North Canterbury News: December 16, 2021

NEWS
24 The North Canterbury News, December 16, 2021
Council revisits Vaccine Pass requirements
By DAVID HILL
Covid­19 vaccinepasses are required for
entry at WaimakaririDistrict Council
aquatic facilities, librariesand some
large public venues.
Councillorsvoted to adopt thechanges
at an extraordinary council on Friday,
December 10,following ahealth and
safety risk assessmentbychief executive
Jim Harland.
Mr Harland said checking vaccine
passesisthe bestway to ensure‘‘we can
keepour doors open regardless of what
traffic light we are at’’.
‘‘This is the simplest waytoensure
continuityofcouncil servicesfor
residents andmake sure we play ourpart
to minimisepublic and staff exposure and
risktoCovid­19.’’
Mayor DanGordon backed the
decision,but also supportedan
amendmentbyCr Philip Redmondto
ensureservices could be offeredto
unvaccinated residents where it is safeto
do so.
‘‘Duringthe lastweekI’ve been
speaking to alot of business owners and
our community who are pleased the
prospect of furtherwholesale lockdowns
is athing of thepast under thenew
framework.
‘‘Itisnot an easydecision,but onethat
is righttoprotect our staffand
community.
‘‘Wehave asked staff wherepractical to
findwaystomakesurewecan continueto
deliver services like we did during
lockdowns.’’
Children under age 12 willbeable
access council facilities, subjectto
government guidelines.
Community andrecreationmanager
Chris Brownsaysstaff will be authorised
to use discretion to determinewhether
children are under age 12.
‘‘Withvaccinescoming for 5to12­yearolds,
we willconsider the government
advicewhenthe timecomes.’’
Mr Brownsaysservices like‘‘MyBook
Bag’’ willbeavailabletounvaccinated
residents and library staff will be
available over thephoneand by email.
‘‘Butthe pools are alittle bit different.’’
Cr KirstynBarnettsupported the
motion, but expressed concerns that
childrencould be excluded due to their
parents’ vaccinationstatus.
‘‘Thereare some under­12s who will
miss outbecause their parents aren’t
vaccinatedand they needtobe
accompaniedbyanadult.’’
DeputyMayor Neville Atkinson
acknowledgedrequiring vaccinepasses
forentrytopublic buildingsisabig
decision.
He said staffneeded to be sensitive in
howtheyhandledsituations withgroup
visits,asteenagers ‘‘can be pretty mean to
each other sometimes’’.
‘‘It’s reallyhard to do, but we are
elected to make hard decisionsand this is
one of thosesituations.
‘‘Childrenare encouraged to visit
libraries, but life can be cruel
sometimes.’’
Requirements forcouncil facilities:
Vaccinepassesare required at all
aquatic centres andlibraries, the Oxford
and Kaiapoi Service Centres, the
Rangiora Town Hall, MainPower
Stadium,Kaiapoi Community Centreand
Woodend Community Centre.
Vaccinepassesare notrequired at the
Rangiora Service Centreand thetransfer
stations.
Vaccinepassesare notrequired at
council,committeeand community board
meetings, butthere are capacity limits.
One metredistancing, contacttracing
and masks arerequiredatall venues.
PublicEvents (indoor and outdoor):no
limitsifvaccine passesare required for
those 12­years and older.
If vaccinepasses are notrequired,a
maximumof50people are allowed.
Road programme set to end year ahead of schedule
Kaikoura’s roading programme is ‘‘going
great guns’’,MayorCraig Mackle says.
Mr Macklewas hailing the hard work of
staff and councilcontractors, with the
council’s roadingprogrammeset to end
the year ahead of schedule.
‘‘It’s goingreally well. We are ahead of
our work programmewhich is good,
becauseour main driver this year was
roads and footpaths.
Around $1 million has been spend so far.
Roading was abig ticket item in this
year’s KaikouraLong Term Plan, with the
council set to spend$4.7 million over the
next six years to upgradethe district’s
roadingnetwork.
Urban footpaths are set to receive a
boost from next year, with an extra
$100,000 per year to be spent in abid to
overcome years of under investment.
Contractor Downer NZ Ltd has been
working on the road resealingprogramme,
with Ludstone Road and Red Swamp
Road the only remaining roads to be
resealed this year.
These works have resultedinmore than
11km of chip­sealedroads being resealed.
Around8km of second coat sealing was
completedonSchoolhouse Road and Mill
Roadtocomplete remediation works.
Theresealing of roads is critical to
protecting the road surface and
underlyingformation, as the chip seal
becomes brittle over time and results in
increased maintenance costs due to
cracking and potholing, Mr Mackle says.
The skid resistance of the surface is also
reduced due to wear and polishing /
smoothness of the rock chip,soresealing
improves road safety.
Downers will be workingonasection of
Red Swamp Road, from Mill Road south
until December 23. The work involves
overlaying and sealing the road and will
occur during Monday to Fridaybetween
6.30am and 6.30pm. The road will be
closed during construction,but residents
will still have access.