Ashburton Courier: May 14, 2021

NEWS
12 Ashburton Courier, May 13, 2021
Josiah Junior Johnny Rehu was the first user to take the virtual world experience at Ashburton Public Library last week.
Taste of virtual world at library
The public is invitedtotakeatrip into a
virtual worldthroughanew attraction
and initiative at AshburtonPublic
Library.
The library has purchased an Oculus
Quest2base unitanddozens of appsthat
will enableusers to step into different
worldsand locations to enjoy the virtual
reality experience.
With aheadset, and withtwo touch
controllers in hand, users can kayakand
traverse aglacierinthe Antarctic, enjoy a
fast­paced light sabre game, visit the
International Space Station andtake a
space walk, andturn their hand to 3D art
anddrawing.
There arealso options to playspace
invaders, enjoy asports scramble and
experience ultimate frisbee in zero
gravity. All of the virtual world action is
displayed on abig screeninacorner at
the library.
Library manager Jill Watson said staff
had received trainingtooperatethe
equipment andwouldset up apps and
explain how things worked.
Ms Watsonsaid sessionshad startedlast
week and she expected themtogrow in
popularity.
The world of virtual reality had an
educationalaspect to it andalso funand
competitiveelements.
The new attraction was expected to
bring more teens into the library and was
strictly available to those over theage of
13.
Ms Watsonsaid the entertainment and
experience library in Ashburton would
growover the coming months.
The virtualrealityexperience was an
attraction in anumber of libraries in
Canterbury and aroundthe country, she
said.
The librarywill run virtual reality
sessions between 3.30pm and5.30pmon
Wednesdays andFridays, from 10am until
noononThursdays and from 1.30pmuntil
3.30pm on Sundays.
New chairs for Mt Hutt Memorial Hall
Some 105 new seats havebeen
installed in the upstairs area
of the function centre at the Mt
Hutt Memorial Hall at acost of
$60,000.
The chairshave been funded
frommultiple sources
includingfrom the estate of the
late Allan Lochhead($20,000),
the LionFoundation,
ProvincialGrowth Fund
Left: New seats in the upstairs
area at the Mt Hutt Memorial
Hall.
($13,000)and an Ashburton
District Council grant($8000).
The seatingwas asmart and
welcomeaddition to the
furnitureatthe function
centre,MtHutt Memorial Hall
board chairmanMartin
Nordqvistsaid.
Anumberofimprovements
had beencarried out at the
hall10years ago, but the
upstairsseatinghad not made
the cut.
The old,worn seats had been
removedand the wooden
flooring,whichdated backto
the 1950s, had beensanded
and polished by council
property staffbefore the new
seatswereinstalled.
The seatshad arrivedin96
boxesand in kit­setformand
had been put together by two
installers from Auckland.
Mr Nordqvistsaid the
function centre wasagood
spacefor events and as well as
the permanent seating
upstairs, therewas roomfor
300 more chairs downstairs.
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Rangitata
protection
work starts
Initial works are commencing
in theRangitatatoprotect the
community from increased
flood risk caused by the major
floods 18 months ago.
In December2019, the
Rangitata Riverflooded,
damaginginfrastructure and
farmlands. The flooding
destroyed apower pylon and
disrupted roadand rail routes;
effectivelycutting the South
Island in two for three days.
Sincethen, damage to the
riverbanks andflood protection
infrastructurehas left the local
community with increased
vulnerability to future floods.
Six daysofheavy rain and
floodinginthe rivercaused
severe erosion of the southern
banks. Largeareas of trees
planted for erosion­control
were lost andtherewere major
lossestoroading, rail,
electricitysupply andother
assets.
Floodflowsbroke out of the
river and flowed down the
south branch for thefirst time
in 24 yearscausingdamage to
farmlands andequipment.
Emergency worksinvolved
the use of bulldozers to
construct three temporary
gravelbunds,one across each
of the threebreakoutpoints,
and other river works to divert
activebraids away from the
breakoutlocations.
Now,works arestarting
which will provide protection
against future flood events.
EnvironmentCanterbury
chair Jenny Hughey said the
‘‘makingitsafe’’ works should
becomplete about the end of
August.
Floodresilience will be
achievedthrough extending
emergency embankments,
constructingnew stopbanks
and gravel groynes, and
strengtheningrockstub
groynesatfive sitesalong the
south bank of the Rangitata
River.
The work will costabout $1.3
million, with two­thirds funded
by government andthe restcofunded
by the Rangitata River
Rating District (Environment
Canterbury), NZTA, Rangitata
South IrrigationLimited,
Kiwirail, TimaruDistrict
Council, Ashburton District
Counciland Transpower.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE PURCHASE
NEW VILLAS
• Spacious, modern
2&3bedroom villas
• Generous open living/
dining areas
• Master suites with
en suite and walk-in
wardrobe
• Full optioned kitchen
• Laundry
• Single garage
• Purchase on an ORA
• 3 bedroom enjoys
park-like views and
double garage
For more information or to arrange aviewing, contact Donna Coxshall,
Facility Manager on 307 6140 or email manager@terraceview.co.nz
37 Carters Terrace, Tinwald, Ashburton l www.terraceview.co.nz
2372232