North Canterbury News: March 14, 2024

Planning for growth
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Flood resilience and planning for
growth feature in Waimakariri’s Long
Term Plan, which signals an 8.94 percent
average rates rise.
Managing the natural environment,
flood resilience, community facilities
and the Rangiora eastern link road are
being consulted on, says Waimakariri
Mayor Dan Gordon.
The Waimakariri District Council’s
draft 2024/34 Long Term Plan will go out
for consultation tomorrow (Friday,
March 15).
Mr Gordon said the council was
feeling the effects of the cost of living
crisis, while continuing to pay off its
earthquake recovery and MainPower
Stadium loans.
‘‘We have put some projects off
because we simply can’t afford it, but we
have also ensured the council continues
to deliver high levels of service while
prioritising growth­related projects.
‘‘We have included key projects such
as the Rangiora eastern link road to help
address traffic congestion.
‘‘This is one of our main topics for
engagement and we’re interested to see
what the community thinks about this
project.’’
An eastern link road is expected to
cost $37.9 million and will be part
funded by development contributions.
The council is seeking feedback from
the community on whether it should go
ahead and build the road, or wait for a
51% subsidy from Waka Kotahi New
Zealand Transport Agency.
The council is planning to spend
around $693 million over the next 10
years replacing assets and planning for
the district’s rapid growth.
The district’s population is projected
to grow from around 70,000 to 82,075 by
2034, based on Stats NZ’s high growth
scenario.
Mr Gordon said the council is keen to
receive feedback on its draft natural
environment strategy, which considers
how best to manage the natural
environment.
After spending $10 million in
unplanned expenditure in the last three
years due to flood events, the council is
planning to establish apermanent
infrastructure resilience team.
To support the growing population,
the council is planning a$24 million
upgrade to the Trevor Inch Memorial
Library in Rangiora.
An alternative proposal is to build a
$44 million extension to the Rangiora
civic centre, with alibrary extension on
the ground floor and council offices
upstairs.
The proposed Pegasus Community
Centre, which was signalled in the 2021
Long Term Plan, is set to be built by the
end of next year.
The council is also in talks with
Canterbury Cricket and Canterbury
Country Cricket about extending
Mainpower Oval to accommodate more
cricket pitches and training facilities.
Mr Gordon said the council was also
keen to receive feedback on climate
change, central Government reforms,
Three Waters, chlorination of drinking
water, investment in transport, housing,
and rubbish and recycling.
The draft 2024/34 Long Term Plan will
be out for consultation until April 15,
with hearings planned in May.
LDR is local body journalism cofunded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Erosion progress slow
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Slow progressisbeing made in efforts to
secure access to the Amberley Beach golf
course.
Around 50 golfers attended aHurunui
District Council meeting in August 2023,
calling on the council to extend Griersons
Avenue to secure access to the Amberley
Beach Golf Club’s clubhouse.
The golf course is under threat from
coastal erosion, along with access to
mahinga kai areas in the Waimaiaia
Reserve and the Waipara River mouth.
The council agreed to investigate
extending Griersons Avenue through the
narrowestpart of awetland, against the
advise in areport to the August meeting
written by chief executive Hamish
Dobbie.
He proposed linking Webbs and
Hursley Terrace Roads with Golf Links
Road from the northern end, which would
secure access to the golf course but not
the clubhouse.
Council staff have been working with
Environment Canterbury to consider
what consenting options are available.
‘‘Some progressisbeing made, but it is
slow,’’ he said.
‘‘We are working towards an
understanding with Environment
Canterbury on consenting issues for a
realignment of the golf course.’’
Bothoptions would secure access to the
golf course for the next 30 years.
Environment Canterbury consents
planning manager Aurora Grant
confirmed pre­consent application
discussions were continuing.
Amberley Beach is one of several North
Canterbury beach communities facing
threats from erosion, coastal flooding and
sea level rise.
No solution is in sight for Motunau
Beach residents facing the threat of
erosion.
The council has been working with two
property owners at Motunau Beach, with
homes perched precariously close to the
cliff edge.
