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<strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>August</strong> 4 <strong>2021</strong><br />
18<br />
LETTERS<br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Darfield sewage<br />
system<br />
Prior to the Long Term Plan<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong> District Council was<br />
advised by over 80 per cent of<br />
residents they did not want the<br />
mains sewage system in Darfield.<br />
In spite of the huge majority<br />
the district council announced<br />
they were going to do it anyway.<br />
It then announced a four-stage<br />
plan in one of those stating they<br />
were going to borrow $28 million,<br />
but would not account how<br />
they were going to repay it.<br />
Inquiries reveal that it will be<br />
down to general ratepayers, the<br />
district council just hasn’t said<br />
that. Yet, in two year’s time that<br />
$28 million will balloon to some<br />
eye-watering figure.<br />
Over the last 15 years the<br />
district council has had three<br />
reviews, at massive expense to<br />
ratepayers, each one recommending<br />
a sewage system, each<br />
time the council buried their<br />
heads. If they had done it when<br />
suggested at the very beginning,<br />
with the massive amount of<br />
developments in and around<br />
Darfield, it would have practically<br />
paid for itself by requesting<br />
developers pay into it.<br />
We are expected to pay for<br />
council mistakes and lack of<br />
vision.<br />
Time for a change, we need<br />
a mayor and council that will<br />
stand up for residents and be<br />
accountable.<br />
Open and honesty may cause<br />
discussion, but lack of it causes<br />
distrust and no confidence. –<br />
Grant Prescott<br />
District council chief executive<br />
David Ward responds:<br />
The district council has<br />
engaged with the local community<br />
over a proposed scheme<br />
for many years, and has heard<br />
a range of views both for and<br />
against.<br />
Our decision-making is informed<br />
by all of these conversations,<br />
but also takes account of<br />
the sustainability of the current<br />
system, potential environmental<br />
impacts, and providing for future<br />
growth opportunities.<br />
We have a one-time opportunity<br />
to access $10.6 million in<br />
Government funding not previously<br />
available, which would<br />
be lost to the project if not used<br />
now. And while it is true that the<br />
project may have been cheaper<br />
last year, the same argument<br />
would apply next year.<br />
Our decision means that all<br />
new developments in Darfield<br />
would connect to the scheme,<br />
as well as businesses along the<br />
Main St. We have acknowledged<br />
concerns raised during the latest<br />
consultation, and have agreed<br />
to further engage with the community<br />
over connection to the<br />
scheme, and the time frame for<br />
connection. We have also agreed<br />
to review how the project is<br />
funded.<br />
We accept that many residents<br />
have good septic tanks with<br />
resource consents and we are<br />
working with Environment<br />
Canterbury to allow households<br />
to keep using these for up to 15<br />
years.<br />
Darfield and Kirwee have a<br />
great future and part of making<br />
that happen is providing<br />
the infrastructure they need to<br />
flourish.<br />
We want to hear your views<br />
on the issues affecting life<br />
in the <strong>Selwyn</strong> district<br />
Send emails to:<br />
barry@starmedia.kiwi<br />
Letters may be edited or rejected at<br />
Star Media’s discretion. Letters should be about<br />
200 words.<br />
A name, postal address and phone number<br />
should be provided.<br />
Please use your real name, not a nickname,<br />
alias, pen name or abbreviation.<br />
Rolleston flyover<br />
I am in total agreement with<br />
the Rolleston overbridge, as<br />
anything that makes State<br />
Highway 1 flow better is good for<br />
road safety.<br />
I come from Lincoln and find<br />
the overbridge and underpass<br />
work great.<br />
If you have good business<br />
and good service, customers<br />
make the effort. – Lindsay<br />
Williamson<br />
I feel that not having a right<br />
turn from Rolleston onto State<br />
Highway 1 would, for the<br />
following reasons, create major<br />
problems.<br />
Currently Jones Rd is quite<br />
narrow and would not be able to<br />
cope with the increased volume<br />
of traffic.<br />
The proposed quarry on<br />
Jones Rd intends to have trucks<br />
using the road every one to two<br />
minutes – more congestion.<br />
In Rolleston currently there<br />
are about 6000 residential<br />
sections being developed or<br />
awaiting building consent, with a<br />
further 6000 sections earmarked<br />
for possible development in the<br />
future. This could mean between<br />
6000 and 12,000 more cars on<br />
the roads.<br />
Given that many of those cars<br />
will be travelling to Christchurch<br />
on a daily basis, a quick exit<br />
out of Rolleston and onto State<br />
Highway 1 would seem to be<br />
essential.<br />
It would also mean that<br />
anyone driving north on Jones<br />
Rd would have an easier drive. –<br />
Peter Daniels<br />
SElwyn Youth<br />
be the change<br />
Be involved in your local community<br />
The <strong>Selwyn</strong> Youth Council create opportunities for young people in<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong> to share their views on what is important in their lives. They<br />
assist the <strong>Selwyn</strong> District Council to find ways that young people can<br />
actively participate in their communities and promote projects to get<br />
involved in. These projects include community events, volunteering,<br />
welcoming newcomers, employment and civics.<br />
Stay in the loop. Follow us on:<br />
@<strong>Selwyn</strong>Youth @selwyn_youth
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