Ashburton Courier: September 30, 2021

COUNCILBRIEF
5BaringSquareWest, Ashburton |POBox 94, Ashburton, NewZealand 7740 | Telephone (03) 307 7700 | Website ashburtondc.govt.nz
Discgolf to take off in Ashburton
Alawyer and adoctor have joined
forces to bring the rapidly-growing
sport ofdisc golf to Ashburton and
the venture isbeing supported by
Ashburton DistrictCouncil and other
funders.
Disc golf is playedlikeregular golf,except
thereisnoclub and ball, justadisc(think
frisbee) that players throw and aim for a
basket.
Lawyer Polly Hill, aconvert to the sport,
has driven the project over the past year
anddoctorGregMarchand,anenthusiastic
disc golfer who has beenworkingatMoore
Street MedicalCentreonsabbatical forthe
past year,has helpedfund it.
Polly said the project was costing about
$25,000 and contractors would begin
installing the 18-hole disc golf course on
the Smallbone Drivereserve,nearthe EA
Networks Centre, on October 11. Discs
wouldbeavailableforhirefromthecentre,
or to buy.
Maps of the course and rules will also be
available.
She plans to haveanopen day laterinthe
year to help raise the profile of the new
sportinAshburton.
“It’sagreat socialsportand youcan play
it with family ormates. Youcan be very
competitive, or justout to enjoythe fresh
air and camaraderie.
“It’sasportthat’sbecoming really popular.
There are severalcourses in Christchurch
already,with plansfor moredevelopment
aroundthe city.”
Polly worked forayearinAshburton fora
locallawfirmandnowlivesinChristchurch,
butwaskeentohelpspreadwordaboutthe
sport. Shehas been financially supported
by the Ashburton community,with several
local organisations and individuals getting
involved. These funders will receive
recognition via permanent signage
around the course, as well as amention in
advertisementsfor the eventual openday.
Installation of the course involves local
contractor Paveco laying small concrete
pads for tees and baskets. New Zealand
Disc Sport Supplies has also contributed
by supplying the baskets and facilitating
the course design.
She said the course had been designed
to start near the EA Networks Centre
carpark and holes were placed around
the Smallbone Drive reserve. Safety was
important, so thedirection of play is away
from the nearbyroad.
The reserve is also used by dog walkersas
an exercise area.
Playerscouldhireadiscforaone-offgame,
or buy one and play whenevertheyliked.
The course is designed forbeginnersand
NeilBrown -Mayor
Localpush forvaccination target
While there is no official target,
it certainly lookslike90per
cent vaccination of the eligible
population is thebestway to
protectour community and help
prevent future lockdowns.
I’vebeen vaccinatedand Iurgeothers
to do the same. There is alot of
misinformationout thereand people
may be anxious but the evidenceis
clear -high vaccination rateswill give
an extralayer of protection to family,
friends and all Kiwisagainstthe most
serious effects of Covid-19.
The CanterburyDistrictHealthBoard
and localhealth providersare offering
amix of regular vaccination clinics and
walk-in clinics, wherenobookingis
needed.
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern is
calling on Aucklanderstotry to reach
Disc golf willsoon be able to be played at Smallbone Drivereserve,nearthe EA Networks Centre.
90 per cent by 4October and we in
the Ashburton districtshould alsobe
aiming high.
The rural and remote natureofpartsof
our districtmeans many wanting to be
vaccinatedmusttravelsome distance
to do so.Many otherswork nightshifts
or early morning rosters. Thank youfor
playingyourpart.
Government agencies arepondering
howbesttoreach thosewho don’tsee
the need,orthose whoare vaccine
hesitant, or need to be encouraged.
Our vaccination ratesinMidCanterbury
arehigh forthe over65s, but other age
bands arelower.This may be because
manyfaced long waitingtimes when
theyoriginally booked–ifyou want to
rebook to aclosertime thereisplenty
of opportunitytodo so.
The bookmyvaccine.nz website
shows sevenregularclinicsoperating
all holes are par 3,ranging from 40m to
90m in length. Like golf, ithas rules and
etiquette.
“We have taken advantage ofthe natural
lay of the par, using the elevation and tree
lines to forceplayerstoplay down natural
tunnels to greens.”
Council Community Services Group
Manager Steve Fabish said the course
should be open laterinOctober.
“Wesee it as anatural fit alongside the EA
Networks Centre and it is something we
hope will encouragepeople to getout and
about and be active. It’sfun forpeople of
all ages and abilities.
“This is great example of the community
working with council, local businesses and
funders toprovide an activity toconnect
and play.”
in Ashburton and quiteafew have
booking spaces in the next couple of
weeks. Thereare clinics in Tinwald,
at the Ashburton Racecourse, and at
severalother locations in Ashburton
town, as well as thosebeing operated
in Methven and Rakaia.
If booking online is notyour thing,
then youcan book overthe phone by
calling0800 28 29 26 –the covid-19
vaccination healthline has translation
services in over40languages and
operatesfrom8am until8pm seven
days aweek.
It’snot always easy to getawayfrom
work or off the farm and intotown,
but everyperson who isn'tvaccinated
remainsarisk and as acommunity we
need to heed the Government’s call
and getour vaccination rate up.
It clear thatgetting the jab is our best
pathtoeconomic recovery and amore
Thursday,30September 2021 | ISSUE 48
Dog park
repair,redo
The AshburtonDog Park,beside the
Ashburton River, should be open
again by Christmasafterrenovations
and improvements following May’s
historic rainfall and flood.
The dog park, near the State Highway 1
bridge, was under water when the river
peaked in the one in 200-yearevent,and
fences were lost and sinkholes created.
Ashburton District Council Community
Services Group Manager Steve Fabish
saidthe park wouldbebetterthan before,
withanew entrancebeing createdatthe
end of Cass Street, near the new Kmart
redevelopment and carpark.
“Staff are taking the opportunity to
increase the levelofservices provided. In
the future,therewill be separate areasfor
large and small dogs. There arealso large
trees that have become problematic and
abank that has been scoured out. All of
theseissueswillbeaddressedintherepair.
There is significantwork to do butwehope
to haveitopen againbeforeChristmas.”
Council’s other dog exercise areas are
open. These are designated areas where
dogs can exercise off the leash, however
they must beunder the direct control of
their owners.
Other areas include: Pioneer Park, Digby
Park,Patching Street reserve,Devon Park,
Smallbone Drive reserve, George Glassey
Park,ArgyleParkandtheGreeninTinwald.
Dog owners are also welcome to use the
old landfill area atthe end of RangeStreet.
normalexistence.
While it’seasy to think of Covid-19as
an Auckland issue right now, we know
thatDeltaspreads quickly,that’swhy
it remainsimportant forthe rest of us
to continue to followthe rules,which
include mask wearing in some indoor
environmentsand scanning or signing
in.
“She’ll be right” is notthe approach.
We need to listentothe experts,
support each other and getvaccinated.
1 ashburtondc.govt.nz
Thursday,30September 2021 |ISSUE 48