North Canterbury News: February 29, 2024
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<strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>February</strong> <strong>29</strong>, <strong>2024</strong><br />
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Sign vandalismcosts ratepayers<br />
By ROBYN BRISTOW<br />
Vandalised signs in the HurunuiDistrict<br />
are hitting ratepayersinthe pocket and<br />
putting lives at risk.<br />
There has been aspate of damage to<br />
Give Way, Stop, Railway warning signs,<br />
and speed limit signs over the past few<br />
month on the district’s roads, as well as<br />
trail marker signs on the St James Cycle<br />
Trail.<br />
Hurunui Police Sergeant Rob Irvine<br />
says road signs aregenerally targeted by<br />
larger vehicles such as fourwheeldrives<br />
and big sedans like Commodores and<br />
Falcons, which are also used as skid cars.<br />
Anecdotally he has heard the offenders<br />
are young people.<br />
‘‘It appears people are doing it for kicks<br />
anddon’t realise the potential<br />
consequences of their actions if the signs<br />
cannot be read or seen, or have been<br />
removed,’’hesays.<br />
The public can report this behaviour to<br />
the police by dialling 111 or *555 if it is<br />
happeningatthe time, or *105, with details<br />
of licence plate, model of vehicle, time and<br />
location.<br />
Reports of sign damagebyfirearms has<br />
been seen and reported on the St James<br />
Cycle Trail, and on signs closer to Hanmer<br />
Springs.<br />
This is awhole different safety aspect,<br />
saysSergeant Irvine.<br />
He urged the use of the Rural Lookout<br />
app, an easytouse method for reporting<br />
crime which is instant and accurate.<br />
It gives us agood picture of where the<br />
crimes are happening because it has geolocation.<br />
Mark Inglis, St James Cycle Trail<br />
Manager, has been saddened by the<br />
bullets that have gone through the signs he<br />
and his trail network team has worked<br />
hard to design and install.<br />
The frustrating damage includes fences<br />
and gates where the offenderscan gain<br />
access.<br />
He listed Acheron Road, Tophouse<br />
Mayor proud of council team<br />
From Page 1<br />
‘‘We see what they do and learn from<br />
them.<br />
‘‘It’s all about returning the favour<br />
when they come and help us out at fires<br />
when we need them.’’<br />
Hurunui Mayor Marie Black says she<br />
was so proud of the council team who<br />
also swam for the entire 24 hours.<br />
‘‘Swimming those lengths of the pool<br />
forced me and others out of our comfort<br />
zones, which was good for us and I’m<br />
proudofthem all as we helped such a<br />
good community cause.’’<br />
United Fire Brigades’ Association<br />
BoardChair Peter Dunne says the<br />
Amberley Brigade’s efforts are nothing<br />
Road, Edwards Road, and Mailings Pass<br />
as targeted areas. The damage is mostly in<br />
areas where the vandals can drive to.<br />
‘‘The real worry is that people are<br />
parallel to the track when they’re firing<br />
generally —atnight. This is also illegal on<br />
public conservationland,’’ he says.<br />
Awellused trail is asafe trail, he says,<br />
and urges recreationist to continue to use<br />
them.<br />
Mr Inglis does attempt to repair the<br />
graffitidamaged signs, and those which<br />
have been knocked over, as best he can,<br />
but bullet holes are not so easy to fix.<br />
Replacement signs costs between $70 to<br />
$1000, which is acost to the very limited<br />
trail maintenance funds. It also means the<br />
funds are not available to maintain the<br />
trails.<br />
Mr Inglis urges people to contact him if<br />
they see damage in the St James<br />
Conservationarea, through the St James<br />
Cycle Trail Facebookpage, or by<br />
contacting the Department of<br />
Conservation.<br />
HurunuiDistrict Council’s Operations<br />
Manager Roading Charlie Hutt says it is<br />
the responsibility of councils to replace<br />
damaged signs, but it’s acost they would<br />
rather not have to meet fromthe rates.<br />
‘‘We strive to provide the best services to<br />
our communities throughout the district,<br />
and it’s frustrating when we have to spend<br />
money on this as aresult of people’s bad<br />
behaviour,instead of on key infrastructure<br />
and essential community needs.’’<br />
Vandalism ... Signs being knocked over<br />
and vandalised are putting lives in danger,<br />
and are costly to ratepayers. PHOTO: SUPPLIED<br />
short of heroic –proof that volunteer<br />
firefighters really are the backbone of<br />
their communities.<br />
Mayoralsupport ... Hurunui District<br />
Council Mayor Marie Black joined with other<br />
councillors and staff during the council’s<br />
24hour swim in support of the Amberley<br />
firefighters.<br />
PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE<br />
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