Selwyn Times: October 20, 2021

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 20 2021
12
LETTERS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
I strongly object to the Three
Waters plan being proposed by
central government.
Why should they propose
to take over the assets built up
by the Selwyn District Council
which have been developed
with our funds over the years.
In effect to offset or subsidise
another area that either have neglected
their assets over the years
(like the Wellington area) or are
in a difficult to service area.
This so-called levelling-off cannot
be permitted, particularly in
a democratic society.
As has already been pointed
out, what central government
should do is to examine those
areas of “concern” and focus on
them.
Leave the areas of New Zealand
alone that have taken good care
of their three water assets over
the years.
Everyone I have spoken to
about this matter feels the same
way.
Incidentally I have not yet
heard the mention of appropriately
sized desalination plants as
possible alternatives for drinking
water.
But the really big lesson to be
learned is to leave alone the areas
of New Zealand that are doing
okay for the three waters asset
management, like the Selwyn
District Council.
– John Veix, Rolleston
I am in favour of this plan. It’s
high time we had comprehensive
national governance over a national
asset that is so vital to the
well being of all life and land.
Local councils, over the
decades, seem to have become
subject to influences that benefit
the few, not the many. They have
become too myopic.
Looking long-term, this plan
will be something future generations
will prosper from, without
it I’m concerned the trajectory
of pollution and depletion of our
water resources will continue.
Given the climate crisis, it would
be foolish not to back this plan.
– Beth McEachen, Lincoln
Lincoln speed
Yes, as a resident of Gerald St
the speed limit should be reduced
to 30km/h.
If anyone thinks that motorists
keep to the current 50km/h they
have peas growing in their brain.
As soon as motorists go
through the actual commercial
area of the village and reach
St Patrick’s Church the speed
goes up and the same happens
with drivers passing New World
towards the village.
Please also tell me that it is
just not me and family who have
noticed the absolutely awful state
of the road surface.
Heavy goods vehicles should be
banned from Gerald St.
The road was never meant to
have such heavy traffic going
through Lincoln Village.
– Margaret Cole, Lincoln
I am in favour of 30km/h
through Lincoln Village with
a pedestrian crossing by the
library.
– Trish Hollis, Lincoln
I’m all in favour of a reduction
in the speed limit along Gerald
St, but the council also, and more
importantly, needs to focus on
slowing speeds through our
subdivisions.
Southfield Drive in particular
has become a cut-through for
many and careless, ignorant drivers
are putting other road users
and pedestrians at risk. – Martin
Rowson, Lincoln
Feasibility study
to remove nitrates
from water supplies
• By Susan Sandys
THE DISTRICT council is
spending up to $25,000 as it
investigates the feasability of
removing nitrates from water
supplies.
Group manager infrastructure
Murray Washington said the
district council had commissioned
consulting firm BECA to
provide a report on the benefits,
options and costs of treating nitrates
in Selwyn drinking water.
“The report will give clarity to
the community on the options
and what would be required if
we were to consider future treating
our supplies for removal of
nitrates,” Washington said.
The cost of the report would
depend on the final scope of
work, but would be between
$15,000 to 25,000.
The district council was
responding to concerns from
ratepayers about the long term
impacts of nitrates in its drinking
water supplies.
The level of nitrates in supplies
in the district are well below
the Ministry of Health recommended
Maximum Allowable
Value of 11.3mg/L. However, in
light of studies suggesting a link
to bowel cancer, environmental
groups nationwide have called
for a reduction of the MAV to
less than 1mg/L.
Of Selwyn’s 48 water supply
sources tested annually for
nitrate levels, only 16 have levels
less than 1mg/L. Six of the
supplies have levels 5mg/L or
higher.
They are Kirwee, 5mg/L,
Darfield 5.7 and 5.1 at two
separate bores, Dunsandel 6.4,
Edendale 6.1, and Rolleston –
Illinois Drive, which has the
highest level of 7.
Road Code Refresher
Wednesday 3 November, 11am–1pm, Lincoln Library
FREE
Build confidence and gain a refresher on the road code from a qualified driving instructor.
Suitable for mature drivers.
Bookings required. Register by email to roadsafety@selwyn.govt.nz or phone (03) 347 1867.
Drive Wise
Thursday 16 December, 1–5pm, Ruapuna
This half-day course for mature drivers includes:
· Discussing the challenges you face with driving.
· Exercises on the race track in a safe environment to practice braking, following distances, smooth
vehicle control and placement.
· Refreshing your knowledge of the road code with a cup of tea.
· On-road driving together in groups of three with a qualified driving instructor.
(Each attendee drives their own vehicle).
$10 per person. Attendees must bring their own car and their driver’s licence. Registration
required, spaces are limited.
Register by email to roadsafety@selwyn.govt.nz or phone (03) 347 1867.
selwyn.govt.nz