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The risks to the public from two disused quarries on the West Coast are “huge”, with one local leader saying the situation is “incredibly urgent”.
Both quarries belong to the West Coast Regional Council – one is near Blackball and the other at Kiwi Point near Stillwater, east of … View moreThe risks to the public from two disused quarries on the West Coast are “huge”, with one local leader saying the situation is “incredibly urgent”.
Both quarries belong to the West Coast Regional Council – one is near Blackball and the other at Kiwi Point near Stillwater, east of Greymouth.
The council temporarily suspended its quarry operations throughout the Coast in May so it could “reset” its management of them and prepare a new tender process for each of its active quarries at Inchbonnie, Camelback (Kowhitirangi) and at Okuru in Haast.
A consultant was called in to review the current status of each quarry, including those no longer used.
Keri Harrison told the council meeting on Wednesday the quarries at Blackball and Kiwi Point would both need further technical safety work to cover the council's legal liability.
The Blackball one presented a risk to users on the recently widened Croesus Rd, “with rock looking to exit on to the road”.
It had been out of use for about a decade.
“It has fractured quite significantly in the past four years ... it's moving.”
The movement was visible from the road and the site needed updated signage. Ideally the site would be closed permanently, but mitigating the obvious risk at the site had to be undertaken to meet new legal requirements for quarry operators, Harrison said.
“A geotech report might recommend blasting the face and letting the rock fall and block access.”
Vibration from heavy machinery during the road widening would have accelerated rock movement, she said.
The road was improved in line with the opening of the new Paparoa Track Great Walk in late 2019.
Cr Laura Coll-McLaughlin said the Blackball issue sounded “incredibly urgent”.
“You don't know when it is going to go.”
Public safety was at stake and the council needed to act immediately to cover its liability, she said.
Coll-McLaughlin said it seemed the immediate risk should be notified straight away to at least warn the public.
Harrison said she had last looked at the Kiwi Point quarry in 2018, but it was hard to access this time.
Access to State Highway 7 had been previously flagged following reports in 2018 and 2021, which she described as "horrendous".
A WorkSafe notice in 2018 had restricted that quarry's use due to the difficult access.
“It is a hazard that needs to be addressed. My recommendation is to decommission ... the risks are huge.”
Rockfall risk there would have major consequences “but the likelihood is still moderate”.
However, a new assessment was needed to mitigate immediate danger.
Kiwi Point was coincidentally the site of a large slip that came down on the adjacent railway line, striking the TranzAlpine passenger train on the way to Greymouth early this month.
Brighten up your life and home with these fun party cup dolls, beads of joy and blooming plant pots with your favourite Resene testpot colours.
Find out how to create your own.
Unleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go … View moreUnleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go all out! Check out some of the previous entires here.
Take part in the 2022 Resene Upcycling Awards. There are four great prizes worth $500 up for grabs: a $200 Resene voucher and a $300 Prezzy® card!
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Four-day waiting times for Reefton residents seeking a medical appointment is "pretty good," the final meeting of the West Coast District Health Board was told last week.
The town of 900 is currently without a GP, and the DHB has been … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Four-day waiting times for Reefton residents seeking a medical appointment is "pretty good," the final meeting of the West Coast District Health Board was told last week.
The town of 900 is currently without a GP, and the DHB has been "challenged" to ensure consistent locum cover for the next few months, general manager Philip Wheble said.
The board had been working on various options to provide cover on three out of five days at Reefton, either through in-person appointments or via telehealth consultations.
Wheble said in an update on Thursday it had seven out of nine sessions a day, staffed through a combination of nurse practitioners or by a locum.
"It's not ideal but something we want to ensure primary (care) access," he said.
Average waiting times in Reefton of four days was "pretty good" given the seasonal challenge of winter.
The pending arrival by August of a new permanent GP for South Westland would free up some locum cover to assist Reefton and for Westport "to provide consistency of care".
Board chairman Rick Barker said he understood the waiting time in Reefton to have a consultation was on average four days and asked what was the average waiting time for other West Coast centres.
Wheble replied it was longer.
Barker asked if that meant Reefton was "not out of synch" with long waiting times for a GP appointment elsewhere: "In actual fact, for people to get access in Reefton they are slightly better off than in Grey or Canterbury?"
Wheble confirmed that was the case.
As partners of the Elemental festival, Stuff Travel is giving away 2 amazing packages! For each you'll win 2 nights of luxury stay at Fable Auckland with a welcome dinner and daily breakfasts. You'll also get tickets to either the Takurua - Nafanua, The War Goddess or the Auckland Fried … View moreAs partners of the Elemental festival, Stuff Travel is giving away 2 amazing packages! For each you'll win 2 nights of luxury stay at Fable Auckland with a welcome dinner and daily breakfasts. You'll also get tickets to either the Takurua - Nafanua, The War Goddess or the Auckland Fried Chicken Festival.
Flights included for those out of Auckland.
Build a cosy bug hotel to hang in a quiet corner of your garden and paint it in your favourite Resene hues.
Find out how to create your own.
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for tamarillo recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before July 8, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Homegrown … 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 tamarillo recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before July 8, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Homegrown Recipes.
