North Canterbury News: November 18, 2021

Hunger relief efforts recognised
By DAVID HILL
The effortsoflocal Lions club members to
relieve hunger has been beenrecognised.
The Oxford and DistrictsLionsClub’s
project to grow potatoes and other
vegetables, whichare supplied to Satisfy
Food Rescue to distribute to North
Canterburyfood banks,has beennamed
this year’s best New Zealand Lions
hunger relief project.
‘‘It’s importantthat activities that the
Oxford and Districts Lions Clubare
involvedinare meaningfuland
deserving,’’ secretary Lindsay Fletcher
says.
‘‘We identified the need within North
Canterbury and through collaboration
with SatisfyFood Rescue and leave the
deserving component to them as subject
matterexperts.
‘‘The Oxford Lions enjoy workingwith
organisations and clubs,assistingthem to
get their projects or initiatives to a
successful conclusion usingahand up not
ahand out approach.’’
Because of Covid­19restrictions, the
OxfordLionswere unable to receive the
award in person.
But the pandemic has not stoppedthe
reliefefforts, whichhave grownenough
food for more than31,000mealssince the
project beganinMay last year.
‘‘We scoped this year’srequirements
during Covid Level 2, and formedasmall
bubble to commence groundpreparation
for the current growingseason,’’ Mr
Fletcher says. ‘‘The intention this season
is to overdeliver on our promisetoSatisfy
Food Rescue, thatisatarget of 20,000kg of
freshvegetables.’’
The Lions havebeen growing
pumpkins, beetroot,rhubarb and beans.
More than1000kg of pumpkins have been
donated to date.
Picking spuds ... Volunteers gather potatoes as part of the Oxford and Districts Lions
Club’s efforts to relieve hunger.
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Potato field ... The Oxford and Districts Lions Club has been supplying Satisfy Food
Rescue with potatoes and other vegetables since May last year.
15
Board backs
speed limits
EXPERIENCE OXFORD
The North Canterbury News, November 18, 2021
Oxford’s Main Street couldbeset for a
reduced speed limit to 40kph.
The Oxford­Ohoka Community Board
has recommended the adoption of speed
limit changes to 17 roads in Oxford and
Ohoka, including Main Street.
The Waimakariri District Councilwill
now vote on whether to implement
proposed new speed limitsatits
December meeting,after 297
submissionswere received duringa
consultation on adistrict­wide review of
speed limits.
The majority of respondents in the
Oxford­Ohoka ward areafavoured the
proposed speed limit reductions.
But evenifthe council votes in favour
of the new limits,Main Street’sspeed
limit will remainat50kph untilnew
traffic calming infrastructure can be
installed.
Council staff estimate the necessary
infrastructure will cost around $450,000
and this will be consideredaspart of
next year’s annual plan process.
Board chairperson Doug Nicholl says
the safetyofthe area’s ever­growing
population was keyinthe board’s
feedback.
‘‘Theincreaseinhousing density in
Ohoka,caused by subdivision
developments, has meant thatthe 70kph
rural townspeedlimit is now
inappropriate for the numberof
vehicles and people in the area.
‘‘Similarly, Oxford continues to grow
with the town extendingfurther
outwards meaning greater numbers of
vehicles and people,coupled with an
increaseinintersections and access
ways.
‘‘Therisk of severe crashesis
becoming greaterand the high speeds
currently in place are no longersafe or
appropriate.’’