North Canterbury News: July 16, 2020

NEWS
8 The North Canterbury News, July 16, 2020
Petition opposes
quarry proposal
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Apetition opposing aquarry at the
Rangiora Racecourse is gaining
momentum.
When the North Canterbury News went
to print, 1700 people had signed the
Change.org petition within two days of it
being set up by Tracey Dimmock­Rump.
She aims to get 2500 signatures in
opposition to aresource consent
application to quarry 700,000 cubic
metres of material over a15­year period
inside the track at the racecourse and in
an outer area to the northeast.
She plans on presenting the petition to
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon.
The North Canterbury News reported
on July 2that aresource consent had
been lodged with the Waimakariri
District Council and that several West
Belt residents were angry about the
proposal. Their concerns centre around
its impact on their lives, property values
and retirement plans.
Council regulation manager Nick
Harrison said the consent was in its
infancy and staff were seeking more
information from Taggart Earthmoving
Ltd on its application.
The petition says aquarry will affect
everyone living in Arlington and West
Rangiora.
It asserts all houses, businesses,
preschools and parks will be affected by
dust and silt from the quarry. ‘‘The dust
THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION
AND REFERENDUMS
alone will and could cause respiratory
issues for locals, let alone the preschool
practically bordering the quarry site.
‘‘It will coat roofs, gardens, cars and
roads and is going to make adrink at the
Five Stags in summer, outside, anogo!’’
The petition says increased heavy
traffic on River Road will affect all
locals who walk their dogs to the river,
ride bikes, walk the Rakahuri track or go
to the river for aswim.
‘‘It will also make the intersection at
the top of West Belt and River Road alot
more dangerous to navigate with the
increased truck activity.’’
The petition outlines the proposal,
which says the quarry will be limited to
work around horse training and events.
‘‘Who would want to be near it once the
ground is opened and exposed? It also
states they will cart gravel for 15 years,
but it will be restricting the motor
scraper to 30% activity per day and they
could start at early as 7am Monday to
Saturday.
‘‘So, guess what, the noise will become
afactor too! Awater cart will be used for
dust suppression —sure, that’ll work
just great on ahowling nor’wester!’’ Ms
Dimmock­Rump says in her summary of
the proposal.
People signing the petition have
voiced concerns about the impact on
people’s health, the environment,
people’s property rights, devaluation of
properties and the dust nuisance.
Afleece of colour ... Shirley Peddie’s champion fleece from aHawarden A&P Show.
Acolourful woolly tale
By ROBYN BRISTOW
The Anglican Church HallatAmberley
will take on adecidedlywoolly
appearancelaterthis month.
The North CanterburyBlackand
Coloured SheepBreeders Association will
hold its 22nd annual sale on Friday,July 31
in the hall.
Whilemembership has shrunk over the
years, there willstillbe200 fleeces, from
five members,upfor sale.
Stalwarts Shirley Peddie,from Waikari,
and JaniceWinter, from Kaiapoi,say
crowds flock to buy fleeces to spin, card
and knit.
‘‘We breed for the spinning sideofthe
wool.There are amazingcoloursfor sale,’’
Shirley said. ‘‘We know whatpeople want
and it is all this season’s freshwool.
‘‘We are really very, very fussy,with our
wool and theway we presenteach skirted
fleece in an individual box at the sale.’’
Shirley willhave around70Corriedale
and Romney fleeces for sale.
She says the sale is really the onlyoutlet
for her wool, as beinginWaikarilimited
the opportunities for her to sell it
elsewhere to spinners and crafts people.
Selling to awool buyer did notyield a
realistic price. ‘‘If Ican’t sellthe wool
there is no point in having the sheep.’’
Her flock is the resultofdecadesof
breeding,takingover the flockfrom her
mother.
Janiceboughther first black sheep at
Addington as ayoung girl, attracting
sideway glancesfrom those wondering
why she had bought them. Her appetite
was whetted and, today, she still enjoys
black and coloured sheep, as well as
selling and showing their fleeces.
The pairknow whatthey wantasfar as
wool goes, and select ramsand hoggetsto
provide that.
The saleruns from9.30am to 1.30pm.
Yourenrolment
update pack
is coming.
Is your farm
consented?
Open it to check
your enrolment
detailsand to
learn moreabout
the referendums.
vote.nz
0800 36 7656
It’s timetocheckifyou
needaland use consent.
Rulesinsome parts of Canterbury have changed, and evenifyou
didn’t need consent to farm in the past,you mayneed it now.
If your farming operation requires aconsent,then you’ll need to act soon.
Visit the Environment Canterbury Farmers’ Hubtofind the rules
for your zone and howtoapplyfor aland use consent to farm.
ecan.govt.nz/farmers-hub