North Canterbury News: August 12, 2021

What’s happening in your
community…
MainPower Stadium Opens to the Public
Mayor Dan Gordon and North Canterbury Sport
and Recreation Trust (NCSRT) Chair Don Robertson
cut the ribbon on Sunday in front ofhundreds of
people who braved the rain and snow toattend the
official opening of the MainPower Stadium.
“It’sbeen20years in themaking and Ithinkitmeans a
lottoourcommunity, from our youngathletes,toour
sportspeople andthosewho willuse it morebroadly as
amulti-usefacility,” saysMayor DanGordon.“Seeing
thehugenumber of people whoattendedshows just
how much it means to the community.”
It’s estimated up to four thousand people attended
the open day and toured the stadium’svarious areas
including the central fitness centre, main court area
and coaching spaces. On the courts, local teams
got their first chance totry out the facility as they
entertained guests with sports demonstrations.
The stadium will be managed by the NCSRT who
have been eagerly awaiting the opening asthe
District’s expanding population has outgrown
existing court space.
“This is agame changer for the community, it’s
state of the art and we’ve got everything we could
possibly need,” says Don Robertson, NCSRT Chair.
“We are really excited.”
At 6000m2 in size and featuring four standard
sized courts the community facility isthe largest
to be constructed in the District. It was designed
by Warren and Mahoney and built over 18months
by Leighs Construction.
It’s Rail Safety Week
Nationally, since the beginning of 2010, there have
been 48 recorded serious or fatal crashes involving
atrain and amotor vehicle and two collisions with
cyclists. Twenty of these were fatal. Sadly, some of
the Waimakariri District’s rail crossings feature in
these statistics.
Today is the start of Rail Safety Week, an annual
event, planned and coordinated by KiwiRail and
TrackSAFENZ. The campaign aims to raise awareness
about rail safety and to encourage safe behaviour
around trains, railway tracks and level crossings.
There are 23 rail crossings in our District, and a
variety of different controls ranging from barriers
and flashing lights to basic signage.
Everyone is reminded topay extra attention at
rail crossings and not get complacent about the
risk.Around 72 percent ofserious and fatalcrashes
between vehicles and trains happenatcrossings with
passive protection –either agiveway or stopsign.
Athird of fatal and serious level crossing incidents
involve farmers. If you cross arail crossing every
day and never see atrain it is common to become
complacent. However, the outcome if you get it
wrong isnot worth the risk.
Please continuetotake care around rail crossings, pay
full attention and always expect there to be atrain.
CHOP
THE
MOP
Jason ClementsfromWaimakaririLibraries
will Chop the Mop,saying goodbye to
his beardand trademark long hair at this
fundraising event forthe Cancer Society.
Featuring special guest poetryreadings by:
North Canterbury Cancer Society Writers Group
John Allison |Ben Brown |Doc Drumheller
Ciaran Fox |Bernadette Hall
RangioraLibrary
Thursday 26August •6.30-8pm (entry bykoha)
To support this Chop the Mop fundraising effort visit:
youcanforcancer.org.nz/jason-clements
Register Now
In association with:
libraries.waimakariri.govt.nz
03 311 8901
The Waimakariri
Event Funds
Enterprise North Canterbury is
inviting organisers of Waimakariri
events to apply for one of two
event funds.
The funds offer between $500 and $10,000
towards events held in the Waimakariri District.
The current funding round isopen now
until 31 August 2021.
Check out the criteria for the Waimakariri
Regional Events Fund and apply online at
www.northcanterbury.co.nz/regional-events-fund
Check out the criteria for the Waimakariri
Event Fund and apply online at
www.visitwaimakariri.co.nz/events/organisers/
or contact Khloe Peck, 03 327 5735 or
events@visitwaimakariri.co.nz
The Waimakariri Regional Events Fund is Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment funding and the Waimakariri Event Fund
is Waimakariri District Council funding. Both are administered by ENC.
2021/22 Rates
Instalment Due
We’d like to remind you that the first
instalment ofthe 2021/22 rates is due on
20 August 2021 and the last day to claim a
discount for earlier payment is approaching.
Please notethat a10% penalty will be added to any part of
the first instalment that remains unpaid aer 27 August2021.
If youare going to pay the total ratestoclaimthe discount,
please do so along with any arrears by 27 August 2021.
If you are having dificulty payingyour rates, we encourage you
to get intouch with usatrates@wmk.govt.nz to talk through
payment options.
Online
Go to waimakariri.govt.nz/services/online-services
(creditcard paymentsincur aconvenience fee).
Internet Banking
Account number: 010877-0129222-00
Use the valuation numberonyourrates invoice as reference.
If youare payingratesonmore thanone property, emaildetails
of payment to finance@wmk.govt.nz
In Person
Epos and cash payments are welcome at any Council
service centre.
SlamPoetryatthe
Kaiapoi Library
One of theworld’sleadingslam poets,
RikTheMost, brings Slam Poetrytothe
Waimakariri District, with alunchtime
performance.
Kaiapoi Library
Wednesday 25 August •12.30pm
Register Now
libraries.waimakariri.govt.nz
03 311 8901
In association with: