North Canterbury News: April 01, 2021

Summer fun ... The aqua play park proposed for the NCF Reserve in Kaiapoi will be similar
to the Kiwi Water Park facility near Cromwell, in Central Otago.
PHOTO:FILE
Trust wants to operate
Kaiapoi aqua play park
By DAVID HILL
Kaiapoi could have anew inflatable
aqua play park later in the year if a
proposal from the WHoW Charitable
Trust is approved.
The Kaiapoi­Tuahiwi Community
Board has agreed to allow the proposal
to go out for public engagement to
establish atemporary aqua play park at
the lake within Kaiapoi’s NCF Reserve,
tucked in behind Courtenay Drive in the
former residential red zone.
WHoW deputy chairman Jason Mill
says the trust hopes to have it operating
on October 1ifthe play park is approved.
‘‘The feedback we’ve had from the
council is that we should know by mid­
April.
‘‘We need to order it and pay for it by
May 15 so we can get it here in time.’’
The aqua play park would be a
temporary project while the trust
completes afull feasibility study for an
aqua sports facility as aKaiapoi
regeneration project.
An initial pre­feasibility study
conducted last year indicated such a
facility could be commercially viable.
The trust has been engaging with the
Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga to support
long­term mahinga kai initiatives in the
area, and it plans to engage local school
children to help with water quality
testing.
The lake is an old stormwater pond,
but if looked after could provide a
valuable community resource, Mr Mill
says. ‘‘It’s apiece of water that needs
some work.
‘‘There’s abit of weed in there, but we
are very keen to instigate some more
work to ensure it is safe to use.
‘‘There’s apicnic area and adog park,
so it will make agreat space for
families.’’
Initial tests indicate that the water
quality in the lake would be suitable. But
the Waimakariri District Council will
require more testing and discussions
with Environment Canterbury before
making afinal decision.
The trust plans to use large storage
containers on the site as akiosk,
changing rooms and toilet facilities.
The aqua play equipment is inflatable,
so it can be deflated each night and
locked away in one of the storage
containers.
It would operate for six months of the
year, with the containers and all
equipment removed from the site during
the off­season.
Kaiapoi­Tuahiwi Community Board
chairwoman Chris Greengrass
welcomed the proposal.
‘‘Any new proposal is welcome for
Kaiapoi which will bring visitors to the
town for the right reasons, and I’m very
encouraged by the positive comments
I’m hearing and seeing.
‘‘The aqua play park will be aunique
experience for residents and visitors
alike, and will bring another dimension
to what Kaiapoi already offers. Another
reason to spend the day here.’’
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, April 1, 2021
Legal matters for seniors explored
Dementia Canterbury will host aNorth
Canterbury public seminar exploring
residential care subsidies and other legal
matters relevant to seniors.
Families facing the importantdecision
regardingsomeonemoving out of their
own home and into aretirement village or
permanent residentialcareinarest
home or hospital are encouraged to
attend, Dementia Canterbury educator
Lee Andrews says.
Thosesimply wantingtobeprepared
for thispossibility in the futurewill also
benefit fromthe tips offered by elderlaw
specialist FleurMcDonald.
‘‘Fleur will alsoshare her knowledge
Rangiora
Rangiora Baptist Church,
111 East Belt
Wednesday 7April
12:30pm –5:00pm
Eat &drink plenty before you donate &bring ID.
Eligibility criteria applies.
5
Boost for Oxford observatory
By DAVID HILL
Oxford Area School’s observatory has
received afunding boostfrom the local
community.
The Oxford PromotionsAction
Committee (OPAC) has got in
behind the observatory,
helping with the costs of
installing its new 12­inch
telescope and creating
outside pier mountsfor the
10­inch telescope.
Principal Mike Hart says
OPAC wantstosee people
coming into the community,
and they see the potential of
the observatory.
‘‘People can come in for a
coffee or ameal and then go the
observatory.
‘‘We have something whichisreally
awesome and unique, and with the new
motorway, getting to Oxfordisawhole lot
quicker.’’
Strategy review
Is Waimakaririan‘‘accessible’’
community?
Towards an Inclusive Environment is
the Waimakariri accessibility strategy
for 2017 to 2021. The council wants to
find out how the strategy is working, agefriendlycommunity
facilitator
Madeleine Burdon says.
‘‘We are really looking forward to
receiving feedbackasitwill give us a
clear picture of how the council is doing
and where we can improve.’’
The feedback deadline is 5pm on
Friday,April 30. The findings,tobe
reported to the council and community,
will help update the strategy.
The strategy can be found on the
council website or contact Madeleine
Burdonon0800 965468, or email
madeleine.burdon@wmk.govt.nz for
more information.
Mike Hart
Mr Hart saysthe new telescope has
beeninstalled and the committee has
had lessons on how to operate it, so are
all set for the end of daylight saving.
‘‘It’s all automated once it’s calibrated
to the stars,soit’s much easier to use
thanthe 10­inch telescope.
We should be able to use the
observatory alot more.’’
The old 10­inch telescope
willbekept inside the
observatory,but can be
wheeledoutside to be
mounted in ordertocaterfor
larger groups.
‘‘Westillhave our eyesset
on buying a16­inch telescope
and,ifweachievethat,we
willhave three telescopes, so
we will be abletocater for even more
people,’’ Mr Hart says.
Thisterm the school is offering an
Earth to Mooncourse for year 9and 10
students, supported by the observatory
committee.
and experienceregarding other legal
mattersasthey relatetopeople with
dementia, suchasenduring powers of
attorney and what happens whenthere is
no enduring power of attorney, advance
directives, wills andfamily trusts.’’
The seminarwill be heldinthe Stewart
Room at the JohnKnox Centre, on the
cornerofHigh and King streets,
Rangiora, on Friday, April 9, from
10.30amto12pm.
Numbersare limited.Toregister,
phone 0800 444776 or email
admin@dementiacanterbury.org.nz.
The event is subject to the region
remaining at Covid­19 alertlevel1.
9-11
April
Christchurch
Arena
Enter the promo code LOVEFOOD to unlock $18 tickets before 5April 2021
Buy tickets now atfoodshow.co.nz