Nor'West News: April 30, 2019

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday April 30 2019 7
News
‘Ping pong’ table controversy
•From page 1
“We have broken core basic
infrastructure and it’s like you
guys (community board) are
having a party spending money
on other things. It’s taken out of
the rates from somewhere,” Mr
Gould told Nor’West News.
He admitted he was a
keyboard warrior and it was
“appropriate and reasonable” for
him to be called out.
“My little soapbox is my
Facebook page. I am a keyboard
warrior. I type fast and I think
you can tell I also think very fast
. . . I post all the time ranting
and raving,” he said. “Ali is
Meredyth Anderson
responds to the Nor’West
News article on the
Papanui-Innes Community
Board’s decision to
purchase the multi-use
concrete table for the
Shirley Community Centre
I personally don’t think that
there’s anything wrong with the
table, but I wouldn’t like to see
chairs near it.
Personally, I think that
wooden tables will be a great
idea plus seating as well, because
if we worry about all the
scaremongering of tables being
burnt in public places then all
possibly quite right, I didn’t
attend the meeting so I could be
ill-informed.”
Ms Jones said she had “no
problem with people posting
their disapproval” of board
decisions.
“But they need to be informed
. . . I blocked him from my
social media about a year ago
because I found his uninformed
attacks tiring.”
Ms Jones said another option
for a table costing $104, which
was reported in Nor’West
News, was misleading because
it did should have also stated it
would cost another $1500 for
we will have is a concrete jungle.
Wood furniture is much
more aesthetically pleasing and
relatively cheap, so my request
is that your committee also
approves some of these tables and
chairs.
installation. “The reason I voted
for it because it’s more resilient,
multi-use and relocatable and
it can be used by a number of
different groups,” she said.
Board member Jo Byrne said
she did not pay attention to the
Facebook post. “He is a tricky
customer though . . . I think
in local government, you have
to be careful not to just listen
to the squeaky wheel.” But she
thought the table was a “great”
use of money and would help
improve the site. Board member
John Stringer, who felt the table
was too expensive, said he did
not support Ms Jones’ reaction.
Janine Heeringa
responds to an article on
the possible asphalting of
St James Park in Papanui
The article was really
heartening to read as I am a
regular user of this park and
can concur with all of what has
been said. I recently contacted
the city council about a kauri
tree that had been felled and am
pleased to see pegs set out for
replacement planting sites.
The new asphalt will be a
welcome addition to what is a
fabulous green space. Thanks to
the community board for their
initiative.
• By Jess Gibson
THE NEXT phase of the
Paddington Playground
renewal project is under way.
City council staff are
preparing a report for the
Papanui-Innes Community
Board to decide what upgrades
should be made to the
playground in Northcote.
Staff will consider the
feedback from 24 submissions
made by individuals and groups
on the proposed plan during
the public consultation phase.
The draft plan includes new
equipment, such as monkey
bars, a bridge, climbing wall,
spring rocker, swings, carousel
and see-saw.
New gardens and trees near
the playground are also planed
to enhance the play area.
Twenty-one submissions
supported the plan, two did not
support it and one submission
said “maybe.”
There were common
themes in the feedback, with
two submissions in support
suggesting the additional
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playground upgrade
being prepared
installation of speed bumps in
Paddington St to reduce speed
near the playground, while four
suggested more seating and two
requested shade sails.
One submission, which
opposed the plan said the cost
of the renewal was unnecessary
as the equipment was already
modern enough.
Another submission, which
did not support the renewal,
said the money would be better
spent elsewhere, such as on
free public transport or the
completion of cycleways in the
area.
Staff aim to get the report
to the community board
sometime between May and
June.
All submitters will be
notified once the report has
been confirmed on a meeting
agenda.
•To read the public
feedback, visit https://
ccc.govt.nz/the-council/
consultations-andsubmissions/haveyoursay/
show/228
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