Mr Dobbie said there is along legal
process under the Building Act to follow
before aresolution can be found.
Ageotech report was completed last
year and discussions are continue to
ensure lives are not being put at risk, he
said.
Efforts to restore acoastal road north of
Cheviot, which was claimed by the sea last
year, are progressing.
The council agreed to aKiwiRail plan
in August to co­fund the rebuild of
Claverley Road in the Hundalees, north of
the Conway River.
Mr Dobbie said council staff had further
conversations with KiwiRail last week
about the reinforcement of the road.
The project is expected to cost up to
$520,000 and will restore access to three
households, which have been relying on
four­wheel­drive access.
The road also provides access to
archaeological sites of importance to local
Mana Whenua, while the rail network is
also under threat from erosion.
Nape Nape Road at Blythe River, south
of the Hurunui River, has been subject to
slips following heavy rain events and
coastal erosion over the last five years.
Councillors called on staff in
September to prepare astrategy to
provide guidance on how to respond to
these situations.
It is expected to be considered as part of
the Long Term Plan process in the coming
weeks.
The council has also been working on
coastal adaptation plans with five beach
communities over the last four years.
Three plans have been adopted for
Amberley Beach, Leithfield Beach and
Motunau Beach.
LDR is local body journalism co­funded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.
ERP9438
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, March 14, 2024
SEEN A WALLABY?
REPORT IT
reportwallabies.nz
Wallabies impact farm profitability and destroy native forests.
We don’t want them establishing here and we need your help.
If you see awallaby, please report it.
Go to ecan.govt.nz/wallaby to learn more.
29
Blues hall fundraiser
By SHELLEY TOPP
The historic Eyreton Hall will open its
doors tomorrow evening (Friday, March
15) to celebrate ‘‘women of the blues’’.
Lady Sings the Blues is apowerful
show, tributing the women who have
given us heartfelt tunes and by their
extreme courage and passion have
influenced generations of singers,’' show
organiser Nigel Cook, of Down by the
River­Kaiapoi Music, says.
‘‘From Bessie Smith, Mahalia Jackson,
Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, then,
Etta James and Aretha Franklin, and
right through to Bonnie Raitt, Susan
Tedeschi, Amy Winehouse and Billie
Eilish, to name afew, our journey spans
through to the modern day.’’
Nigel says that when the Eyreton Hall
committee approached him to put on a
community show at the hall to help raise
funds to pay for the hall's crippling
electricity costs, he knew exactly who he
wanted to pay tribute to these legendary
blues singers.
Atop line­up of talented local
musicians, Stephanie McEwin, Steven
Gill, Gary Easterbrook, Shaun Burke
and Chris McEwin, have been chosen to
perform the songs these women made
famous.
The show will also pay tribute to the
tradition of classic, old­style Kiwi hall
concerts by serving supper at
intermission.
‘‘This hall lends itself to the classic
Kiwi supper at intermission, having a
separate supper room is perfect,’’ Nigel
says.
The show starts at 7.30pm at the hall,
at 4Mandeville Road, on the corner of
Mandeville and South Eyre roads, and
finishes at 9.30pm.
Tickets cost $25 each. Bookings can be
made by texting Nigel at 027 404 7712
and paid for on the night. Doors open at
7pm.
In the swim at Cheviot pool
Cheviot Area School pupils are becoming
more competent in the water thanks to the
local Swimming Club fully funding
lessons.
Over the past four weeks students at the
school have been have swimming lessons,
with Cheviot Swimming Club member
Shelley Ashford, who has helped them
gain confidence in the water through
building relationships and devising
programmes tailored to individual needs.
In four weeks the children have made
huge improvement.
Ted Stevenson says he enjoyed his
lessons with Shelley, and Liam
Tabayoyong says Shelley helped him ‘‘do
breast stroke’’.
‘‘I got faster at my freestyle,’’ says Tini
Briefing ... Cheviot Swimming Club tutor
Shelley Ashford talks to young students
before their lesson in the pool. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Tirikatene­Nash.