Pegasus Post: March 03, 2020

PEGASUS POST Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Tuesday March 3 2020 3
News
Site for temporary housing opposed
• By Bea Gooding
TEMPORARY housing
used after the February 22, 2011,
earthquake will potentially be
moved to Richmond for social
housing leaving nearby residents
angry.
The units were located in
Linwood Park and will be
moved to an empty lot on Guild
St once the city council reaches
a decision on its suitability for
the area.
Stapletons Rd resident
Rick Blackburn whose house
overlooks the site is strongly
against the development.
“I am absolutely against it.
This is right in the middle of an
established heritage or character
area which does not comply with
the council’s code for areas like
this,” said Mr Blackburn.
“The site is not suited in any
way, shape or form for this
development. I recognise that
social housing is a need, but a
much better place for this would
be the old Shirley Boys’ High
School site.”
The SBHS site on North Pde is
flat and closer to amenities such
as The Palms. The Guild St site is
not flat and leads to the removal
of a 50-year-old heritage tree,
limited on-street parking, more
congestion and only has one access
point, he said.
Fifteen temporary units were
purchased by the Christchurch
Methodist Mission from its
previous owners, the Ōtautahi
Community Housing Trust.
Last week, a community
information evening was led by
the CMM outlining their intentions
for the units. The mission’s
executive director Jill Hawkey
said prospective tenants were
for families who had severe and
persistent housing needs according
to the Ministry of Social
Development.
Said Mrs Hawkey: “CMM
will comply with stipulated
conditions of consent and all
relevant building procedures,
requirements and standards.”
The passionate crowd of 60
people were not convinced.
Although they supported
housing the homeless, their
main concerns were the
dwellings would not comply
with the city council’s
regulations on character areas,
and were outraged at the lack of
consultation.
Other concerns included rubbish
management and the unit’s
OUTRAGE:
Stapletons Rd
resident Rick
Blackburn with
his dog, Yogi.
Mr Blackburn
is concerned
that the Guild St
social housing
developments
do not comply
with city council
regulations.
PHOTO: GEOFF
SLOAN
size and proximity of each other.
Earthworks required to install
the units do not comply with the
council’s district plan according
to neighbouring residents.
Said a city council spokesperson:
“The application is going
through a process to decide
whether it requires public
notification and if it should be
granted.
“The application will
be decided by a hearings
panel, which will carry out
deliberations in a public
meeting.”
In Brief
CYCLEWAY CRACKING
A resident of Sheldon St,
Woolston, is concerned about the
cracking they say is appearing
on the repaired Heathcote
Expressway cycleway. They have
outlined this in customer service
requests to city council staff and
the issue has been discussed by
the Linwood-Central-Heathcote
Community Board.
BARBERSHOP GIVEALITTLE
A Givealittle page has been
created for a barbershop damaged
twice by deliberately-lit fires
in less than two weeks. Bristol
Barbers in Wainoni, which was
uninsured, was completely gutted
in an arson attack on Sunday. The
shop is understood to have gang
links, with the damage allegedly
being caused by a rival gang.
Money from the fundraiser will
go towards getting the shop back
up and running. More than $1700
has been raised so far.
POLICE CHOPPER TRIAL
People can give feedback on
police’s five-week trial of the
Eagle helicopter, which ends
on March 20. The trial is
aiming to help people decide
if they think the helicopter will
be beneficial for Canterbury and
its surrounds. To put forward your
views email Haveyoursay@police.
govt.nz.
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Water restrictions are in place
Water restrictions are now in place for Christchurch and parts of Banks Peninsula.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Alternate day watering
Hand-held hosing only
Alternate day hand-held hosing only
No outdoor water use
Check today’s level by calling
03 941 8999, 0800 800 169 or visit
ccc.govt.nz/waterrestrictions
Thank you for your help.