Western News: May 14, 2019

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4 Tuesday May 14 2019 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi News RESPECTED: Primary school teacher Debbie Bergin has had a large farewell from St Bernadette’s School. Leaving celebration for teacher A CELEBRATION has been held to recognise the valuable contribution a long-serving teacher has made to St Bernadette’s School and church. Debbie Bergin has left St Bernadette’s and has now moved into her new role as a primary teacher at St James School in Aranui. The celebration was organised by her former colleagues and friends and was held at the Catherine McAuley Centre at Villa Maria College. Father Paulo Filoialii held a mass, which was followed by entertainment from Pasifika students, speeches and an afternoon tea. Former principal Maureen Moore said Ms Bergin is a highly respected teacher and many speakers at the ceremony thanked her for her commitment to the children and families she had worked alongside. The celebration was attended by more than 80 guests including Sisters of Mercy who taught with Ms Bergin, principals, former colleagues, parishioners, family, friends, past pupils and their families. •From page 1 A city council spokesman said Hornby had also experienced far less damage to infrastructure compared to other parts of the city. In 2011, the suburb’s population was 8370. By 2018, it had grown to 9340. Mr Duff said there is some scepticism as to whether the new motorway will cause traffic in Hornby to drop, as cars travelling in from Rolleston already cut through Springs Rd before linking up to stage one of the motorway. In the association’s submission to the city council, he highlighted a recent report from The Salvation Army which interviewed Hornby residents. It said: “Hornby needs help as well as the other side of town . . . this area is growing too fast. It’s becoming a bottleneck. “The influx of new residents, businesses and activity since the earthquakes has added greater stress to our roads and surrounding infrastructure.” Mr Duff’s concern has been backed by residents’ association member Mark Peters, who described roads such as Amyes Rd becoming a “car park” in rush hour. Local News Now Fire rages, homes at risk Hornby traffic issues Chalmers St, Shands Rd, Main South Rd have also been identified as roads needing improvement for congestion. Daily traffic count figures show Amyes Rd has about 13,600 vehicles a day, Shands Rd 33,400 and Chalmers St to Main South Rd has 3500 vehicles. Mr Peters said right turning arrows are needed for the intersections of Amyes Rd and Springs Rd, Carmen Rd and Chalmers St and Carmen and Waterloo Rd. But Halswell-Hornby- Riccarton Community Board chairman Mike Mora said he did not want to see a “knee-jerk” reaction to the problem until the southern motorway opens. City councillor Jimmy Chen said the extension of the motorway and the South Express Major Cycle Route will be important in helping with the issue. He said city council staff will also conduct a traffic count and consider installing a speed bump on Waterloo Rd between Carmen and Gilberthorpes Rd. It is due to concerns from residents about the number of heavy vehicles using the road. Marc Duff WESTERN NEWS powered by people Smile for SelfieS again! Complete your look Tania Anderton Registered Legal Executive Your local expert in Residential Property, Wills, Powers of Attorney and Estate Planning E: tania.anderton@saunders.co.nz 233 Riccarton Road, Phone 341 5419 The Partial Denture People Congratulations CAMERON BAILEY Just announced as this years Number 1! 2019 No.1 Harcourts gold No.1 Harcourts Christchurch
WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Tuesday May 14 2019 5 News HAVE YOUR SAY: What do you think of James Gough’s idea? Email your views to Georgia,Oconnor@starmedia.kiwi Gough wants to look at selling libraries • By Julia Evans POTENTIAL mayoral candidate and Fendalton Ward city councillor James Gough wants to investigate the possibility of selling off libraries and service centres. Cr Gough said a conversation should be had over whether suburban libraries and service centres, excluding Turanga, would be a better asset if they were sold to private investors, with the city council as long-term lease holders. The value of city council’s library and service centre network is $65.3 million. “It would realise significant revenue in the short-term to assist with paying down debt and reducing rates – but it would also be essential that council expenditure is significantly reduced too,” he said. However, Cr Gough said it would have to be paired with pared back capital and operational spending to have the best outcome to reduce rates. “The proposal would need to be a hand-in-glove approach where increased revenue in the shortterm was coupled with a significant reduction in capital and operational spending as well.” Cr Gough has been a proponent of asset sales. But in September the city council voted against a proposed review into how much could ASSETS: (Clockwise) – Fendalton, Bishopdale, Shirley and Upper Riccarton libraries. be made from selling stakes in businesses such as the Lyttelton Port Company and broadband provider Enable. It is a conversation starter echoed by the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce in its submission to the city council’s Annual Plan based off a similar model in Perth. “I think there are opportunities for the council to take a good, hard look at some of the assets that they do own and work out whether or not they need to own them or whether there is a different model for that operation,” chief executive Leeann Watson said. Ms Watson said it should be looked at it on a case by case basis – there should not be a “hard and fast” model, which was supported by Mayor Lianne Dalziel. “I used the example of the Linwood Library being in the Eastgate Mall and the fact that we jointly own this building with Ngai Tahu,” Ms Dalziel said. “It is enabling of people to access the library in the same hours that the mall is open.” Cr Gough is considering running for mayor. “I’ll probably make an announcement in the near future,” he said. The People’s Choice chairman Keir Leslie, which opposes asset sales, said libraries were a core council business. “The ideal that we would sell off libraries in our own city . . . would be a bad deal for the ratepayer in the long run.” Chase Commercial real estate agent Brendan Chase said the buildings would be “highly saleable and sought after” with a reliable and safe tenant in the city council. “The question to ask is are those libraries going to be required in the long-term, if they are you’ll pay for them over and over again,” Mr Chase said. Cr Gough said the projected rates increase of about 50 per cent in the next 10 years is an unsustainable “house of cards” that would “epically fail.” “Average incomes are not rising anywhere near this quickly so the system is fundamentally broken.” new store opening soon church corner • HeLp us to HeLp otHers • donations appreCiated • open 6 days • Free piCkup Can be arranged For quaLity donations Count down Hansen Lane waimairi rd riCCarton rd iLam rd middLeton rd BAND The Air Force On Tour 2019 Saturday 25 May Air Force Museum, Christchurch Cnr riCCarton road & Hansons Lane opposite Countdown voLunteers urgentLy needed - pH 03 349 4163 Tickets available from the museum shop or airforcemuseum.co.nz IT’S MUCH EASIER STAYING WELL thAN GETTING BETTER getting the flu shot every year is your best protection against the flu Flu shots are available from your GP team or some pharmacies. You may even qualify for a free vaccination. Check out www.flufree.co.nz for more info and flu facts. PUBLICW04
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Western News: May 14, 2019

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