North Canterbury News: March 10, 2022

NEWS
2 The North Canterbury News, March 10, 2022
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Covid hits Anzac Day services
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Anzac Day services in Rangiora and
Fernside have again fallen victim to
Covid­19.
More NorthCanterbury servicesare
expected follow.
The RangioraRSA’s traditional
service at the town’s CenotaphonApril
25, and the Fernside Hall’s Anzac
committeeservicehave both been
cancelled to keep people safe,
particularly those most vulnerable to
catching the rampant Omicron.
The Red Light Covid­19 settingalso
restricts numbers to 100, putting
volunteers chargedwith keeping
numbers to 100 at the Rangiora
Cenotaph, and in the Fernside Hall, in
invidious positions.
However, individualsand families
are expectedtohold theirown
Remembrance tributes as they did in
2020 when Covid­19 also dealt ablow to
Anzac Day.
Many stood at their gates, or the end
of driveways for several minutes at 6am
to commemorate the sacrifice of those
who did not return fromwar.
Othersraised flags on polesintheir
backyards, or joined in neighbourly
gatherings, with suitable spacing,
remembering through fellowship, over
acuppa, or astrongertipple.
Remembering ... Bugler, Bill Peck, will
play the Last Post and Reveille at the
Rangiora Cenotaph, accompanied by RSA
president Ian Thompson, who will lay a
wreath in the absence of atraditional
service.
PHOTO: FILE
Rangiora RSA president,Ian
Thompson, and secretary­treasurer Bill
Peck, will again visitthe Rangiora
Cenotaph, and as many outlying
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cenotaphs as possible, and lay wreaths.
Mr Peck, who is also abugler, will play
the Last Postand Reveille.
The pair will alsovisit the Charles
Upham retirement complex and holda
brief ceremony on the lawn, and visit
other resthomes, wherethey know RSA
members reside,for brief services.
‘‘The first visit will be at 6am and the
lastprobably about 7pm,’’ says Mr
Thompson.
White pigeons willalso be released at
the Rangiora Cenotaph as asymbol of
peace, and in recognition of the
important rolepigeons played in WWI
whenthey were used to carrymessages.
Graham Morrisfrom the Fernside
HallAnzac committee says it is with
sadness the decision was made to
cancel the service,but the safety of
everyone, including older veterans
through to Fernside School pupils, who
always took an active part in the
service,was foremostincommittee
members minds.
Poppy Day will also, once again, be
cancelled and is likely to become a
virtual event on line.
The annualPoppy Day Appeal –
usuallyheld on the Friday beforeAnzac
Day –has become the NZRSA’s primary
means of raisingfunds for the welfare
of returned servicepersonnel and their
dependants.
Wastewater upgrade costs rise
By ADAM BURNS,
Local Democracy Reporter
Upgrades at the Loburn Lea wastewater
system have blown out by more than a
half­a­million dollars from what was
first estimated, another result of supply
chain and labour shortage issues.
But Waimakariri District Council staff
say there was sufficient residual
budgets from within its shovel ready
programme to cover most of the
increased costs on the project.
The multimillion upgrades, which
remain in construction, are part of the
council’s $11 million Governmentfunded
three waters stimulus
programme.
The budget blowout on the Loburn
project forced afinal reshuffle of
programme costs, which were reviewed
and approved at last week’s council
meeting, with savings identified in other
areas.
Council’s inability to recruit for a
drainage and waterways manager
position meant it was able to reallocate
costs across the programme.
The labour market was responding to
‘‘increased economic activity, inflation
and supply chain issues’’ which were
being reflected in increased tender
prices across arange of projects, a
council report says.
Part of the Three Water reforms’
rollout, the stimulus programme for the
Waimakariri comprised of 10
construction projects and funded by an
$8 million government grant, $2 million
from council development contributions
and $1 million from scheme
contributions.
The funding package was said to
provide ‘‘immediate post­Covid­19
stimulus to local authorities to maintain
and improve three waters
infrastructure’’.
The Loburn Lea upgrades will include
improved sewer infrastructure on Cones
Road, Dixons Road, Adian Way and
Millton Ave, anew pumping station and
pipework extending across the Ashley
Bridge.
Stimulus and Shovel Ready delivery
manager Rob Kerr says there had been a
‘‘number of challenges’’ on the project.
‘‘It’s avery long pipeline and the
estimates certainly weren’t up to where
we would hope in terms of levels of
accuracy,’’ he says.
‘‘Part of the (latest) increases has been
caused by increased scope but Ithink it
also reflects the market conditions that
we’re seeing at the moment.
Loburn Lea .. Work continuing on the
Loburn Lea wastewater system at the
Ashley River Bridge.
PHOTO: FILE
‘‘To receive only one tender for a
relatively normal pipeline job like this
is unusual.’’ The Loburn Lea wastewater
project had been estimated to generate
$1.47 million worth of growth across a10
year period.
MattDoocey
MP for Waimakariri
Kaiapoi Office
03 3270514•kaiapoi@parliament.govt.nz
137 Williams Street
RangioraOffice
03 3107468•waimakariri@parliament.govt.nz
Level1Conway Lane,188 High Street
Ienjoy holding constituent
clinicsinOxfordand in
Belfasttobeaccessible;
pleasering my officeifyou
would liketomeetwith me.
Authorised by Matt
Doocey, Parliament
Buildings, Wgtn.