Waimakariri council puts focus on climate change
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
The Waimakariri District Council has appointed a lead adviser as it looks to develop a plan to adapt to climate change.
Former Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Lynda Murchison, who has a PhD in environmental planning, has been appointed to work alongside Cr Niki Mealings, the council’s climate change portfolio holder.
‘‘The council is committed to being transformational leaders in this space and working with mana whenua and the wider community to mitigate and adapt to climate change challenges,’’ mayor Dan Gordon said.
Murchison farms in partnership with her husband, Jock Murchison, in the Weka Pass in North Canterbury and has worked in resource management for about 25 years.
She completed her PhD thesis - Conflict Between Intergenerational Family Farmers and Environmental Planning Processes: An ‘Economic versus Environment’ Proposition of Different Ways of Knowing? - at the University of Canterbury in 2020.
The Waimakariri District Council adopted a climate change policy in 2019 to get ‘‘its own house in order’’, Gordon said.
It has now set its sights on developing a climate change adaptation strategy for the wider district.
Councillors adopted a climate change scenario technical report, prepared by Niwa, at a council meeting on July 5.
The report identified that weather patterns are expected to become more volatile.
Annual average temperatures are expected to increase with more extreme warm temperatures, less frost days and less snow.
A warmer atmosphere is expected to hold more moisture and more average annual rainfall, but this is expected to lead to more frequent heavy rainfall events.
More flood events are expected to be punctuated by more frequent and prolonged droughts due to increased temperatures and wind speeds, the report says.
Sea level rise is also expected to lead to some changes in coastal areas.
Gordon said the council had begun ‘‘refreshing’’ its climate change forward work programme.
This included conducting risk assessments to identify land and infrastructure most at risk.
The council would also look to calculate an emissions profile for the district as it developed its own emissions reduction plan in response to Government regulations, he said.
Other initiatives include transitioning the council’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, planting 25,000 plants this year in council reserves and investing in other opportunities for carbon sequestration on council land.
‘‘We will be encouraging residents, businesses and communities within the district to come on this journey with us.’’
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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0% Yes
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0% No
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0% Other - I'll share below
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.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
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