Selwyn Times: April 01, 2020

6 Wednesday April 1 2020
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
SELWYN TIMES
News
Community
centre could
be used for arts
THE ROLLESTON Community
Centre could be repurposed into a
centre for the arts.
A report presented to district
councillors outlined the options
for the future use of the facility
after Te Ara Ātea, the new library
and community centre in Rolleston,
is built.
The idea of repurposing it into
a space focused on the arts was
mooted at a district council meeting
on Wednesday.
“This would encompass
purpose-built spaces for the arts
in which spaces are fully designed
for and fitted out to meet the
needs of the particular arts activities
proposed,” the report said.
Consultation on the future use,
capital investment requirements
and operating cost implications of
the Rolleston Community Centre
building will be held in the 2021-
31 Long Term Plan process.
The arts and recreation centre
would incorporate a ‘black box’
performance, rehearsal and public
assembly space. Black box refers
to the ability to make it a neutral
space that can be used by a range
of art forms.
Space for community groups,
social, meeting and recreation
programmes is also suggested.
Rolleston police station open 24/7
Area response manager
Senior Sergeant Dean
Harker talks about police
activity in the district and
community patrols
HELLO AND welcome. This
column will focus on policing
around the Covis-19 virus and
the impact it will have in our
community.
Selwyn police will be working
over this period and will be carrying
out reassurance patrols.
We have made a move to have
staff working on duty 24 hours
a day at Rolleston from last
Thursday until the period when
self-isolation is lifted. This means
Rolleston station is now manned
around the clock.
The front counter at the
Rolleston station and all outstations
will be closed until further
notice, however, there will still be
police staff working in all areas
as normal.
For Rolleston residents
Dean Harker
Selwyn Police
there is a phone at the front of
the station that is a direct line to
police.
Reporting crime can be done
in a number of ways.
•Phone 111 when you need immediate
help with a life-threatening
or time-critical emergency
•By phoning 105 when no one
is injured or in danger, there
is no serious risk to people or
property, the crime isn’t still happening.
•By reporting online at105.
police.govt.nz
We are encouraging the public
to be more vigilant than ever and
to report anything suspicious.
Keep an eye on your neighbours
and please adhere to the
rules around self-isolation.
Local police will be carrying
out their own risk assessments
when attending incidents and
our main focus is to keep everyone
safe. We are fully aware that
stress levels amongst families
will be high and we urge people
RESPONSE: A phone at the front of the Rolleston station will
give you direct a line to police.
to just think of the bigger picture
at this time. If stress levels get
high think about taking time out
in another room in your house.
We will still be focusing on
road safety at this time as it is
very important that the main
transport arterial routes are
open at all times so that freight
trucks etc aren’t held up with
unnecessary road closures due to
accidents.
People who want to exercise
such as go for a walk or run have
to start and finish from their
home. This is the same for those
who want to go for a bike ride.
You can not drive to a location
to exercise or walk your dog.
It has been very concerning
to see so many people driving
who were not abiding by the selfisolation
request.
You can only be driving if you
are visiting an essential service
such as the supermarket or
chemist or if you work for one of
these.
Police will be out in force
randomly stopping vehicles to
see if people are authorised to be
driving, those who are not will
have to face the consequences of
their actions as they are putting
everyone else at risk.
Thanks