Ashburton Courier: February 13, 2020

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Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday February 13, 2020, Page 21 Mining past laid out for all to see at Mt Somers As well as fresh air, exercise and a taste of subalpine flora, a walk from the popular Woolshed Creek car park to the old Blackburn mine offers aglimpse into the ‘‘broken seams and broken dreams’’ of local coal mining. The main mine site is ameandering walk along the stream and up to the top of the ridge, avertical gain of 170m. Along the way vestiges of the area’s mining past can be seen and information boards explain the process of bringing coal out of the ground. In 1929 asteeprailed incline was built up the hill and a four tonne hopper truck would thunder down in two and half minutes, pulling up an empty hopper at the same time. The bottom of the incline finished in atrestle built over the tramway so that the wagons could discharge coal straight on to the waiting railway wagons. Alarge wrecked hopper sits at the base of the incline as areminder of the process, as does tracking, telegraph poles and other metalwork. Mining at Mt Somers depended on the use of secondhand and recycled equipment, an information board tells visitors. At the top incline an outdoor museum display includes the restored mine entrance, coal wagons, a sluicing cannon, explosives storeroom, and various smaller relics. The Blackburn Mining Co opened the mine in 1929, but was bankrupt by the following year. In 1933, a cooperative was formed by out of work miners to reopen the mine. A Mr Burnett took control in 1935. The incline from the mine to the valley floor and the tramway closed in 1952, deemed too slow and inefficient. A hair raising road called Burma Road was constructed instead, and coal was taken by lorries to the railhead. In 1955, Blackburn No. 1mine closed after a fire. Blackburn No. 2mine was opened on a 9m thick coal seam, but by 1956 it was exhausted and closed. The Blackburn Mine reopened in 1963 as a open cast (pit) operation, before closing for good in 1968. Awellbeing awareness walk from Woolshed Creek to the mine is being held this Sunday to raise money for Safer Mid Canterbury’s Lives Worth Living programme. The walk departs at 9am and it costs $10. Feds says no need for Bill Federated Farmers has urged the Environment Select Committee to ditch the Resource Management Act (RMA) Amendment Bill and wait for related concurrent processes on its work programme to play out. They say the Bill preempts, and jeopardises, a comprehensive review of the RMA already being done by aGovernmentappointedspecialist panel. Federated Farmers environment spokesman Chris Allen told the committee this week the Bill ‘‘put the cart before the horse’’ on the Essential Freshwater proposals which had sought feedback from the public on some of the same matters as in the Bill. ‘‘There’s been aconcerning lack of stakeholder engagement on the more crucial matterswithin the Bill. ‘‘Federated Farmers was very concerned to note that while the government was consulting on these exact proposals as part of the Essential Freshwater ‘Discussion Document’ process, it was concurrently drafting its answers into the Bill prior to assessing and addressing feedback and concerns raised in the more Your total heating solution Ducted heatpump/air conditioning unit Major suppliers of than 17,500 submissions received. ‘‘The Bill is fundamentally at odds with its overarching objective, which is ‘to reduce complexity, increase certainty, restore public participation opportunities and improve the Act’s processes’.’’ Mr Allensaid fasttracking freshwater planning processes in this manner oftenbecome ‘‘survival of the best resourced’’, with smaller councils left behind. It would do nothing for meaningful public consultation. ‘‘Freshwater planning processes across New Zealand are eitheralready well under way or near or at completion. There are real risks of upending this progress.’’ Mr Allensaid there was nothing wrong with resourcestretched councils calling on the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) to help with enforcement and/or prosecution issues. But the way the Bill wascurrently written seemed to allow the EPA to step in uninvited, override local processes and assume fulland total powers including enforcement. It was an unwarranted duplicationof roles. Resilience specialist back for talk Whatever the shape of the room, ducted units ensure uniform temperatures throughout. Cool orwarm air is ducted into the room through diffusers, discreetly positioned in the walls or ceiling.Verylow sound levels. The use of ducts allows air outlets to be conveniently installed anywhereinthe ceiling,giving improved room aesthetics,with its unobtrusivepresence. Phone 308 7182 On Call 021 597 517 211/D Alford Forest Rd, Ashburton Rural Support Trust (RST) Mid Canterbury are bringing safety, wellness and resilience specialist Lance Burdett back to Ashburton. Mr Burdett is founder of