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From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Woodend residents say a cycle way linking the town with Kaiapoi is urgently needed for the community.
Woodend Community Association chairperson Doug Weathey said the proposed cycle ways linking Kaiapoi and Pegasus with Woodend should be a top … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
Woodend residents say a cycle way linking the town with Kaiapoi is urgently needed for the community.
Woodend Community Association chairperson Doug Weathey said the proposed cycle ways linking Kaiapoi and Pegasus with Woodend should be a top priority.
He was speaking at the Waimakariri District Council’s meeting earlier this month in response to the council’s walking and cycling network plan.
The proposed Woodend to Kaiapoi cycle way would follow Sandhill Road, continuing parallel to State Highway 1 to Pine Acres, before following Williams St into Kaiapoi.
It was listed as priority two in the council’s draft walking and cycling network plan, while the Pegasus to Woodend cycle way was priority three.
Weathey said the Woodend to Kaiapoi cycle way would complete the circuit, with the Passchendaele Pathway (Kaiapoi to Rangiora) and the Rangiora to Woodend Pathway.
‘‘It would be a very nice circuit around the eastern part of the district and it would bring a lot of people into the area.’’
Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell also addressed the council meeting and said the two cycle ways were needed to offer a safe route for cyclists.
She said one primary school pupil had attended the drop in sessions to say he wanted to cycle from Woodend to Kaiapoi High School when he was older.
‘‘We have been asking for these cycle ways since 2018 and it’s no longer a nice to have.’’
Kaiapoi High School principal Jason Reid, a keen cyclist, said the proposed Woodend to Kaiapoi cycle way was ‘‘a fantastic idea’’.
‘‘Cycle ways like this are extremely valuable because they give young people options and it keeps them off the main road.
‘‘Environmentally it means you don’t have to have a vehicle that burns through fossil fuels and it’s good for fitness and wellbeing.’’
Kaiapoi Promotions Association chairperson Martin Pinkham served on the walking and cycling network working party which helped develop the network plan and was pleased to see it finally coming to life.
He said a Woodend to Kaiapoi cycle way was a high priority and was surprised it was only listed as priority two.
But he did have concerns about it following Williams Street into Kaiapoi as a less busy road would be a safer option.
‘‘We need to get people into North Canterbury and we’ve got to give them options.
‘‘What I’m pleased about is that we finally have a cycling network plan as it sets a guide for the next 20 years, even if we may disagree with what is given priority.’’
The council has completed its consultation on the draft walking and cycling network plan and councillors were due to adopt it at the October council meeting.
The last of the potted tulips and Dutch iris in flower now. Prices range from $3 to $10 per pot. $3 from every pot sold will go the the Cancer Society. Pickup is at 20 Cassino street Rangiora Phone 03 745 91 48
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
North Canterbury’s mayors are keen for more discussions on passenger rail.
The issue of passenger rail was discussed at a Canterbury Regional Transport Committee meeting last week, as the region’s mayors considered the Government’s enquiry into … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
North Canterbury’s mayors are keen for more discussions on passenger rail.
The issue of passenger rail was discussed at a Canterbury Regional Transport Committee meeting last week, as the region’s mayors considered the Government’s enquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail.
Light rail has long been touted to meet a growing commuter transport demand in the Greater Christchurch area, to ease congestion and reduce transport emissions.
Meanwhile, the Coastal Pacific rail service is set to make a return on September 29, after two years of Covid-19 disruption.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said she would welcome a Greater Christchurch light rail service being extended to Amberley and Waipara.
‘‘We struggle to have a public bus system due to our low population, so we would like to be considered - but it’s got to stack up financially.’’
The benefits of taking the train instead of the car for the 40 minute journey into Christchurch included catching up on work, checking emails or reading a book, as well as the environmental benefits.
But Black said it would take a change in mindset.
Kaikōura was well outside the area being considered for a Greater Christchurch light rail service.
But mayor Craig Mackle said there were potential benefits for the tourist town from a more regular rail service.
He welcomed the return of the Coastal Pacific service and he said the popularity of chartered trains for the Kaikoura Cup race day showed what was possible.
‘‘It’s a hard one, because there is the risk it would be sitting dormant most of the time, but people love coming to Kaikōura and who doesn’t enjoy a good train ride.’’
