Selwyn_Times: August 09, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday August 9 2023
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
10
NEWS
Darfield
High bus to
end for
West Melton
students
• By Daniel Alvey
STUDENTS WHO live in West
Melton will not have a direct bus
to Darfield High School from next
year.
Principal Andy England said it
was always the plan to phase out
the bus service to West Melton,
along with accepting fewer out of
zone enrolments.
In 2016, West Melton was
rezoned to be in the Rolleston
College zone. At the time it was
agreed Darfield High would keep
the bus service going until the end
of this year.
England said the information
had been in student enrolment
packs, but had been omitted for
the past two years. He apologised
for the frustration this may have
caused in a letter to affected
parents.
The bus will now end its
journey at Sandy Knolls Rd, about
4km from West Melton.
England said if the school
did decide to run a bus to West
Melton, it would not get Ministry
of Education funding.
Fire station extension opens
THE DARFIELD community
joined with Fire and Emergency
New Zealand on Saturday to
celebrate the opening of its fire
station extension.
The $2.8 million extension
enables the integrated Darfield
and Darfield South Volunteer
Fire Brigades to operate from
one facility.
FENZ Canterbury district
manager David Stackhouse said
the combined brigades attended
about 120 calls a year, with an
increasing number of weatherrelated
responses. The new
extension provided Darfield’s
firefighters with the space they
needed to train for and respond
to all types of emergencies.
It enlarges the original station
built in 1958 and includes an
extra three appliance bays,
storage space, a training
room with a kitchenette, a
decontamination and ablution
facility and a sealed car park.
Stackhouse acknowledged
Darfield’s volunteer firefighters
and thanked their whānau and
employers, who supported them
in their efforts on behalf of their
community.
“When people don’t know
who else to call, they always call
the fire brigade,” he said.
FENZ acting chief executive
Russell Wood said the opening
marked the completion of 26 fire
station upgrades and rebuilds,
funded by the Government’s
Covid-19 Response and
Recovery Fund.
“Our property renewal work
programme continues, but this
government funding has allowed
Fire and Emergency to rebuild
or upgrade these fire stations
around New Zealand earlier
than anticipated,” he said.
“We are thrilled that 26
fire stations right around the
country have now received
upgraded or brand-new stations,
allowing crews the best available
CELEBRATION:
Response partners
at the opening
included Mayor Sam
Broughton (left)
and daughter Elliott,
Selwyn District Civil
Defence manager
Al Lawn, FENZ
Canterbury district
manager Dave
Stackhouse, NZ Police
rural commander
Inspector Peter
Cooper, FENZ
national commander
Russell Wood and
FENZ region manager
Paul Henderson.
facilities to work from.
“Not only do Fire and
Emergency brigades benefit
from new facilities such as
these, but they ensure that our
communities are provided
with the best possible support,”
Wood said.
GO WEST
NIK KERSHAW
THE MOCKERS
THE CHOIRBOYS
AUTOMATIC 80’S
2 MARCH
LINCOLN DOMAIN
TICKETS ON SALE
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
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Climate change
WHAT’S OUR FUTURE, CANTERBURY?
We are already seeing the effects of climate change on communities,
businesses and ecosystems in Waitaha and around Aotearoa.
Help us to work together to build a climate-resilient future.
Tell us what you think at ecan.govt.nz/ourfuture
E23/8415