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From reporter Tina Law:
A newly-built boat shed platform in coastal Christchurch is sitting unfinished after rust was discovered.
The issue has forced a temporary redesign of Christchurch’s long-awaited coastal pathway, which will go largely around the Moncks Bay platform until a resolution… View moreFrom reporter Tina Law:
A newly-built boat shed platform in coastal Christchurch is sitting unfinished after rust was discovered.
The issue has forced a temporary redesign of Christchurch’s long-awaited coastal pathway, which will go largely around the Moncks Bay platform until a resolution is found.
About 40 metresof the last section of the pathway, linking Ferrymead and Scarborough Beach, was supposed to traverse the boat shed platform, which is being built by the Christchurch Yacht Club.
Christchurch City Council gave the club $239,713 towards the project, on the condition the club guaranteed public access.
But the platform, which will eventually have the boat shed erected on top of it, cannot yet be used for the pathway, after rust was discovered on parts of it.
The platform, which sits just north of the club and replaces a boat shed that collapsed during the 2011 earthquakes, was built in 2018.
Christchurch Yacht Club commodore Sean Thomson said the club was “working through the issues” with its contractor and lawyers.
He was not able to say when the issue would be resolved.
Thomson said the platform was supposed to have a long life, but rust had been discovered on the ramps and in some other areas.
It was still intended that the platform would form part of the pathway, he said.
In the meantime, the council has developed “a work-around solution”, head of transport Lynette Ellis said.
She would not say what the solution was, but Christchurch Coastal Pathway Group chairman Hanno Sander said the pathway would go around the platform.
The path was supposed to be 4m wide across the platform, but would temporarily reduce to about 2m wide.
Sander said the issue was one of many that ended up forming part of the design process, including working around nesting penguins.
Ellis said the construction programmes for the platform and pathway did not align.
The issue came to light during the detailed design process, she said.
“We still anticipate utilising the platform in the future.”
When asked if the “workaround” had cost the project money, Ellis said any additional costs would be covered within the existing budget.
She said the final section of the pathway would still open to the public in early 2024. Work started in November 2021.
The Moncks Bay section was being built with $15.8m of the Government’s “shovel-ready” funding. The council was funding the additional $1.5m.
Part of the final section, from the former tram stop to the Christchurch Yacht Club, will open on Friday, but the remaining part would take longer.
It had to be cantilevered out over the Avon-Heathcote Estuary because the road space was limited in some areas.
We're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!
Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as … View moreWe're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!
Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as International Women's Day (this Wednesday) by sharing some of the lesser-known, inspiring women who've played a part in New Zealand's history.
Share your thoughts below for the We Say You Say column of the local paper - write NFP if you wish your comments to be excluded.
Hi everyone
Whether you’re looking for a good book, or some winter warmers we have it all ready for you. $1, $2 and clearance racks are restocked, plus we have 25% off shoes this weekend.
Pop in over the weekend, open 7 days.
Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 10.00am … View moreHi everyone
Whether you’re looking for a good book, or some winter warmers we have it all ready for you. $1, $2 and clearance racks are restocked, plus we have 25% off shoes this weekend.
Pop in over the weekend, open 7 days.
Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 10.00am -3.00pm.
683 Ferry Road, behind Domino’s.
Found this camera lens cover this am Thursday 9 March in the Cashmere Hills area.
pH 0275647746
We are Aurora health and massage therapy team open in Stanley street Sydenham. Come to check out our services and try with a professional therapist who will help you get through good health and relaxation of your symptoms.
*Swedish relaxation
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*Head… View moreWe are Aurora health and massage therapy team open in Stanley street Sydenham. Come to check out our services and try with a professional therapist who will help you get through good health and relaxation of your symptoms.
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Booking here text or call 👉 02040526665
Bring out the best in your home.
Get 20% off Resene premium paints, stains, wallpapers and accessories, on now at Resene ColorShops!
Come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop for expert advice and great savings!
Kiwi Can is our primary school programme which focuses on teaching tamariki values such as respect, integrity, positive relationships and resilience. We love seeing what our tamariki think of the programme, find out more through the link below!
From reporter Tina Law:
Excess water bills have been sent out to almost 4000 Christchurch residents, but the city council is now considering increasing how much water people can use before being stung with a charge.
The surprise move was made on Tuesday as the Christchurch City Council … View moreFrom reporter Tina Law:
Excess water bills have been sent out to almost 4000 Christchurch residents, but the city council is now considering increasing how much water people can use before being stung with a charge.
The surprise move was made on Tuesday as the Christchurch City Council agreed to put its draft budget, the annual plan, out for consultation. It has proposed a 5.68% average rates increase, down from a figure of 14.6% signalled late last year.
The average residential increase would be 5.79%. This would mean the average house (valued at $764,364) will have a rates increase of $3.52 per week or $183 a year, excluding any individual impact from the recent rating revaluation.
The council’s excess water charge, introduced in October following two lots of consultation, has been labelled as unfair by some residents, especially as almost a quarter (25,365) of Christchurch households share a meter and can not be charged.
Some councillors, including Sam MacDonald have never been in favour of the charge and on Tuesday, he asked the council to increase the daily allowance from 700 litres to 900 litres.
His bid was successful, but only just, with nine votes for and eight against.
The decision was made against staff advice and will be subject to public consultation as part of the draft budget, which comes out on March 10.
Under the existing rules, adopted last year, people are being charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.
Bills have not been sent out for $25 or less, so people have to use more than 900 litres each day over 90 days to receive a bill under the current rule. Once a bill goes above $25, the householder is charged for all usage above 700 litres.
Any change would not be put in place until July, so would not affect the 3913 households who have just been sent a bill or others that will receive one before July.
