Selwyn_Times: July 26, 2023

Wednesday July 26 2023 Selwyn Times
Rolleston station
staffing: Police
delay releasing
documents
• By Daniel Alvey
POLICE CHIEFS have delayed
releasing documents relating to
the Rolleston police station 24/7
model.
The Selwyn Times sought
reports, business plans, surveys
and studies undertaken by
police or done for police in an
Official Information Act request
on May 23.
Government departments
have 20 working days to respond
to an OIA request or exercise an
extension.
Police had until June 21 to
respond. At the end of the deadline
day they said they would
be asking for an extension,
citing “consultations necessary”
to make a decision on how to
respond to the request could not
be made within the original 20
days.
Following the extension, police
had until July 19 to respond,
but they missed the deadline.
When asked by the Selwyn
Times why they had not responded,
police said they were
still consulting and were “unable
to provide a date for our (police)
response.”
The trial of the 24/7 model
started on May 1 and was designed
to bring more coverage
for the whole district based
from Rolleston, Selwyn’s central
police station. That would be
achieved using public safety
teams consisting of a sergeant
and four constables.
But it came at the expense of
local station officers. To make up
the numbers, two officers from
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Lincoln, one from Leeston and
five from the city moved to the
Rolleston station.
The New Zealand Police Association,
the police officers’
union, has also asked for the
business case behind the move
to be released.
NZPA
president Chris
Cahill said the
association
had asked for
the business
case to gain an
Chris Cahill
understanding
of why the 24/7
model was taken on, including
“the motivations, the benefits”
and how they believe the other
areas like Lincoln and Leeston
will be managed.
Cahill said Canterbury district
commander Superintendent
Tony Hill, Canterbury rural area
commander Inspector Peter
Cooper, and Selwyn police chief
Senior Sergeant Rachel Walker,
are likely the people involved in
consultation.
“Our understanding is that it
is a trial to December and then
it stops, then it has to be fully
assessed,” Cahill said.
He said one of the issues is police
are trying to do more with
not enough staff.
In May, Walker would not answer
specific questions around
staffing levels, both in rural
stations and in the public safety
teams based at Rolleston.
The Selwyn Times has
complained to the Ombudsman
about the delay in the police
response.
NEWS 3
In Brief
PLAN CHANGE ON HOLD
A plan change for a retirement
village in West Melton is on hold
while the district council finalises
its District Plan. Marama Te Wai
Ltd lodged a private plan change
request (PC77) in December 2020
to build 218 retirement village
units on the western side of West
Melton. District council head of
strategy and policy Robert Love
said the company also made
a submission on the proposed
District Plan, requesting the land
be rezoned through that process.
The proposed District Plan is
expected to become operative in
the coming months, and if the
land is rezoned a plan change
would not be required.
FUSE BOX FIRE
A fuse box was the cause of a
fire at 1am on Monday at Downs
Rd, Hororata. Fire crews from
Hororata and Colgate responded.
Hororata chief fire officer Bruce
Sayer said the fire was mostly
out on arrival and damage to the
house was minimal.
SCHOOL RESTORATION
FUNDRAISER
The South Malvern Community
Trust is fundraising to continue
restoring the former South
Malvern School in Whitecliffs.
The trust will host a quiz night at
7pm on August 25. Funds will go
towards upgrading the electrical
system. To book a table contact
Rosemary on 021 076 8234.
Over 10 Years in Selwyn
ROLLESTON OFFICE
80A Rolleston Drive, Rolleston
Belinda Ferguson
Anita Molloy-Roberts
Olivia Johnston
Maddy France
Kieran Heenan
Ruby Jones
W: www.meareswilliams.co.nz
T: (03) 374 2547
E: rec@meareswilliams.co.nz
Offices also located at:
43 Gerald Street, Lincoln
225 Papanui Road, Christchurch
HEAT PUMP
SALE NOW ON!
HEAT PUMPs froM
$ inc GsT
2449INsTALLED
0800 131 812
info@powersmart.co.nz
powersmart.co.nz
T’s & C’s apply
2022
2022
Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps
Up to $400
cashback and
60 months
interest
free
2022
Heat Pumps
frEE
consultation
from your local
Accredited Heat
Pump Expert
EXPORT QUALITY MEATS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
WWW.PRIMERANGEFRESH.CO.NZ
303 COLOMBO STREET, SYDENHAM
MON-FRI 8:45AM-6:00PM
SAT 8:45AM-5:30PM
SUN 8:45AM-5:00PM
Instore & Online
24 July - 30 July