WARN International but was acrisis negotiator and instructor with police, and an FBI trainer. He will speak at afree public event in Ashburton next month. RST Mid Canterbury manager/ connector Judy Skevington, who has heard Mr Burdett speak on a few occasions, said his entertaining manner, considering the topic, was beneficial to everyone attending. His talks are described as engaging and full of sense, and offer people tips and techniques to help handle difficult situations by understanding what goes on in people’s brains. Mrs Skevington encouraged anyone who was able, and wherever they lived, to make the time to attend the event at the Hotel Ashburton on March 9. It starts at 7pm. People can register via email to rst.midcanterbury@gmail.co.nz or text to 027 878 7254. RST’s are made up of paid and volunteer rural people who in their region help farming families get through tough times. Mr Burdett, who toured New Zealand last year, said atthe time, working with rural people dealing with challenges such as weather, climate, biosecurity, financial worries and relationship problems was especially important. ‘‘Isolation can really make things worse if our stress iskept inside our heads. We worry because we are programmed to manage risk. That’s how our ancestors survived thinking about the worst that can happen and acting on it. ‘‘The challenge for rural people is if they talk about their worries it’s often only with their partner or workers who have the same concerns, and it goes round incircles,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s all about showing people how to control their busy mind, recognise how to use the drafting racein theirheads, and toolstohelp deal with those negative thoughts.’’ heatpumps 2256640
Page 22, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday February 13, 2020 Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Rural&Lifestyle Lachie identified as future leader By ToniWilliams Lachie Davidson has travelled to the other side of the world, been crowned a world champion egg thrower and has just embarkedonacareer with an internationally recognised company who pride themselves asbeing outside the box thinkers. The 22yearold former Ashburton College head boy is one of four to gain a place in the Synlait Future Leaders Programme. More than 300 people applied. It’s a threeyear accelerated development programme, developed by Synlait organisational development manager Tony Aitken, which will see him undergo leadership training ashelearns different facets of the company. It had arigorous application process involving RURAL DIARY Thu • Brought to you by your local insurance brokers application, multiple interviews, psychometric testing and group assessments including working on tasks under pressure while under observation with other applicants. But Lachie is no stranger to pressure. In 2019 he and fellow Massey University student, Ben McColgan, under the team name New Zealand Yolk Ferns, took to the final of the World Egg Throwing Championships in Lincolnshire, England and won. They were up against a Canadian duo and battled it out in 10metre increments trying to throw and catch the most of three uncracked eggs in the longest distance. The win came down to a final throw by Lachie, made from the 60metre mark and successfully caught by McColgan. Friday, February 14 • Central Canterbury Flock Ram, Sheffield Monday, February 17 • Temuka Tuesday, February 18 • Canterbury Park All Stock Thursday, February 20 • Temuka Store Cattle Monday, February 24 • Temuka Tuesday, February 25 • Canterbury Park All Stock excl. Store Cattle Thursday, February 27 • Temuka Store Cattle 2231142 Lachie Davidson It was an “eggstatic” victory and when national media came calling many egg references came too. The free trip fitted in perfectly with the university break and he got to travel through Europe during the three week period. Before global success Lachie was better known in Mid Canterbury for his role as head boy at Ashburton College back in 2015. He attributes his career direction as being subliminally planted during his final year at high school during agriculture study with teacher Stephen Millichamp. It involved an international view and looked into production systems with adeer focus, which Mr Millichamp farms. In 2016 he took agap year as aLattitude Global Volunteer, travelling to Ecuador and then Argentina working with special need children and as an English tutor at a language school, respectively. It was something he’d wanted to do while he was young and said it helped him mature and gave him abetter understanding of having “street smarts”. “Nothing too bad happened,” he says, of the experience. Midway through the year he applied to university. While the world was his oyster, he chose Massey University inPalmerston North doing aBachelor of AgriCommerce – International Agriculture. By the time Synlait launched their annual nationwide recruitment drive in early 2019,Lachie had an evenbetter understanding of his world. Impressed