The council said on Tuesday the average bill is $78 and the highest is $264.87.
Council chief financial officer Leah Scales said bills had already been sent out and any indication that the charge was changing next year would affect the council’s ability to recover that debt.
She said raising the limit to 900 litres would cost the council $641,000 this coming year and shift the burden of excess water use to all ratepayers, instead of those using the additional water.
The inequity around shared meters was not accurate, Scales said, because only 194 properties out of the 25,365 with shared water meters would have received a bill – less than 1% of the total.
Scales said the council planned to install individual meters in those properties first.
Councillors who voted to increase the limit were: Kelly Barber, Celeste Donovan, James Gough, Victoria Henstock, Yani Johanson, Aaron Keown, Sam MacDonald, Marks Peters and mayor Phil Mauger.
Those to vote against: deputy mayor Pauline Cotter, Melanie Coker, Tyrone Fields, Tyla Harrison-Hunt, Jake McLellan, Andrei Moore, Tim Scandrett and Sara Templeton.
Deputy mayor Pauline Cotter said revisiting the water charge was like “deja vu all over again” and 900 litres was almost double the average use of 540 litres.
“We’ve not even given this a chance to bed in. We have not given homeowners a chance to adopt practices to conserve.”
MacDonald said he would prefer to remove the charge altogether, but staff told him that was not possible during this draft budget process.
He said it was now up to the public to tell the council what they wanted.
A number of other last minute amendments were made to the draft budget including a move proposed by Henstock not to begin construction of the contentious Wheels to Wings cycleway for 12 months while staff and councillors work with affected communities on the detailed design.
Henstock failed in a similar bid last week after cycling advocates pushed for it to continue.
However, she received enough support from her fellow councillors on Tuesday (11 votes to six) after council transport head Lynette Ellis said the additional consultation could be done without causing delays because no major physical works were planned this year anyway.
Cotter, Coker, Donovan, McLellan, Moore and Templeton voted against this.
The council also decided, following a push by Donovan, to bring forward $300,000 to make improvements to New Brighton Mall, to support a $2.5 million community initiative in the area.
McLellan was successful in getting the council to consult on changes to the way rates are calculated via the uniform annual general charge. He wants the fixed charge reduced from $145 to $50, which he said would reduce the rates burden on lower income households.
Mauger said the proposed budget had been drafted against a tough backdrop of increases in interest rates, inflation and insurances. He said it went some way to take pressure off people’s cost of living while still providing the services the community wanted.
During last year’s election campaign, Mauger promised a 3% to 4% rates increase, but on Tuesday he said while it was looking possible last year, it was not any more due to inflation.
He said Christchurch’s proposed rates increase would be among the lowest in New Zealand, with a number of councils proposing increases in excess of 10%.
Whether the actual crunching of numbers sounds exciting or scary, celebrating World Maths Day can be oodles and oodles of fun! Maths is believed by many people to be one of the hardest subjects to achieve in because of its strictness in needing correct answers, its abstract concepts, and the … View moreWhether the actual crunching of numbers sounds exciting or scary, celebrating World Maths Day can be oodles and oodles of fun! Maths is believed by many people to be one of the hardest subjects to achieve in because of its strictness in needing correct answers, its abstract concepts, and the overall stress involved in succeeding. But don’t let that be intimidating!
World Maths Day is a chance to test your skills, practice maths, and get involved in a worldwide event that celebrates the history of maths to improve the lives of students, parents, and teachers everywhere.
Join Emile Donovan and Imogen Wells for your daily dose of exclusives, analysis and fresh perspectives on news.
The podcast drops each weekday from 6am on newsable.co.nz or listen on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods.
Hi everyone
We’re featuring a great selection of books and magazines this week. Plus our book shelves are stocked with plenty of reading options.
Our $1 & $2 racks and women’s clearance racks are fully stocked. New autumn stock available along with clothes and shoes to match the weather … View moreHi everyone
We’re featuring a great selection of books and magazines this week. Plus our book shelves are stocked with plenty of reading options.
Our $1 & $2 racks and women’s clearance racks are fully stocked. New autumn stock available along with clothes and shoes to match the weather season of the day.
Open 7 days. Mon - Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 10.am - 3.00pm.
683 Ferry Road, behind Domino’s.
It's time to make their day in return! There's been hundreds of incredible nominations in this year's Prospa Local Business Hero Awards already - but have we got yours?
Give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the … View moreIt's time to make their day in return! There's been hundreds of incredible nominations in this year's Prospa Local Business Hero Awards already - but have we got yours?
Give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero Awards including a incredible package worth $10,000. Just share a few words about why they make your community a better place to live.
Your favourite local will thank you!
Hi everyone
We’ve just got in a great selection of furniture. Pop in and check it out.
Open 7 days Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm. Saturday 10.am - 4.pm Sunday 10.am - 3.pm.
683 Ferry Road behind Domino’s.
Since 1995, we have reached over 350,000 young people through our programmes and currently work with over 26,000 tamariki and rangatahi across the country.
With universities starting up last week, so brings first-time flatters trying their hand at cooking for the first time. In 2020, 27% of a household’s weekly budget was spent on takeaways so it’s no wonder that cooking is becoming a bit of a lost art.
Alongside sewing and knitting, what other … View moreWith universities starting up last week, so brings first-time flatters trying their hand at cooking for the first time. In 2020, 27% of a household’s weekly budget was spent on takeaways so it’s no wonder that cooking is becoming a bit of a lost art.
Alongside sewing and knitting, what other vital skills do you think are at risk of being lost?
Share your thoughts below for the We Say You Say column in the local paper - write NFP if you want your comments excluded.
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