Are you overdue a getaway? You could win a 13-day Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer South Island Rail & Coach tour by participating in Neighbourly’s 8th birthday celebration.
To enter the competition, just tell us what you love about your neighbourhood. It could be your favourite spot, a … View moreAre you overdue a getaway? You could win a 13-day Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer South Island Rail & Coach tour by participating in Neighbourly’s 8th birthday celebration.
To enter the competition, just tell us what you love about your neighbourhood. It could be your favourite spot, a beautiful view, or something that makes you smile. You could be in for a once-in-a-lifetime getaway!
Dear neighbours,
You have just a few more days to send your entries for our Houseplant Hero competition. You could win some great prizes and of course, more houseplanst!
Have a selection of lovely hyacinths available
1) Aqua $4 /2bulbs
2) Fairy White $4 / 2 bulbs
3) Delfts Blue $4 / 2 bulbs
4) Yellowstone $4/2 bulbs
5) Mixed . ( $5 /4bulbs .
Subscribe to The Press for three months and get 20% off. Enjoy all the benefits that come with being a subscriber, including convenient home delivery, free access to past and present digital editions of the The Press and monthly rewards and exclusive competitions.
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Are you interested in working with infants, toddlers, or young children?
Our Level 3 Certificate in Early Childhood will help you to develop a strong foundational grounding in the essential knowledge involved in the education and care of infants, toddlers, and young children.
This programme … View moreAre you interested in working with infants, toddlers, or young children?
Our Level 3 Certificate in Early Childhood will help you to develop a strong foundational grounding in the essential knowledge involved in the education and care of infants, toddlers, and young children.
This programme is taught in a practical learning environment and includes placements within early childhood centres, providing a real hands-on experience to prepare you for a career in early childhood.
We are enrolling now for July! Visit our website to enrol or find out more.
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon
Two Westport-based West Coast Regional Council representatives have expressed "impatience" at ratepayer criticism of the council's role in protecting the town from future flooding events.
Both Buller representatives have instead paid … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon
Two Westport-based West Coast Regional Council representatives have expressed "impatience" at ratepayer criticism of the council's role in protecting the town from future flooding events.
Both Buller representatives have instead paid tribute to the behind the scenes scramble by the regional council to seal the business case for the proposed $26 million Westport flood scheme.
At this week's council meeting, Cr Laura Coll-McLaughlin queried the state of the tender documentation for urgent retrospective maintenance on old flood works on the Buller River upstream of Westport at Organs Island, and near O'Conor Home.
It followed ratepayer approaches indicating the high level of interest in the town, she said.
The council has already approved that urgent work which if not done leaves Westport vulnerable to another big flood event.
Coll-McLaughlin said she and fellow Westport Rating District Committee member, regional council chairman Allan Birchfield, had been outspoken "about how urgent that work is" aside from the proposed flood scheme proper.
"I also think that the amount of work our staff are dealing with for a council of our size and our budget is absolutely phenomenal.
"I'm getting a little bit impatient with criticisms we get back. I think we maybe don't blow our trumpets sufficiently but quite frankly the work (staff) are doing, I am profoundly grateful for."
Chief executive Heather Mabin said the small council's staff were under "an incredible amount of pressure".
In particular, the Westport scheme technical advisory group for the business case along with council's in-house staff had faced extraordinary pressure.
Some of the constraint would be taken up under the new staff secondment arrangement via the Greater Wellington Regional Council, in place for the several of the Government's Infrastructure Reference Group (shovel ready) and other projects the council had, Mabin said.
Cr John Hill said he too was receiving a lot of local feedback "and I get quite annoyed when I hear the word 'procrastination' being used".
"I'd like to get the message out to our ratepayers, the last thing we can be accused of is procrastination."
Coll-McLaughlin said she heard from ratepayers that they liked efficiency and for the council not to be overstaffed.
However, it was doing its best to respond urgently within limited resources, "when we have business cases to prepare and urgent work to meet and then flooding events in February and heavy rain now".
The council has to meet the proposed flood scheme business case deadline set by the Government, by the end of this month.
"I'm getting impatient with comments like 'oh Covid, they're using it as an excuse' when we can see behind the scenes that is far from the case -- and I just want that noted to staff," Coll-McLaughlin said.
"I cannot believe what [staff] have managed to achieve to timeframes that we have had put around us."
Upcycle pallets into stylish pieces for your deck or patio with Resene Pitch Black.
Find out how to create your own.
What to do for a warm home when the frost of winter and the cost of living are both on the rise? Click on over or come see us at The Warehouse.
You don’t need to spend big to create a healthy home, and you can start with good curtains. Open them during the day to let the warmth in, then close … View moreWhat to do for a warm home when the frost of winter and the cost of living are both on the rise? Click on over or come see us at The Warehouse.
You don’t need to spend big to create a healthy home, and you can start with good curtains. Open them during the day to let the warmth in, then close them at night to keep cold air out. A low-cost heater will keep your air warm at night while you snuggle under blankets and flannelette sheets.
Keep your whānau cosy this winter with us.
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