by the Synlait view of “doing things differently” with environment and sustainability listed among their top priorities, heapplied to the programme. “I was blown away by the environmental side of what the company was doing…was impressed by their message.” Among some of the initiatives were the change from coalfired boilers to gas and electrical options,and the set up of the 15 hectare Whakapuawai native tree nursery. It will growuptoone million trees ayear which will be given to farm suppliers, and incorporates anannual volunteer planting day for all Synlait employees to get out on farm and help plant trees. In returning to Canterbury,Lachiehas relocated to Christchurch and is living with high school mates, Matthew Rae, Jack Fleming, Logan Coote and Alicia Calles. His parents, Niki and Rennie, have also moved from rural Mid Canterbury to Little River, at Banks Peninsula, although they have kept a little slice of24hectares, which is being used for cropping, along Greenstreet, just out of Ashburton. “It’s made the transition easier coming back (to Canterbury),” he said, of living with his mates. The programme will give him insight into all areas ofthe Synlait operation, from milk supply to manufacturing, quality to business development and sustainability. He has started in business development based at the Dunsandel site, but will spend four to six months in each role, working shifts where necessary, alongside others to learn the process. “It’s good to have an understanding and be able to relate to people on the floor. It’s a good foundation,” Mr Aitken said. He is also mentored by a company director to gain insight into senior Diamond offered to DairyNZ as prize Recognising thevalue ofdairy farmershas seenjewellersMarkand PamelaBeckett giftarare greendiamond, valuedat $12,000, as aprize for aDairyNZ organised nationwide promotion. TheAucklandbased coupleare showing their lovefor NewZealand dairy farmers by giving awaythe twocaratdiamond to showtheirsupport fordairy farmers and their appreciation for the workthey do every day of the year, and in allweather. Mr Beckett, who is aLondontrained jeweller but raised on aMatamata dairy farm, said ‘‘our lives over the past 40plus years haverevolved around precious gems andwebelieveKiwi dairy farmersare gems too.” “We reckon this rare green diamond is the perfectway to celebrateour dairy farmers who arecommittedto caring for ourland and environment, and,webelieve, just likediamonds, thattheyare here forever.” Mr Beckettsaid growing up on the farm leadership which is a valuable connection with avisible presence. And there was ahigh likelihood of relocation to another of Synlait’s national sites; Auckland, Pokeno, Palmerston North or Temuka but less likely Shanghai in China. It teaches them how to relocate. Mr Aitken said as a “growing company” the programme allowed Synlait to ensure there were future leaders, with the necessary knowledge, to support the company’s purpose of ‘doing milk differently for ahealthier world’. Synlait employs around 1100 employees; 800 of which work in various roles, and shifts, at the Dunsandel plant. “We recruit for the programme in late February, the year prior, targeting final year students atkey universities around the country, which offer degrees (with) the best fit to our business operation. The three year programme rotates participants, such as Lachieand fellow associates Issy Davies, Giorgia Miller Thevenard and Claire Ye through avariety of roles while they receive leadership training. ‘‘ourfarming families had alongterm view of environmental stewardship –everything my father didonthe farm was to care for the landand his animals. “It’smyopinionthatdairyfarmers are more environmentallygreenthan most– certainly greener than many nonfarming people becauseofthe workthey do to protectthe environment.’’ The competition closes on March10and the winner announcedbetween March 16 and18. FORWARD ORDERED TO YOUR SPEC FORWARD ORDER BY 31 MARCH 2020 TO SECURE THE BEST DEAL ON BIG RED TRACTORS Get agreat deal more when you forward order your new Puma or Optum series tractor. Not only will you get incredible value on ahard-working Case IH tractor built to your specs, you’ll also get our outstanding finance deal and 3-year/3,000 hours RedCover warranty. NO DEPOSIT,0%FINANCE, 24-MONTH TERM * Promotion ends 31 March 2020 and applies to factory forward orders only, for delivery by31st December 2020. Excludes Puma Tier 3. *Finance offers are subject to normal lending criteria. Finance isbased off nodeposit, GST back in the third month, over a24-month term. Some exclusions may apply. For full terms and conditions ofthis promotion, please contact your local Case IH dealer, orvisit www.caseih.co.nz. Contact ustoday: Leeston 03 324 3791 Amberley 03 314 9055 Ashburton 03 307 8027 Timaru 03 688 2179 www.cochranes.net.nz caseih.co.nz 19COC007
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Ashburton Courier: February 13, 2020

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