DO we fight against climate change or for extra petrol station
We have one petrol station in Pegasus, Waikuku, three in Amberley, then Waipara and so on in every small town along the way. It's a school bus stop here where the extra station is about to be built. If you want an extra station then, locate it outside the town. What about the climate change strike, everyone screaming, that we should care about our environment, our cows are farting too much, but the big company are still do their business, sounds like an extra station is OK and the petrol is clean and green, right in the middle of town.
Community still grow, what about the bigger library , post office, extra bank, children's playground or swimming pool, or dedicated electric car rapid charging station that can serve at least 5 cars at once, we have three gas stations with multitude of pumps and only one electric car charger that capable of only one car per 30 min?
So it looks like our council does not care about local people, the sighing process went absolutely secretive, we did not know until the last day, no notice in the letter box, no announcement. Everything was predetermined, the big buck opens all the doors. So if you want to compete, simply buy out the competitor and open your business at old location. They closed one in central of Woodend and open one on outskirts of town, thus relocating it away from residential area. And not increasing the number of gas stations.
I am not against the business, but it is too many in one place.
Amberley’s new coastal defence delayed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Efforts to protect a Canterbury beach community from the sea have been delayed a month, as resource conditions are met.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie last month said work to build a $750,000 coastal bund to protect the Amberley Beach village would be completed before Christmas.
But with the festive season fast approaching, the start date has been postponed until January.
Council staff, the Amberley Beach Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Community Association and contractor Ready Mix Concrete are working to meet consent conditions from Environment Canterbury.
Once work begins, it will take about a month to complete, Mr Dobbie said.
‘‘Given the amount of time the work will take, it was felt it was better to delay the project rather than start the work and then stop work for two weeks over Christmas.’’
A bund is a type of embankment which protects against the sea.
While the residents’ association looks forward to the work being completed, committee member John Manson rejected suggestions the rising sea level was the problem.
His biggest fear was the increased risk of severe storms leading to six to seven metre waves, due to climate change.
‘‘There is a sense of urgency because we have had a three to four year calm period.
‘‘The last series of major storms we experienced was during 2020-21.’’
The new bund will be larger than the existing embankment and will be built into the sand to make it more resilient in a storm, Manson said.
It is being built up to a culvert at a lagoon to the north of the village.
But the residents’ association would like it built a further 180m to the north to prevent stormy seas causing the lagoon to overflow, which has been allowed in the consent.
Councillor Vanessa McPherson said she is hopeful the council will look at extending the bund, once initial work is completed.
‘‘This is one of the most proactive communities I have been involved with and you can see it with what the residents are achieving.
‘‘It is such a beautiful place. I love this beach. It has got its own personality. It is wild and it is emotional.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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