North Canterbury News: September 21, 2023

NEWS
10 The North Canterbury News, September 21, 2023
Biodiversity on track
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Biodiversity projects are continuing to
be delivered, despitethe absence of a
Hurunui Zone Committee, MayorMarie
Black said.
The Hurunui District Council stepped
away from the Hurunui Waiau Uwha
Water Zone Committee three yearsago.
Discussions began soon after to forma
water and land committee in
partnership with Environment
Canterbury and local rūnanga.
Mrs Blacksaid the committee
proposal had been put on the
backburner due to Covid and the heavy
workload of government reform.
‘‘The lackofacommitteeisnot
holding back the delivery.
‘‘The desire for acommitteeis to
provide some direction and awider
communityvoice.
‘‘We want the community voice to be
at the centre of any process.’’
She said the council had kept in
regular contact with Environment
Canterbury, which reported to Hurunui
District Council meetings.
‘‘Our relationship with Environment
Canterbury is very good.
‘‘We have different roles and
responsibilities, but we keep in regular
contact.’’
The Hurunui district crossed two
takiwā (hapū territories), which meant
working withtwo rūnanga, Ngāi
Tūāhuriri and Kaikōura.
Public interest journalism funded
through New Zealand on Air.
Solution still sought
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Residents at Motunau Beach are no
closer to finding asolution, as their
houses creep closer the cliff edge.
Coastal erosion has eatenaway at a
cliffface, leaving homesvulnerable.
Hurunui District Councilchief
executive HamishDobbiesaid section
124 notices had been issued, and the
council was still working throughthe
issues.
‘‘It is pretty difficult for those
individuals involved to work through the
process.’’
Section 124 notices are issued by
councils under the Building Act if a
building is considered to be dangerous,
posesarisk to safetyorisinsanitary.
The noticemay warn people not to
approach the building or may restrict
entryand require certain work to be
carried out.
Mr Dobbie said ageotech report has
been completed andthe council was
continuing to discussthe optionswith
the owners.
The resource consent application has
been made to EnvironmentCanterbury
to renourishthe cliff face.
The council has also been consulting
with beach communities over the past
threeyears to developCoastal
AdaptationPlans in response to coastal
erosion and climate change.
Public interestjournalism funded
through New Zealand on Air.
Donations pouring in
By SHELLEY TOPP
Donations of books, puzzles and DVD’s
have been pouring into collection bins
for the Rangiora Rotary book fair which
opens next Thursday, September 28.
Rotary book fair convener Alan
McElroy says bins are being cleared up
to four times aday.
‘‘It looks like arecord year for stock.
‘‘This year we are putting all the books
out with no ‘specials’. There will be
some real bargains to be found.’’
Unlike some other book fairs, there
will be no prior sales or viewing.
‘‘However they are welcome to make
purchases during the event,’’ Alan says.
Families are invited to attend, with a
wide variety of children’s books and
puzzles for sale.
The last day to drop off books and
other donated items, will be Sunday
September 24. The collection bins in
Rangiora are at the Zservice station, the
New World supermarket and Mitre 10
Mega.
The three­day event will be held at the
Northern A&P Showgrounds in Ashley
Street, Rangiora.
It will open on Thursday, September
28, from 5pm to 9pm, Friday September
29, 9am to 7.30pm, and Saturday
September 30, from 9am to 5pm.
Eftpos and PayWave will be available.
Glass to be recycled
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Hundreds of tonnes of glass bottles and
jars collected in Kaikoura are now being
recycled ratherthan being usedfor
drainage and coveronthe landfill.
The initiative is thankstoapartnership
between Innovative Waste Kaikoura, the
GlassPackaging Forumand 5R Solutions
in Christchurch.
A$20,000 grant from the GlassPackaging
Forum(GPF) helpedInnovative Waste
Kaikoura(IWK) build storage bunkers to
make transport viable.
The recently completed bunkers hold
glasswhichhas beensortedinto its three
base colours (clear, green, brown) before
beingfreighted to the glass hub at 5R
Solutions in Christchurch.
It then goes to Auckland to be recycled
into new glass containers.
IWK General Manager Jacki Remihana
says to make transportingthe glass
economically viable, it needs to be
aggregated,sostorage bunkers are
essential.
She says previously IWK collected glass
and crushed it on site to use it as landfill
coverand drainage.
It was now being collected and coloursorted,
which is considered industry best
practice.
‘‘We’re going to roll out new kerbside
bins to households to colour sort their
glass for pick up. This will start on October
1,’’ Jacki says.
GPF Scheme Manager Dominic Salmon
says helping organisations like IWK
improve their glasscollection and
recycling is aprimaryfocus.
‘‘Glass is infinitely recyclable and
reducesemissions becausethe glass
furnace can run at lowertemperatures
when you use recycled material.
‘‘Innovative Waste Kaikoura do agreat
job collecting about500 tonnesofglass a
year, so were really happytohelp them get
it recycled,’’ Dominic says.
About Moving Forward:
Waimakariri’s Integrated
Transport Strategy
We are creating an integrated vision to meet
the transport challenges facing our District.
Have your say before 5pm Sunday 1October
at waimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk