North Canterbury News: April 09, 2020

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NEWS 4 North Canterbury News, April 9, 2020 Emergency centre activated by council By DAVID HILL The Waimakariri District Council has activated an emergency operations centre in response to the state of national emergency beingextended. Waimakariri district civildefence controller Nick Harrison says preparations to activate the centrebegan when the state of nationalemergencywas initially declared two weeksago. ‘‘While the council is focused on maintaining essential services, we will also now be further supporting the nationwide civil defence movement against Covid19 and activating local civil defence measures where needed.’’ He says the centre provides acentral placefor individuals, agencies and others in need to contact for support. ‘‘This is an unprecedented situation and quitedifferent from other civil defence activations as it’s one where we need to keep people safe in theirbubbles while trying to connect with them and offer support. In saying that, there are alot of avenues of help available to our residents and we are looking for those who need help to connectthem with these services. ‘‘Oneway civildefenceishelping already is by providingtemporary assistanceatthe request of local supermarkets.’’ The emergency operations centre is also providingsupport to local food banks and anticipates this will continue in coming weeks, Mr Harrison says. Waimakariri residentswho needhelp can callthe council on 0800 965 468 to talk to the welfare support team,orcall the helpline on 0800 242 411. Rates reliefisbeingoffered to Waimakariri ratepayers facing financial hardship because of Covid19. Mayor Dan Gordon says he is awarethe next rates instalment,due at the end of June, is worrying some ratepayers. ‘‘There are waysthat we can help immediately that willprovide peoplewith reliefand breathingspace. We are also reviewing budgetsand looking to make changes and defer projects whichwill make any increasesfor thecomingyear as low as possible.’’ Options could include deferring payment of the nextinstalment, arates rebatefor gross household incomes below $35,000, spreading payments over the instalment period, reducing the frequency or amount of direct debit payments, or investigatingother forms of financial assistance suchastalking to your bank. Residentsconcerned about their ability to pay their nextrates bill are encouraged to discuss it with the council on 0800 965 468. Kairaki Beachvehicleaccesswas closed last week to complywith government guidelineswhich discourage any activity that may trigger an emergency callout. Vehicles spottedonthe beach are causing concern, indicatingsome people are not following alertlevel4guidelines. To preventthis activity, the entrance has been temporarily fenced off. Peoplewho livelocally may stillwalk to their local beach, whilefollowing physical distancing rules, but driving on the beaches is not allowed. The government saysswimming, fishing, surfing, boating, tramping,hunting and hikingare prohibited activitiesunder alert level 4. Visitthe government’sofficial Covid19 website to learn more. Street theatre ... SportSuziewows the crowd in the Good StreetWalkway Busker Zone during the 2018 Waimakariri WinterFestivalExtravaganzaDay. The councilislooking for ideasabout how to use Good Streetmore as acommunity space. PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP Ideas for Good St sought By SHELLEY TOPP Waimakariri peopleare being askedto contribute ideas for the new community spaceplannedfor Rangiora’sGood Street walkway. ‘‘We really want the community to help us decide,’’ Waimakariri District Council business and centresadviser Vanessa Thompson says.‘‘Allideas are on the table as long as they can be selffunded.’’ Funding channels which may be available to assistinthe development of ideasfor the area include the Creative Communities FundingScheme, Enterprise NorthCanterbury Contestable EventsFunding and the Rata Foundation. Some ‘‘general ideas’’ already put forward include adisplay area for outdoor photographicand art exhibitions, asmall scentedgarden, space for street performers, asmall puppet theatre, and aplace to screen films outdoors. Other requests have included more seatingareas, greenery,water features and upgrades to the paving. The finaldesign is likelytobeformed fromamix of community feedback and whatispractical and safe to implement. ‘‘Councilwouldwelcome more regularuse of the spacebythe community,but, of course, any proposed use would needtowork aroundexisting businesses operating in that area. ‘‘Westill have to go throughabudget approvalprocess with council to secure budgettoupgradethe closedinpart of GoodStreet. All going well, we would hopetostart physicalworks in the latter halfof2021.’’ At thisstage it is uncertain whether Covid19 will have an impact on the budgetrequest timelines. Lifeina bubble Your stori What is happening in your house during the lockdown? Send us your favourite recipes, fun photos or videos of you and your family staying connected! Email: newsroom@starmedia.kiwi
