Ashburton Courier: March 26, 2020

Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday March 26, 2020, Page 3
Drive­through
flu vaccines
From Page 1
Flu vaccines have
arrived and doctors have
been calling up elderly
and other vulnerable
patients to arrange
vaccinations. The Tinwald
Medical Centre is
operating adrive­through
vaccination clinic and on
Tuesday vaccinated 80
people in two and ahalf
hours. People drove
through acar park at their
instructed appointment
time, sleeves rolled up
and ready to be
vaccinated. Dr Emma
Andrew said people
receiving flu vaccinations
would be contacted by
their medical centres and
they should follow
instructions. At Tinwald,
patients could have a
support person in the car,
preferrably someone in
their self­isolating contact
bubble.
The lockdown
announced by Prime
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will last four weeks. Only
essential businesses,
including supermarkets,
pharmacies and farming,
will continue. Police will
continue to patrol streets
and respond to crime.
Ashburton District
Council will continue to
pick up red rubbish bins
and yellow recycling bins
from the kerbside as per
normal collection days.
If you are sick, call your
GP if you have afever,
cough, shortness of
breath, sneezing or runny
nose. If you do not have a
GP, call Healthline (for
free) on 0800 358 5453.
If you are well, stay
home. If you are outside
your home bubble, keep
2metres away from
others.
Use trusted sources of
information in the
lockdown period:
www.covid19.govt.nz
and www.moh.govt.nz
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2269232
Anew route to Sharplin Falls is being planned and environmentally assessed.
Sharplin Falls on funding radar
By Linda Clarke
Advance Ashburton has given
the Mt Somers Walkway Society
just over $20,000 to complete an
environmental effects
assessment of aproposed
alternative walking track to
Sharplin Falls.
The original and popular
family walking track has been
closed since 2015 because of the
danger of falling rocks after
earthquakes.
Society chairman Charles
Ross said the study could take a
couple of months. The engineer
undertaking it would be looking
for any adverse effects that
could result from aproposed
new track that would skirt
around the rockfall area.
The new track should not
disrupt existing bush too much,
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home.
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2128195
he said. Society members, trackbuilders
and engineers will head
into the area soon for a
preliminary look.
Mr Ross said the society
would apply for grants from
other funding organisations to
build the new track, if the
environmental report was
positive.
He said the walkway society
was very grateful to have
received $21,700 via the
Advance Ashburton Charitable
Foundation, from the trust fund
of the late Ian Glassey.
The environmental affects
study is necessary to progress
the proposed new track.
Mr Ross said the society
believed that reopening the new
track to the falls would return a
valuable recreational
opportunity to the district, and
enhance the wellbeing and
health of local people and
visitors to the area.
Following an earlier positive
geotechnical report, and after
much deliberation, the society
had chosen anew route to the
fall, he said. It would include
substantial bridges.
Society members had been
liaising with excellent preferred
contractors for the engineering
and design of the bridges and
track, and awell­respected
construction company who
would install the bridges.
‘‘The Department of
Conservation (DOC) has not
given final approval but they are
supportive of the walkway
society’s work to reopen the
walk to the falls.
‘‘Although the society has
received some small donations
and the proceeds from arecent
4x4 safari, the Advance
Ashburton contribution is the
first substantial grant for which
an application has been made,
and received. Once the report
from the assessment of
environmental effects is
received it allows the project to
be submitted to DOC for final
approval. After that approval of
substantial funds will need to be
raised to complete the project.’’
The Sharplin Falls track is
part of anetwork of tracks
maintained and developed by
the society and Department of
Conservation.
Since it has been out of
commission, the society has
created asubstitute walk and
picnic area, but members are
keen to have the falls back in
public walking distance.
ADC chief executive Hamish Riach
Servicesinunprecedented times
The events unfolding around the
country, especially in this past
week, have been rapid and
confronting. We are now in
unprecedented times that require
us –more than ever, to be united as
acommunity and country to work
through the challenges of Covid­19.
With alevel four alert now in place
for at least the next four weeks, we
must all be doing our part to slow
the spread of this disease.
While this is under way, the
council is doing everything it can to
follow the Government’s new
measures while also ensuring
crucial local services are
maintained for you.
Very shortly after the Prime
Minister announced the country
was moving into alevel three and
then four alert, the council made
the call to close our community
facilities –the EA Networks
Centre, Ashburton Public Library
and Museum as well as the
Ashburton Trust Event Centre.
Reserves, camping grounds (unless
for essential service personnel) and
community halls are likewise,
closed.
Our staff from these centres are
now being redeployed to support
not only other essential council
functions, but also community­led
support activities.
Council’s administration
building on Baring Square West is
Hamish Riach
closed in line with the
Government’s directive to reduce
physical contact with others. We
have many of our staff working
from home so that essential
services can continue.
Our drinking, storm, stock and
waste water services are being
delivered as normal. We will
continue to pick up your red
rubbish bin and yellow recycling bin
from the kerbside as per your
normal collection days. We are
working through the potential to
have limited opening hours for the
Resource Recovery Park and will
give further advice as soon as we
can.
Rural recycling drop­off sites will
remain open.
Unfortunately, glass recycling is
suspended until further notice. We
ask that you store your empties at
home in the meantime. We will let
you know when this changes.
Our customer service team are
working from home, but are set up
to take calls and emails to assist you
with your inquiries.
Regulatory services such as
building and resource consents
remain operational.
The speed of change to level four
has been understandably very swift,
and the situation may well continue
to change over the coming four
weeks and potentially beyond. We
will continue to adapt and respond
as necessary, and will continue to
stay in touch with the community
throughout.
We understand these are very
challenging times for everyone.
The council will continue to
communicate with you about any
potential change to our services or
activities.
Follow our Facebook page
(@AshburtonDC), sign up to our
free text/SMS alert service (by
texting your postcode to 4196) or
head to our website ashburtondc.
govt.nz to stay informed.