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon has long been a fan of trains and buses and was a regular user of the park and ride express bus from Rangiora for meetings in the city.
He said there was support for subsidised inter-city passenger and on-demand services, affordable electric vehicles and financial incentives to work from home, to help reduce emissions.
North Canterbury-based Labour List MP Dan Rosewarne sits on Parliament’s transport and infrastructure committee and said a Greater Christchurch light rail service would bring benefits to the region.
He envisaged a service linking central Christchurch with Amberley, Rangiora and Kaiapoi in the north and travelling as far south as Ashburton.
‘‘They always talk about rail in Wellington, but it’s important to get Canterbury and North Canterbury moving too.
‘‘Once that stadium is built, alongside the convention centre and the rest of the central city is rebuilt, it will be like another Wellington.’’
Submissions for the Government’s inter-regional passenger rail enquiry close on October 6.
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for new potato recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Sept 25, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for new potato recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Sept 25, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing Made Easy.
I am looking for recommendations for someone to clear up a few gorse bushes from my property. They have grown up so my neighbour can see them.
Come down to the Ashley River/Rakahuri on Saturday 24 September at 10am and join us in planting seedings.
What: Community planting day
When: Saturday 24 September, approximately 10am - 1pm
Where: The area between the primary and secondary stopbanks west of Cones Road – Ashley … View moreCome down to the Ashley River/Rakahuri on Saturday 24 September at 10am and join us in planting seedings.
What: Community planting day
When: Saturday 24 September, approximately 10am - 1pm
Where: The area between the primary and secondary stopbanks west of Cones Road – Ashley River/Rakahuri.
RSVP: Not required, but feel free to join the event on Facebook.
Things to bring: Please bring your own shovel, gloves, water bottle, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, warm clothing etc.
Read all the details on the Environment Canterbury website.
This work is part of the Rangiora Reach Masterplan, which is a collaborative project between Environment Canterbury and Waimakariri District Council.
www.stuff.co.nz...
Getting to know the candidates. Informative article.
Vintage Sears Binoculars Model 6281 7x50m extra wide angle. Case is ok, lid may need restitching or replaced. Pick up in Rangiora - needs to go surplus to our needs
This beautiful large casserole dish with lid has no chips, or any visual marks etc. As you will see I paid $52 back about 40 years ago. Surplus to our needs - The potter was J Ing from Nelson. Pick up only in Rangiora - surplus to our needs
Today at 20 Cassino street Rangiora, potted tulips and Dutch iris for sale. Some in flower and some in bud close to opening. From $3 to $10 per pot with $3 going to the Cancer Society from each pot sold.
Phone 03 745 91 48.
This is a great back support for anyone driving full time, or sitting in a chair. The front cover is faded but that doesn't affect the use. New they retail from $149 - $250. surplus to our needs. Pick up in Rangiora or could deliver into chch when I am next in town.
Brighten up a tired concrete wall with Resene Lumbersider. Find out how to brighten up your wall.
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Former mayors are encouraging residents to get know their local candidates.
David Ayers and Winton Dalley, who served as mayors of Waimakariri and Hurunui from 2010 to 2019, suggest voters contact candidates and ask them questions.
Several wards … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
Former mayors are encouraging residents to get know their local candidates.
David Ayers and Winton Dalley, who served as mayors of Waimakariri and Hurunui from 2010 to 2019, suggest voters contact candidates and ask them questions.
Several wards have high numbers of candidates, with many of them unknown to voters.
Ayers encouraged people to take the time to learn about their mayoral, council, community board and regional council candidates.
‘‘It’s often said that people don’t vote because they don’t know the candidates, but you can turn that around and say ‘candidates don’t know all the voters in their ward either’.
‘‘But at a local level you can always attend meetings and you can contact candidates directly.
‘‘By listening to what they have to say, it will help you to vote for people who will look after your local community.’’
He said not all candidates understood the role local councils played, with national and global issues often confused with local democracy.
Dalley said voter apathy was a constant problem in local government elections.
‘‘There’s an apathy around today and people don’t believe they can make a difference.
'‘But somebody has to sow the seeds and ask the questions or nothing is going to happen.’’
Dalley suggested voters ask candidates if they have ‘‘a personal agenda’’.
‘‘Depending on what that agenda is, consider is it about the candidate’s priorities or the community’s priorities?
