Selwyn Times: April 29, 2020

SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday April 29 2020 5
News
Donations pour in
aclandpark.co.nz
0800 ACLAND
Canterbury’s fastest selling
new subdivision
for fight against waste plant
• By Devon Bolger
PREBBLETON residents
fighting against a proposed
expansion of a waste plant
nearby say they are grateful for
donations from the community.
THe group decided to start
a givealittle page for people
to donate to the cause about a
month ago.
On Friday,
up to 73
donations had
been made
totalling
$6610.
Group
member Judy
Judy
Sachdeva
Sachdeva said
they are very
pleased and
grateful for the
• By Devon Bolger
RESIDENTS AND businesses
impacted by Covid-19 will
be able to extend their rates
payments over one year.
District councillors have
unanimously voted to approve
an economic
recovery package
to further
help struggling
ratepayers.
Rate payments
for
the 2019/20
financial
year can be
extended until
June 31, 2021,
for ratepayers who enter into a
direct debit payment plan.
It will work by ratepayers
agreeing to a minimum weekly
payment amount such as $10 until
November this year and then
increased payments to bring the
account up do date by June 2021.
In November, the district
council will consider extending
the policy further.
Businesses that have received
the wage subsidy and ratepayers
who have lost their jobs or lost 20
per cent or more of their income
from all sources could be eligible
for a two-year deferral on payments.
The district council also
agreed it intends to reduce the
penalty for late payment of rates
COMMUNITY: The Prebbleton group fighting against a
proposed hazardous waste facility say they are grateful for
the donations they have received. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN ​
support.
“Especially because of everything
that is happening right
now with Covid-19. The message
we are getting from all of the
people who live here in Prebbleton
is that they are completely
against it,” she said.
The money will be spent on
opposing the applications for
air discharge consents that have
been made to Environment Canterbury,
and for public awareness
and education campaigns.
The Prebbleton Clean Air
Trust was set up to manage
fundraised money along with a
website containing information
for supporters.
Said Ms Sachdeva: “As we understand
it, the hearing process
from 10 per cent to three per
cent.
The decision will be made
as part of the rates resolution
for the year that happens in
June.
The district council will also
prepare a rates postponement
policy for consultation as part
of the Long Term Plan 2021-31
process.
It would mean ratepayers can
postpone their rates and any
accrued costs would be settled
when their property is sold.
has been paused at the moment.
We are just waiting to hear what
will happen next.
“I have spoken to one of the
people who have been through
the process with Roydon Quarry
so I know what they went
through. I am expecting this to
be a long fight.”
The package is a recognition of
the struggles people are facing,
and one part of the council’s
work to help the district through
the effects of the pandemic and
boost recovery, Mayor Sam
Broughton says.
• To donate to the cause
visit givealittle.co.nz/org/
prebbleton-communityclean-air-trust
or visit
the website at: www.
wastemismanagement.co.nz
Waste Management Ltd has
applied to expand its current
site and operate the toxic waste
treatment plant at 305 Marshs
Rd in South Hornby.
In its resource consent application,
it said the plant will
treat and manage items, such as
pesticides, acid, used tyres and
other types of rubbish.
Resource consent was granted
for the proposed plant by the city
council in December 2018.
Environment Canterbury also
granted three consents for its
construction and discharge of
stormwater in March 2019.
The consent application currently
with ECan is only for
activities resulting in discharge
to air.
It ran a limited notified
consent process, which meant
only people within 500m of the
proposed facility had a chance to
have their say.
Relief for ratepayers confirmed
Sam
Broughton
•HAVE YOUR SAY: Are you
happy with the support
package for struggling
ratepayers? Email your views
to devon.bolger@starmedia.
kiwi
HELPING
HAND: A
support
package for
struggling
ratepayers
has been
approved,
it includes
extending
rate
payments,
which fund
things
like road
maintenance,
over a year.
“As people are struggling it’s
important for us to do what
we can to help. We need rates
income to be able to keep
providing services such as water
and rubbish collection, but we
also need to be compassionate
and realistic about people’s
circumstances and that’s what
we’re aiming to do with this
package.”
• To find out more details
and apply for a rates payment
extension go to www.selwyn.
govt.nz/services/rates
PROWL: Duncan has been
stealing in Rolleston again. ​
Lockdown
hasn’t stopped
Duncan from
stealing
• By Devon Bolger
DUNCAN THE cat, notorious
for stealing soft toys and socks
around Rolleston, has not been
sticking to his bubble during the
lockdown.
Owner Diane Guthrie says
Duncan has taken to straying
even further when on the prowl
for goods to bring home.
“Previously he was just going
across the road and two doors
mainly stealing toys from the dog
there but now he has progressed
and has found a new household
a bit further away to steal things
from,” she said.
Last week Duncan came home
some socks, a pair of track pants
and a velvet cushion.
“I went around to all of the
neighbours and asked if it was
their things and they all said no
they didn’t know anything about
it so I put a post on the Rolleston
Community Page on Facebook.
“It took a few days but someone
came forward. He had gone down
the road and around the corner to
a house in a cul-de-sac. I was able
to return everything to the rightful
owner.”
Mrs Guthrie said she thinks
Duncan is stealing because of
what they feed him.
“He goes in phases. Sometimes
he gets quite busy and other times
he won’t bring things back for a
week.
“We have found if he doesn’t
like what I feed him he tends to
bring things home. We think it’s
him saying I’ve brought you a
treat please bring me something
I like.”
TREAT: Some of Duncan’s loot.