Selwyn_Times: May 01, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday May 1 2024
10
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Council considers action on nitrate levels
• By Daniel Alvey
GREENPEACE is pleased to see
the district council is planning to
take action over nitrate levels in
drinking water.
Recently Greenpeace, which
regularly tests water, held a community
day where people could
bring samples of their tap water
to be tested.
Results showed the town supply
in Darfield had a nitrate level
of 5.27 mg/l and Kirwee had a
nitrate level of 5.37 mg/l for nonfiltered
water.
For drinking
water, New
Zealand’s water
regulator Taumata
Arowai
has a maximum
acceptable value
Amanda
Larsson
of 11.3 mg/l.
The district
council tests nitrate
levels at the
source of water supplies monthly.
Its April numbers showed four
supplies with above 5 mg/l. They
were Darfield bore one (6.3 mg/l)
Darfield bore two (5.2 mg/l),
Kirwee bore (5.99 mg/l) and Te
Pirita bore (5.58 mg/l)
While all of the district’s supplies
are below the legal requirements,
Greenpeace spokesperson
Amanda Larsson said research
shows anything above 5 mg/l is
concerning.
“Emerging evidence has found
that pregnant people drinking
water with nitrate levels above
5 mg/l are at higher risk of
pre-term birth – and yet for
many rural communities, this
is the water coming out of their
kitchen tap,” Larsson said.
A common source of nitrate
in the soil is the use of synthetic
nitrate fertiliser in farming.
As part of the district council’s
draft 2024-34 Long Term Plan, it
is looking to spend $5.3 million
over 10 years investigating how
to lower nitrates in supplies with
higher levels.
“To make sure we provide our
community with the highest
quality water at a reasonable
cost, we are proposing to investigate
whether we can centralise
some of our water treatment
to come from one low nitrate
source,” said district council
head of asset management Murray
England.
Larsson said she was happy to
see the council taking action.
“I think it’s great that they are
taking it seriously and they are
starting to investigate it.
“Ten years is a long time, especially
since these towns already
have 5 mg/l.”
The district council said collecting
water from a central
source would also produce cost
savings in the long term.
Darfield Residents Association
chair Harvey Polglase said he
was aware of the elevated nitrate
RESEARCH:
The district
council is
looking to
spend $5.3
million over
10 years
investigating
how to lower
nitrates in
supplies with
higher levels.
PHOTO: GETTY
levels in the town, but said there
had been little concern raised
about it.
While the district council
manages town supplies, it falls to
Environment Canterbury to address
nitrates in waterways and
groundwater.
ECan said on its website over
the past 10 years, implementation
of the Canterbury water
management strategy and Canterbury
land and water regional
plan have started to lower nitrate
levels.
“Some of the impacts of these
new rules are only starting to
take effect, and there is a lot of
work to be done by farmers,
industry and Environment
Canterbury in coming years.
HAVE YOUR SAY Are you
concerned about nitrate
levels in your water? Send
your views in 200 words
or less to daniel.alvey@
starmedia.kiwi
“In the meantime, nitrate
concentrations will continue to
cause problems in spring-fed
streams and lakes for some years
yet.”
ECan said anyone using a
private well for drinking water
needs to be aware of the risk.
Larsson said Greenpeace’s
focus was targeting nitrates at
their source.
“That means we need to look at
land use and we need to reduce
the amount of synthetic nitrate
fertiliser applied to the land.”
Federated Farmers North
Canterbury president Karl Dean
said farmers reduce nitrate
leeching into groundwater
where possible, but stopping the
use of nitrates altogether would
mean a large reduction in herd
sizes.
“You’d have to reduce the
amount of livestock raised in
Canterbury by about one-third,”
Dean said.
He said farmers applying
fertiliser in smaller but more
frequent sprays have reduced
the amount of leeching into
groundwater.
We are pleased to be able to offer this great list of events that require your
support to make them successful.
SATURDAY 4TH MAY
• Ashburton Speedway Assn
2 days of racing, Day 1, (racing classes subject to change)
Street Stocks, Adult Ministocks, C Grade, CTRA - NZ Production
Title, Quarter Midgets, Wingless Sprints, Ashburton NZ Youth
Saloon Title. Seafield Road adjacent to the Airport.
From 12.00pm. $15.00 adult, $25.00 for a two day pass,
Gold Card holders $10.00/day, $15.00 two day pass,
under 14 free (must be accompanied by an adult).
> Contact: Andrew Wakelin 021 919 538
• Ashburton Vintage Car Club
Swap Meet
86 Maronan Road, Tinwald. 7.30am –
2.30pm. A collection of stalls
including all things motoring and a
wide range of bric–a–brac. $5.00 per
person entry (Children U15 free with
paying adult);
Sites $25.00. (Includes 1-person
entry)
> Contact: Bookings, Cathy
Sweetman 021 372 087
ashburtonswapmeet@gmail.com
Convener, Noel Batty 03 308 4003
• Americar Rod & Custom Club Inc
Display Day
Americar Club rooms, Maronan Rd,
11am - 4pm. Displays of beautiful
vehicles and events throughout the day. Entry, Gold coin.
> Contact: Rod Carson 027 2019222 americarsrcc@gmail.com
Originals Motorcycle Show ‘n’ Shine
RSA Cox Street Ashburton, 11.00am– 4.00pm. Open to all
makes and models to be on site from 9.00am. Entry $10.00
per bike, prizes for top 10 bikes. Gold coin entry.
> Contact: Gerald McKenzie, 021 259 4761
meandmac@xtra.co.nz
• The Plains Railway & Historical Museum
“Vintage Wheels” 20 Maronan Road, Tinwald: 11am - 4pm.