‘‘My position was always to serve the community first.
‘‘At the end of the day you are there to serve the community and not yourself or the international community.’’
Both former mayors said it was important to vote in local elections, as council decisions impacted on our daily lives.
Councillors made decisions on roads, footpaths, rubbish collection, three waters, libraries, swimming pools, parks, planting trees and town centres.
The also made decisions on managing the growth in towns like Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend and Amberley, including traffic management, infrastructure and planning for housing.
Climate change and managing Civil Defence in times of crisis, such as a pandemic or earthquake, were also questions councils faced.
Legislation such as the Local Government Act, Resource Management Act and national policy statements limited a council’s decision making ability.
Pending legislation such as Three Waters, the Resource Management Act and local government reform meant a local voice was essential.
Ayers said central government imposing itself on local democracy was the norm during his 36 years in local government.
‘‘This government is not impacting on local democracy any more than any previous government.
‘‘But there is a major issue across the country for local government funding, and councils are finding that rates are not providing the income that allows them to meet the rising standards that are being required of them by both the government and local communities.’’
Dalley said local democracy was ‘‘living fairly precariously’’.
He encouraged voters to ask candidates whether they were prepared ‘‘to question those who want to rewrite democracy’’.
‘‘Because once it’s rewritten, the values of previous generations will be lost.’’
■ Waimakariri election information: waimakariri.govt.nz/your-council/local-body-elections
■ Hurunui election information: hurunui.govt.nz/council/local-body-elections/a-your-candidates
■ Kaikōura election information: kaikoura.govt.nz/local-elections-2022/
■ Environment Canterbury election information: ecan.govt.nz/about/your-council/engage-with-us/elections/
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
The speed limit on Oxford’s Main Street will remain at 50kph.
A motion to make a request to the Waka Kotahi NZ Agency (NZTA) director to reduce the speed limit from 50kph to 40kph was lost after a split vote at last week’s Waimakariri District … View moreFrom local democracy reporter David Hill:
The speed limit on Oxford’s Main Street will remain at 50kph.
A motion to make a request to the Waka Kotahi NZ Agency (NZTA) director to reduce the speed limit from 50kph to 40kph was lost after a split vote at last week’s Waimakariri District Council meeting.
The report was brought to council by the Oxford-Ohoka Community Board in response to residents’ concerns about safety, particularly for those with vision impairments.
The council had previously rejected a proposal to reduce the speed limit to 40kph as recently as December last year.
At the time council staff cited the cost of around $450,000 being needed to make the necessary infrastructure and traffic calming changes.
But the proposal was revisited following the approval of the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022 by Transport Minister Michael Wood, which took effect in May 2022.
During last year’s community engagement, 54% of respondents were in favour of reducing the speed limit, with 46% in favour of keeping the existing speed limit.
Mayor Dan Gordon said the council would continue ‘‘to look at methods and strategies to reduce concerns about safety in the community’’.
Councillors also voted to revoke the council’s Speed Limit Bylaw (2022), now the new Setting of Speed Limits Rule has come into force.
The new rule required all councils’ speed limit data to be migrated to a national speed limit register and removed the need for the bylaw.
The Hurunui District Council completed a thorough speed limit review two years ago.
Chief executive Hamish Dobbie did not expect any changes as a result of the new setting of speed limits rule.
‘‘We consulted widely, on 1600km of roads in our district and it was not only about speed, but also about safety.
‘‘We have a good relationship with NZTA and we continue to have discussions on whether our speed limits are appropriate.’’
Dobbie said the speed limit for southern entrance to Amberley was the subject of ongoing discussions, and the new rule would simplify the process in the future.
Kia ora Christchurch......or shall I say, Ōtautahi?
You've likely already heard, but this week is Māori Language Week - Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - and we'd like nothing more than to encourage your kōrero with some kai.
We have some delicious Whittaker's tiakarete (chocolate) … View moreKia ora Christchurch......or shall I say, Ōtautahi?
You've likely already heard, but this week is Māori Language Week - Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - and we'd like nothing more than to encourage your kōrero with some kai.
We have some delicious Whittaker's tiakarete (chocolate) to give away, so whether it's naming the days of the week, sharing your pepeha, or just a cheery kia ora - it's all about giving it a go.
Share any kōrero or kupu in the comments below to be in to win. Kia kaha, Ōtautahi!
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