North Canterbury News: November 12, 2020
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NEWS<br />
The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>November</strong> <strong>12</strong>, <strong>2020</strong><br />
5<br />
Park issues<br />
come to head<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
The Waimakariri District Council is<br />
asking the Pegasus and Woodend<br />
communities to report illegalorantisocial<br />
activity in Gladstone Parktothe<br />
police.<br />
The appealfollowsmany complaints<br />
from residents and visitors who have<br />
seen people riding quadbikes and<br />
motorcyclesingrassed areas of the park,<br />
southofHakatere Road.<br />
The council saysthe actions of afew<br />
people are causingboth anoise nuisance<br />
and safetyconcernsfor park users.<br />
Greenspace manager Grant MacLeod<br />
reminds people thatriding motorbikes<br />
or other motorvehiclesinparksis<br />
dangerousand not allowed.<br />
“We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun,<br />
but parksare used by children,families<br />
and sportsgroups, and they aren’t an<br />
appropriate place for vehicles.”<br />
“Residentsvalue our open spacesand<br />
should be able to use themsafely,<br />
without putting up with excessivenoise<br />
or antisocial behaviour.”<br />
GladstonePark has several sports<br />
fields, adog park, tennis courts and<br />
children’s playground.<br />
Recreationaluse of motorbikes, quad<br />
bikesorany motorisedvehicle is not<br />
allowed in any part of the park.<br />
The council encourages membersof<br />
the communitytospreadthe word and<br />
contact police if they spotissues.<br />
Trailbike ridersare welcome in<br />
designatedareas alongthe north and<br />
southbanks of the Waimakariri River<br />
RegionalPark and KaiapoiIsland<br />
motocross tracks. A35hectarearea for<br />
quad bikeshas been developed at Haul<br />
Road,McLeans Island.<br />
Deliberations ... Waimakariri district councillorscontinuetomeet in theRangiora Town Hall<br />
whilestrengtheningwork continuesonthe Rangiora service centrebuilding.<br />
PHOTO: DAVID HILL<br />
Millions for district upgrades<br />
Covid19 recovery and the parkandride<br />
projects were discussed at last week’s<br />
Waimakariri District Councilmeeting.<br />
Councillors signed off on $10.35 million<br />
in spending on three waters projects over<br />
the next two years,which are subject to the<br />
government’s $8.02mstimulusfunding<br />
allocated to the district.<br />
The projects will now be included in<br />
next year’s2021/31Long Term Plan. They<br />
include upgrades to the PoyntzsRdwater<br />
source, the Fernside sewer, the Loburn<br />
Lea sewer, West Eyreton and Summerhill<br />
storage,centralRangiora capacity andthe<br />
Ohokawaterstorage, as wellasOxford<br />
seweroperational improvements, and<br />
waterand sewer extensions at Tuahiwi.<br />
Funding for the $18.13m Kaiapoi<br />
stormwater and flooding improvements<br />
project was also signedoff, with $9m<br />
coming fromthe government’s ‘‘shovel<br />
ready’’ projects fund. The bulkofthe<br />
remaining $9.13m willcome from the<br />
Kaiapoi urban drainage fund, whichwill<br />
increase the drainage rate for Kaiapoi<br />
ratepayers from $305 to $452per property<br />
for the 2023/24 financialyear.<br />
Councillors voted to bringforward part<br />
of the $4m parkandridefund set aside in<br />
the 2018/28Long Term Plan to allow the<br />
new projects in Kaiapoiand Rangiora to<br />
be completed for nextyear’sopening of the<br />
service. Funding of $277,000 for Kaiapoi<br />
and $24,000for Rangiora willbebrought<br />
forward from the 2022/23financial year.<br />
Councillors signed off on anew<br />
WaimakaririVisitor MarketingStrategy<br />
2025,subject to minor amendments.<br />
Business and centres adviser Vanessa<br />
Thompson said staffwere workingwith<br />
Enterprise <strong>North</strong><strong>Canterbury</strong> to develop<br />
themedmaps to help market the district.<br />
Cr Kirstyn Barnett saidWaimakariri’s<br />
targetmarketwas still‘‘friends and family,<br />
but we have abit of competition now’’.<br />
‘‘And it’s not just theadventurous. The<br />
seniors spend the mostmoney in our<br />
district, so we need to attract them, too.’’<br />
Mayor Dan Gordon welcomed the<br />
strategy. ‘‘I was reallyinterested that<br />
Auckland is now our new Australia...<br />
Peopleare goingout and exploring our<br />
country, so this is agood opportunity.’’<br />
Given Waimakariri’s mountains and<br />
rivers‘‘andeverything in between’’, Cr<br />
Niki Mealings wondered if the district<br />
coulddevelop something similarto<br />
Hurunui’sAlpine Pacific Triangle.<br />
Water contaminated<br />
Aboil water notice has been issued for<br />
the Cust Water Supply after the<br />
discovery of E. coli in routine testing.<br />
The water is being chlorinated and<br />
the Waimakariri District Council is<br />
working to determine the<br />
contamination source.<br />
Drinking water should be boiled<br />
continuously for aminute.<br />
The council is asking residents to<br />
inform any neighbours or friends on<br />
the scheme who may not be aware of<br />
the situation.<br />
Jenna McKenzie School of Dance presents...<br />
Down the<br />
Rabbit Hole<br />
<strong>November</strong> 28th-29th <strong>2020</strong><br />
Rangiora Town Hall Auditorium<br />
Adults $20 Children $18 (includes booking fee)<br />
Ticketsavailable <strong>November</strong> 1st<br />
townhallcinemas.co.nz orvisit the Town Hall Cinemas Box Office<br />
Christchurch<br />
Hospital’s<br />
Emergency<br />
Department<br />
is on the move.<br />
From 7.30am on<br />
Wednesday 18 <strong>November</strong>,<br />
if you need emergency<br />
hospital care, you’ll need<br />
to come to the new<br />
Emergency Department<br />
in Waipapa –Christchurch<br />
Hospital, Hagley.<br />
Entry to the Emergency Department drop off<br />
area is off Riccarton Ave.<br />
Turn left in front of Christchurch Women’s<br />
Hospital for drop offand accessible parking<br />
in front of the new building.<br />
Please keep the<br />
Emergency Department<br />
for emergencies.
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