Wright previously told Bay
Harbour News the combination
of the disability ramp and
crowds of tourists from cruise
ships were a real issue.
“There are some days where
it is impossible to get a chiller
truck on to the wharf to unload
our fishing vessels. If it’s a hot
day and we’ve got fish on the
deck, it spoils in the hot sun.”
The community board
requested city council staff to
continue to negotiate changes
to access structures on the
wharf and that any structures
which could not be removed
at present be addressed in the
redevelopment of the wharf.
tree trouble?
call us 384 9630
www.fourseasonstreecare.co.nz
draws criticism
•From page 1
The launch was made from
remote Kaitorete Spit near
Birdlings Flat on March 3.
The rocket did not get out of
the Earth’s atmosphere and came
back down on the spit, causing
a fire. It was supposed to have
crashed into the sea. The fire was
put out by the students involved
in the project before the Little
River Volunteer Fire Brigade
arrived.
Said Little River Volunteer Fire
Brigade acting station officer
Matt Ledgerwood: “With a bit of
bad luck it could have been a lot
worse, luckily the grass was quite
short and there was no wind.”
Rocket launches do not require
a fire permit.
But Fire and Emergency NZ
has the legal ability to prohibit
or restrict activities in certain
circumstances.
Mr Hutt said they would be
taking a harder line with any
future rocket launches.
“In this particular activity, we
have a bit of case history where it
has gone wrong, whereas before
we had nothing. So it would
have been difficult to impose
restrictions on people but now, if
Christchurch Showroom
13b Parkhouse Rd, Wigram
Massive Stock Clearance - End of lines Display models and Accessories up to 70% OFF
Heated towel Rails From $109
they came back, I would be able
to say last time this happened
so I am going to impose some
restrictions.”
Canterbury University said last
week there were no current plans
for more launches in the area.
The launch was also criticised
by nearby residents.
Little River Wairewa
Community Trust chairman
Robert Burch labelled the rocket
launch as a “silly thing to do.”
“Why are they launching a
rocket when we have a total fire
ban?” he said.
Birdlings Flat resident Sue
Morrow also had concerns.
“It’s bloody stupid doing that at
this time of year when it is tinder
dry,” she said.
The rocket launch was part of
the international race to become
the first university group to blast
a rocket beyond the Karman line.
The Karman line is 100km
above the earth’s surface and
is widely recognised as the
boundary to outer space.
The University of Southern
California’s rocket propulsion
laboratory set the highest altitude
reached by a university group in
March 2017 with 44km.
If you would like to sign up for
my newsletter please visit:
www.amyadams.co.nz
CONTACT
P 03 344 0418
E selwynoffice@parliament.govt.nz
Showers
From $459
UP tO 50% OFF
Vanity Range
t005 Model
Now $249
Freestanding Baths
From $999
Funded by the Parliamentary
Service and authorised
by Amy Adams, 829 Main
South Road, Templeton,
Christchurch.
t h e t r e e p e o p l e
f o u r s e a s o n s t r e e C a r e
Open 6 Days Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm | Sat 9.30am - 4pm
0800 MILLEN | www.millen.co.nz | 03 348 8678
THE NEW KING
OF THE FARM
The all new 2019 KingQuads are here and ready to work.
1 ⁄3
DEPOSIT
1 ⁄3 1 ⁄3
IN 2020 IN 2021
Power away on a new Suzuki KingQuad 400, 500 or 750
and pay 1/3 deposit, 1/3 in 2020 and a final 1/3 in 2021.
TALK TO US TODAY OR VISIT WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ
FOR MORE DETAILS
KingQuad 750XPZL9
shown with alloy wheels.
2.95 %
INTEREST
SZM0439 PIC
Promotion ends 30 April 2019 or while stocks last. Not available in conjunction with
any other promotion. Prices include GST. Finance is at 2.95% interest. Payments include
$300 documentation fee, and $10.35 PPSR. Normal lending and credit criteria apply.
WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