Train Rides, Vintage Machinery display, Museum Village open,
Hand Craft Display. Browse through the Ashburton Fire Museum,
the Ashburton Woodworkers and Lynn Woodworking Museum.
Find us on Facebook. Admission, free.
SUNDAY 5TH MAY
• Ashburton Car Club SprayMarks Motorkhana
$50.00 per person entry fee to compete; enter on the day.
Cars must be roadworthy to warrant of fitness standard. Location,
SprayMarks yard Dobson Street Ashburton.
admin@ashburtoncarclub.org.nz
https://www.sporty.co.nz/ashburtoncar/home
• Ashburton Speedway Assn
Day 2 of racing, (Racing classes subject to change) Wingless
Sprint, CTRA – NZ Production Title, C Grade, Stockcars, Production
Saloons, Youth Ministocks, Ashburton NZ Youth Saloon Title.
Seafield Road adjacent to the Ashburton Airport. From 12.00pm.
$15.00 adult, Gold Card holders $10.00, under 14 free (must be
accompanied by an adult).
> Contact: Andrew Wakelin 021 919 538
• Ashburton Motorcycle Club TT
Wheels Week TT, Location 524 Rules Road. Competitors to pay
entry fee, spectators free. More details on Facebook page and
My Rides.
> Contact: Anthony O’Reilly 0274 360 879
• Ashburton Aviation Museum
This wonderful collection will be open for viewing from 1.00pm until
3.00pm, Seafield Road, Ashburton. Entry $10 adult, children free.
> Contact: Owen Moore on 03-308 3442 or 0274 344 797
WEDNESDAY 8TH MAY
Suzie Morrison & Grant Gordon
Memorial Night Trial
Meet at the Car Club Rooms, 47 Wakelins Road Ashburton.
Entries on the night. Will need licensed driver, navigator,
pens, torch or spotlight, clipboards, and road legal vehicle.
Documentation starting 6.30pm, start 7.00 pm $50.00 per car.
admin@ashburtoncarclub.org.nz
https://www.sporty.co.nz/ashburtoncar/home
THURSDAY 9TH & FRIDAY 10TH MAY
• Regent Cinema - Ashburton
“Jackie Stewart” is the compelling documentary film on the
Formula 1 World Champion, team owner and legend of the sport,
Sir Jackie Stewart. 235 Wills Street Ashburton. 6.00pm start.
> Contact: 03 307 1230
SATURDAY 11TH MAY
• Ashburton Motorcycle Club
Motorcycle Road Ride. Meeting at 9.30 am, leaving at 10 am from
Robert Harris on West St. Tour approx. 200k’s. $10 entry fee. Ride
details on Ashburton Motorcycle Facebook page.
> Contact: Shane Christie 027 325 4773
Patersons Funeral Services Wheelchair
Basketball
Ashburton Basketball Stadium, Oxford Street at 2.00pm. Come
and see the Canterbury Wheelies wheelchair basketball team
take on a local celebrity team. Gold coin donation.
> Contact: Pauline Paterson 03 308 7474
Ashburton Yamaha Family Fun Bike Ride
Meet at 1.30pm at the south end of the Ashburton Bridge to
cycle to Lake Hood. Suitable for families and individuals.
> Contact: Ross Butterick 0274 778 068
• Regent Cinema-Ashburton
“Jackie Stewart” is the compelling documentary film on the
Formula 1 World Champion, team owner and legend of the sport, Sir
Jackie Stewart. 235 Wills Street Ashburton. 6.00pm start
> Contact: 03 307 1230
SUNDAY 12TH MAY
Property Brokers Scooter Race
Awesome fun for the whole family, BYO Scooter (nonmotorised)
and helmet, Registration at Property Brokers office
or on the day. Best dressed scooter and costume, Age group
categories for racing and prizes. Free sausage sizzle. Ashburton
Domain Bike Track, Main entrance, cnr Walnut Ave & West
Street, 10.00am – 12.30pm Wet or fine.
• Ashburton Speedway Car Boot Sale
Ashburton Speedway grounds Seafield Road 10.00am – 1.00pm.
$15.00/ Boot or trailer load. Buyers & sellers welcome.
> Contact: Ross Butterick 0274 778 068
• Ashburton Aviation Museum
This wonderful collection of aircraft and memorabilia will be
open for viewing from 1.00pm until 3.00pm Seafield Road
Ashburton, Entry $10 adult, children free.
> Contact Owen Moore 03 308 3442 or 0274 344 797
• Mid Canterbury 4X4 Club
Play day at the 4WD Park located at the river end of
Cochranes
Road just off Beach Road, starting at 1.00pm. Weather
dependant. Facebook, Mid Canterbury 4X4 Park.
> Contact: Mike Register 021 597 537 or Doug Cain
027 843 8416
• Regent Cinema- Ashburton
“Jackie Stewart” is the compelling documentary film on the
Formula 1 World Champion, team owner and legend of the
sport, Sir Jackie Stewart. 235 Wills Street Ashburton.
6.00pm start
> Contact: 03 307 1230
G D C Ltd, A.I.S., Allenton Auto Centre,
Ashburton Can-Am, Ashburton Toyota,
Autosparks, B.I.T.S (NZ) Ltd, Brian
FM, DPI, Honda Country Ashburton,
Jeff Marshall Motorcycles, Kawasaki
Canterbury Ltd, MCM Mid Canterbury
Motors, M T F Finance Ashburton,
Netherby Garage, Neumanns Tyres,
Pearsons Coachlines, Robbies Undercar
Specialists, Rosco Auto Dismantlers,
Ruralco, Sims Bakery, SprayMarks,
Stocker Solutions, Wilson Windscreens
2018 Ltd, Wilsons Bulk Transport Ltd,
Wrights Dry Cleaners & Apparelmaster.