New Hokitika flood protection draws near
By Brendon McMahon, local democracy reporter
Stage 1a of the Hokitika River flood protection works behind Westland Milk Products is virtually complete.
West Coast Regional Council infrastructure resilience group project manager Scott Hoare told the council on Tuesday that installation of the rock work was "practically complete".
Work under way this week included backfilling and topping up to the right height the top of the new wall, where the West Coast Wilderness Trail passes behind the dairy factory.
The work being completed included a new riding surface for the cycle trail.
"I believe they will be in the position of being wrapped up by the end of next week," Hoare said.
Some minor matters including removing and realigning a power pole needed to be done. From there they would be looking to finalise the account for Stage 1a.
Hoare said they were also now in a position to finally sign off the cost-sharing agreement with Westland Milk Products, previously ratified by council, for the work.
Meanwhile background work to enable Stage 1b, adjoining Gibson Quay from Westland Milk Products down to the Hokitika River bridge alongside the Hokitika rail siding to the dairy factory, was getting close to the consenting and tendering stages.
Hoare said a cultural impact process for Stage 1b was due in about two weeks. They were considering if 1b could proceed as a variation of 1A for the consenting aspect.
Beyond that a draft concept was in the offing for preliminary work for stages two and three.
The total staged scheme to raise and extend the Hokitika River true right bank protection will eventually include raised stopbanks along Gibson Quay to protect the town centre, and Kaniere township.
*Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air.
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A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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