Ashburton Courier: November 30, 2023

28 Ashburton
NEWS
Courier, November 30, 2023
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Security concerns, depot closed to public
BY JONATHAN LEASK
Local democracy reporter
Security concerns have led
Environment Canterbury to
officially shut its doors to the
Ashburton public.
Environment Canterbury
(Ecan) has advised the public
that “due to building
requirements”, public access to
the McNally St site, and any
meetings with staff, will be by
appointment only.
Corporate and public transport
services director Giles Southwell
said issues arose as the
Ashburton site is not an office,
and was never supposed to
operate as one.
“Our Ashburton location on
McNally St is aworking depot
which has never been formally
open to the public.
“Due to this, there are no
designated customer advisory or
reception kaimahi [staff] based
there.
‘‘[The messaging] is simply to
provide restrictions on people
walking inoff the street
unannounced –and by asking
them to make an appointment.”
Acouncil spokesperson said
the change was not caused by an
isolated security incident, but a
recent test of security
procedures.
‘‘We were not happy with our
internal findings. Areview is now
under way looking into the longterm
office access and security
needs of the Ashburton depot.”
All customer queries need to
first go throughthe advisor team
which requires ringing the
central 0800 phone line.
Southwell said the byappointment
process will
“improve our customer service to
our ratepayers, ensuring any
queries can be handled
appropriately and efficiently”.
Ecan’s main office and council
chamber is in central
Christchurch, and it also has
offices in Kaikōura and Timaru.
There are 10 permanent staff
working from the Ashburton
depot, including rivers, zone
delivery, biosecurity
/biodiversity, science, and land
and management advisors.
Councillor Ian Mackenzie said
Ecan had been in negotiations
with the district council around
having staff based in Te Whare
Whakatere.
District council chief executive
Hamish Riach confirmed there
had been discussion, “but
ultimately they decided they
didn’t wish to do so”.
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IN BRIEF
BRIDGE ACCIDENTS
Avehicle crashed into the side of the Rakaia River
Bridge last weekend, causing major traffic issues for
those travellingonState Highway 1.
It was the second time in two weeks an accident
on the bridge had caused delays for motorists.
Apolice spokesmansaid last weekend’s crash
happened at about 11.10am.
Both lanes of the bridge were closed for about two
hours.
The only otherroute across the Rakaia River is the
bridge at Rakaia Gorge,near Mt Hutt. It is a
30-minute drive away. That bridge includes aone
lane-portion, further slowingtraffic.
The bridge reopened shortly after 1pm under stop/
go management, but significant delays remained.
NOTICE GIVEN
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has put Te
Whatu Ora on notice.Their collective agreement,
ratified in August by members of the organisation
who work for Te Whatu Ora, will expire in less than
ayear. NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said
members are committed to continuingpressure for
the nursing workforce to be valued, specifically
around issues such as nurse-to-patient ratios, safe
staffinglevels, health and safety at work and
meaningfulpay, and pay rises. Member meetings
are being held nationwidetoput the new
government and Te Whatu Ora on notice that it must
increase fundingtothe health sector and fix the
nursingshortage, he said. He said the new
government planned to release amini-Budget in
December that will shape public spendingfor the
next three years, and health needed to top the list of
government spendingpriorities.
SMOKEFREE KICK
Health professionals are urging government to reconsider
changes to smoking and vapinglegislation
after hearing of its plans to axe laws put in place to
protect the health of New Zealanders. Respiratory
and cardiology clinicians from the Asthma and
Respiratory Foundation NZ, Thoracic Society of
Australia and New Zealand and the CardiacSociety
of Australia and NZ are deeply concerned about the
coalition’s intentions to revoke legislation banning
the sale of cigarettes to future generations, reducing
nicotine levels and limiting the number of tobacco
retailers. Health CoalitionAotearoa has also
expressed its disappointment. CA Foundation
medicaldirector Dr James Fingleton said he was
extremely worried about the direction the new
coalitionwas taking when it came to lung health. ‘‘If
they were to proceed with the repeals, it would be a
massive step back in respiratory health for Aotearoa.
This move not only undermines the progress we, as
acountry, were makinginsafeguardingthe
respiratory health of our New Zealanders, but also
places aheavierburden on our healthcare system.’’
FISH FINE
CentralSouth Island Fish &Game have successfully
prosecutedanangler who flouted the law while
fishing at the Pūkaki Canalnear Twizel in May.
Shane William Pritchard of Milton appeared in the
Timaru District Court last week, facing charges of
fishing without asports fishing licence and
obstructingaFish &Game ranger. Pritchard was
convicted on both charges and ordered to pay $1530
in fines and costs. Pritchard refused to hand over his
fishing rod to the ranger for seizure upon demand
and, in doing so, committed obstruction. Central
South Island Compliance co-ordinatorHamish
Stevens said asports fishing licence costs $24 per
day for an adult, ‘‘a much cheaper and sensible
option’’ than gettingcaughtflouting the law.