The Star: November 30, 2023

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023
• By Sasha Watson
www.starnews.co.nz
connecting you with your neighbourhood
Locals
Locals
Supporting
Chess-inspired blockades
installed at Hornby Hub
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Christchurch’s best read and largest circulating newspaper
ROOK NO FURTHER: Following a ram raid earlier this year pawn-shaped bollards have been installed at the Hub, blocking the entrance from future
attempts. The metal barriers shown above remain present along the side of the road. PHOTOS: FACEBOOK AND RNZ
Shop for your home.
Plan for your holiday.
Earn a MASSIVE
5x Airpoints Dollars
on Fisher & Paykel and Haier Whiteware X
GIANT chess-board pawns
now guard the entrance to
the Hub Hornby.
After looking at options
for traditional bollards,
Hub Hornby senior centre
manager Jason Marsden
said while there were a lot,
there were not many that
were “actually capable of
stopping a vehicle at speed.”
Said Marsden: “Most are
more visual markers to
Jason
Marsden
delineate pedestrian and
vehicle spaces.
“Those that are capable
of stopping a vehicle
require major belowground
installation
works which adds a huge
amount of cost and once
installed it really cannot
be relocated.”
Marsden then set about
looking for mass-based
above-ground options.
“Whils there were some
available in New Zealand,
typically they were on the small
side and I was sceptical about
their ability to stop a vehicle
travelling at speed which could
potentially just push them aside
rendering them useless,” he
said.
Marsden settled on the shape
based on a chess pawn and
wen through many iterations
looking at proportions, base
size and height, along with the
size of the top sphere while
considering the centre of mass
and its stability.
“The Hub has a culture of innovation,
so I set about designing
something that would meet
our requirements. The target
weight was 1.5t and would require
lifting points to be able to
be easily placed and relocated,”
said Marsden.
“Further, something that
would be pedestrian and
trolley-friendly without corners
or sharp edges. Once I was
happy with the design, I then
had to locate a company that
could produce them.”
THIS
WEEKEND
ONLY
After an extensive search,
the perfect company for the job
was located just down the road
in Rolleston.
Said Marsden: “Cancast had
the skills and knowledge to
produce the mould, design the
required internal reinforcing
to incorporate the single top
lifting bolt and successfully
cas the bollards to a very high
standard of finish.
“We are very happy with the
result and have received a lot of
positive feedback.”
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SEE PAGE OVER FOR DEALS
Offer valid dates vary, see product pages online for details. Available while stocks last. X5x Airpoints Dollars on Fisher & Paykel and Haier whiteware valid Wednesday 29 November – Sunday 24 December 2023. Eligible purchases include Fisher & Paykel and Haier branded refrigeration, laundry, cooking,
dishwashing appliances and accessories. Excludes replacement parts, extended warranties, delivery, and installation. Personal shoppers only. Excludes Commercial and Trade sales. Promotion and Airpoints programme terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Visit smithscity.co.nz/airpoints for details. *2
Free delivery on selected TVs, Audio, Floor Care and Whiteware, in-store and online, valid Saturday 2nd – Sunday 3rd December 2023 only. Free delivery terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Applies to delivery addresses within 25km of a Smiths City store. Also applies to local Auckland delivery addresses
(from Auckland CBD extending to Albany, Henderson, Howick, and Papakura). Deliveries to some rural areas and the Outer Islands (Chatham Island, Stewart Island, Kawau Island, Waiheke Island, Matakana Island, Great Barrier Island and d’Urville Island) are excluded. Additional delivery charges and free
delivery exclusions apply in some circumstances. Excludes in-store only products. Excludes unpacking, set up, and installation. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Personal shoppers only, excludes Trade and Commercial. See in-store or visit smithscity.co.nz for detail.