Kaiapoi Hub eagerly anticipated
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Satisfy Food Rescue is looking forward to work beginning on a permanent facility to house its growing service.
The North Canterbury-based food rescue charity is one of several organisations set to benefit from the proposed Kaiapoi Community Hub in the former red zone.
‘‘We are excited to be working with the other stakeholders for this project to see it come to fruition,’’ Satisfy Food Rescue manager Stef van Meer said.
‘‘Each year we are receiving and distributing more and more food to help sustain the community organisations we support.
‘‘A purpose built facility as part of the Kaiapoi Community Hub will work wonders for us in the long term as we see the need for our service increase.’’
Satisfy retrieves food from local supermarkets, businesses and residents with surplus garden produce, which it passes on to food banks across the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts.
In the last financial year Satisfy distributed 45% more food than the year ending March 2021.
Satisfy collaborated with other organisations last year to form Food Secure North Canterbury and has secured funding from the Ministry for Social Development to build a new facility as part of the Kaiapoi Community Hub.
The Waimakariri District Council has signed off an additional $760,000 in the 2022-23 annual plan, to increase its contribution to $1.475 million.
Work is expected to begin early next year on the proposed hub, which will be located off Courtenay Drive, not far from the south bank of the Kaiapoi River and to the east of Countdown.
The Kaiapoi Men’s Shed and the Kaiapoi Croquet Club are also joining the hub, with room for more groups, the council’s community and recreation manager, Chris Brown, said.
Deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said the hub was ‘‘an extremely positive development’’ for Kaiapoi.
‘‘It’s a great use of that land and a positive investment, and these groups make such a positive difference to the community.’’
The council’s contribution will be about one-third of the overall costs, providing infrastructure including the three waters, car parking, ecological linkages and a walkway.
The balance of the funding will come from the organisations using the facility and outside funding sources such as the Rātā Foundation.
A project manager has been appointed to lead the project through the detailed design and tendering process, Brown said.
‘‘It’s likely to be next year before we get a spade in the ground. I would expect it to be around February or March.
‘‘The way the hub has been designed allows for the whole community to use and access the whole area in a park-like setting.
‘‘It will be a place where people feel comfortable and can recreate formally and informally.’’
The three groups are in the process of establishing a trust to oversee the running of the site, with support from the council in a model similar to Rangiora’s Northbrook Studios.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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77.9% Yes
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20.9% No
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
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Canterbury’s Woodend Bypass route confirmed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The route of the proposed Woodend Bypass in Canterbury has been confirmed - and it might look familiar to locals.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says it has decided the stick with the route which was first designated nine years ago.
Engineers reviewed the route after the Government gave them the green light in July to push ahead with plans.
The 9km stretch of road will provide an extension to the Christchurch northern corridor, otherwise known as the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway.
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey has advocated for the project for several years and said he is thrilled at the latest announcements.
‘‘Many residents across the Waimakariri and further afield will be in no doubt about my passion for this project.
‘‘For far too long now, elderly residents of Woodend have missed medical appointments as they refuse to cross the main road due to safety concerns, and school children have run the gauntlet of getting to and from school.
‘‘Business owners have also suffered because customers refuse to stop on the main road due to traffic.’’
Waimakariri deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said it will be welcome news for local residents.
‘‘It has been a long time coming and the council has always been supportive of this project, so we are delighted that it is moving forward at the pace it is.’’
Last week, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to build an overpass to replace the Pegasus roundabout and provide better access for Pegasus, Ravenswood and Woodend residents.
He said NZTA will release a request for tender for detailed design and construction supervision this week.
The first stage of early works will likely begin in early 2026 with preparation for road widening to four lanes between Lineside Rd and Cam River, while the main physical works are expected to begin later in 2026.
An NZTA spokesperson said it is too soon for concept drawings to show what the Pegasus interchange will look like.
‘‘We’ll be able to share these as the designs progress during this next phase.’’
Details of how environmental challenges, such as two shingle pit lakes which have been created over the last decade, will be overcome have yet to be released.
Final costs have yet to be determined, but it is believed it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Woodend Bypass is one of the Government's first five roads of national significance.
The Government is considering roads of national significance to be partially funded by a toll.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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