KAIKŌURA VIEWS MAYOR CRAIG MACKLE Each of us has to do our bit to stop this disease Covid19 haschangedeverything in avery shortspaceoftime, and things continue to change overnight. I’ve beenworking closely with council chiefexecutive AngelaOosthuizen to ensure thatservicesare maintained, and the community is supported in these challenging times. In somerespects, it is still business as usual, but on the other handthis crisis has created awhole new way of working. Covid19 is anew illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It has proved devastating in other parts of the world and it is critical we do our bit to combatthis deadly disease. The most important thing we can do to help breakthe transmissionprocessis this: Stay home. For our community members, who like to be on the ground and in action, thisis hard at times, buteveryonethat Ihave been speaking to on the phone has expressedthe same commitment to halting the spread of Covid19. It is not goingtobeeasy. This crisis is not goingtodisappear in amonth, but every chance we havetoslow the transmission saveslivesand ensures our national health system will be available for those who need it most. The Kaikoura District Council has been working closely with KaikouraHealth to ensure thatthe health centre is readyto deal with any cases as they eventuate. Staff from both organisationshave been working in conjunction with other local agencies and groups to support vulnerable people in the community. Volunteers have been delivering groceries, pickingupmedication and providingsupport to those in our community who need it most. We needtobeawareofwhat we are doing rightnow. Sure, takeawalk but stay away from other people and try not to touch handrails, playgrounds and seats. Ifind it goodtolook at the news once a day, so Iremain informed but not overwhelmed. Every day at 1pm Iwatch the latest presentation from the government and alwaysrefertothe Covid19 website if I have any questions. Ihave beenspending alot of time on the phone checking in with friendsand family —somuch so that the floor of my kitchen has quiteasheen frompacing whileItalk. My shed has alsonever lookedsoclean, and DIY chores around the house have finally beengiven attention more than three years after the earthquakes. Staying home definitely has itsbenefits! My last thought is,let’s get through this together. We’ve had sometough times over the lastfew years, but we can do this.Be kind, be thoughtful,and look out forone another. Enjoy each day. Everyday above groundisagood day, even if you are in a bubble. The KaikouraDistrict Council, Neighbourhood Support and Kaikoura Healthhave been workingtogetherto ensureresidents across the districthave accesstohelp and welfare needstoget them through the lockdown. Volunteers and anyone requiring assistanceare urged to contactJoanna.York@kaikoura.govt.nz. Jo is providingcoordinationfor those who want to help, ensuring that the movement of people throughoutthe districtremainlow. Thank you for publishing Dear Editor, Congratulations on getting out your North Canterbury News for Thursday, April 2. Keeping us informed of local news is much appreciated. As your Rangiora office is within my community walk, Itook some extra copies from the stand for my neighbours’ letter boxes. Iamtold they enjoyed the paper while in lockdown. Yours, IThompson, Rangiora Challenges mount for recycling By ROBYN BRISTOW The Hurunui District Council is storing as muchrecycling as possible afterits Material RecoveryFacility suspendedits recyclingsorting operations. Kerbsidecollections are continuing, but recycling bags willnot go to Eco Central to be processed.All greater Christchurch councilsare affected. The announcement comes as the result of a‘‘perfect storm’’ of challenges, including the riskofexposing staff who manuallysort rubbishfrom recycling to the Covid19virus,tighteracceptance criteria fromoverseasrecycling facilities, lowerprices and limited access to overseas ports. Despite the setback, it is business as usualinthe district, with the council sortingand storing as much recycling as possible to avoid it going to landfill. Residents are asked to help by storing as muchrecycling as they can at home. However, when they run out of space,it will be collected at kerbside as normal. Council chief operations officerDan Harris says the council continues to battle recycling challenges in relationto Covid19, but can, with help from residents, continue storing recycling untilEco Central reopens. “We want to keep our services as normal as possible, but we do ask that residents temporarilyhold on to whatever they can at the moment. “We have kept our transfer stations open,but we are having problems with residents not sticking to essentialwaste. We understand it feels likethe perfect time for agarage cleanout or abig garden tidyup,but the transfer stations can’tservicethese at the moment as we are open for essential waste only. “The district’s recycling is beingstored in largecontainersatour Amberley Transfer Station until Eco Central can take it again. “Now,more thanever, it is critical that any recycling kept at home or put out for collection is clean and contains no residual foodwaste. We needtosend contaminated recycling to landfill.” Mr Harris says continuationofservices is atop priority, which was whythe council will keepkerbsidecollection going. It is also investigating alternative homesfor some recycling materials, specifically food and drink cans. “It is possible in the interim for the council to sendclean food and drink cans to our metal merchant. If residents put food and drink cans in aseparate recyclingbag,this will helpussave space in storage andensure some material gets recycled sooner ratherthan later.” NEWS AND OPINION North Canterbury News, April 9, 2020 Thursday,August 2, 2018 | Issue 808 | www.ncnews.co.nz HAVE YOU BEEN TO OUR WEBSITE LATELY? 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For appointments or enquiries please visit: www.philmurfitt.co.nz 1637376 2021055 Rangiora CommunityPatrol North Canterbury RangioraCommunity Patrol arethe eyes and ears of the New Zealand Police. RangioraCommunity Patrol operatecameras, foot and car patrols within the Waimakariri area. Harcourts Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd is proud to support RangioraCommunity Patrol with adonation through the Harcourts Foundation, which will supply astandarduniform to all members www. Harcourts Foundation Four Seasons Realty Your home forlocal property Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd |Licensed Agent REAA 2008
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North Canterbury News: April 09, 2020

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