Methven native bird sanctuary makes progress on pests and permission
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A group wanting to create a native bird sanctuary in Methven will be ready to go as soon as they have access to the proposed land.
The Methven Birdsong Initiative is a two-phase project that is making steady progress on both fronts, spokesperson Mac McElwain said.
“I’m a bit impatient so things can never happen quickly enough but it’s not going to happen overnight.
“The whole thing has really picked up some momentum.”
The Methven Lions launched the project at the end of last year and already the trap library is building financial backing to begin removing predators from the area.
Discussions about the permission to use the proposed site are also advancing.
The vision is to create a native habitat on the vacant council-owned land behind the Garden of Harmony – an area of council land already turned into a planted area with walkways.
The Birdsong Initiative is waiting on the “statutory ducks to be in a row” before they can make a start, McElwain said.
The Methven Community Board and the Ashburton District Council are working on the birdsong initiative’s request for access to the land.
A report to the community board stated one of the leaseholders has agreed to temporary access for construction of the project and another has said they would surrender their lease in April 2025, as they have stock on the property.
Discussions are still to be held with the third lessee.
If they are granted access to the site, the birdsong initiative will be ready to make a start, McElwain said.
Earlier this year the community board granted $10,000 to help establish the trap library that will help households to trap pests and predators in their backyards.
They also went to the Ashburton Water Zone Committee seeking funding and received $7306 to go towards planting the site.
The group also sought funding towards the trap library but it was suggested they could work with the Staveley Camp Forest community possum trap library which received $15,000 from the water zone earlier this year.
“The only barrier between the two trap libraries working together is distance,” Mcelwain said.
It was raised at the water zone committee meeting that there have been a number of trapping projects funded over the years and it could be a worthwhile exercise to see if those projects were still using the traps or if they could be redistributed.
Neighbourly Q&A: Renting rights with CAB's Sacha Green
We are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly. This week we have the amazing Sacha Green from Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) who will be answering your questions about your renting rights.
A little bit about Sacha:
She has been working for CABNZ for 10 years and is passionate about empowering people with knowledge of their rights as well as ensuring access to justice.
She helps support the team of over 2,000 trained volunteers who deliver the CAB service in 80 neighbourhoods around Aotearoa by providing advice and support at a national level on a wide range of issues. One of Sacha’s work areas is leading the CAB’s social justice work on housing and tenancy issues.
Whether you're a flatmate, landlord, boarder or flatmate, you can leave a comment below and Sacha will share an answer on Wednesday from 9.30am. You may want to ask about notice periods, bond fulfillment, reasonable rent increases, or even whose responsibility it is to deal with mould in the home.
Join Sacha here on Wednesday at 9.30am. See you then!.
⇩ Share your question below ⇩
Poll: Have you ever been bullied?
People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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81.8% Yes
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17.9% No
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0.3% Other - I'll share below
Where do you find the best bargains in Canterbury?
The first South Island edition of the Reduced to Clear outlet store opened in Christchurch’s South City mall this month. It sells end-of-the-line products, cancelled exports or short-dated items - similar to other discount grocers in the city such as Save More and BargainMe.
We're keen to hear from you - where do you find the best bargains in Canterbury? Who has the cheapest veges, the best deals on spices and nuts, the lowest price for petrol etc? What are your tips for dealing with cost of living increases? Comment below or email reporters@press.co.nz
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