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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Work is progressing for a new mental health unit in Greymouth.
Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards infrastructure executive director Rob Ojala, told the West Coast board on Friday that the planning had reached the point where … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Work is progressing for a new mental health unit in Greymouth.
Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards infrastructure executive director Rob Ojala, told the West Coast board on Friday that the planning had reached the point where "we're on the market to get the design team."
He shared that following a query from iwi representative Francois Tumahai whether the planning would include a consumer representative.
Ojala said user group representatives would be part of the design structure for the new unit, "so we get a broad lens on the reality for the model going forward".
However, a user representative was probably not going to be in the governance structure for it, although iwi would be represented.
DHB general manager Philip Wheble noted the auditors from the Office of the Ombudsman had requested an update on 16 recommendations.
There was a continued focus on recruitment across the mental health service.
Key positions appointed in the past few weeks included the clinical nurse manager for the inpatient unit, a UK registered nurse as a case manager for Northern Community Mental Health (Buller), and a clinical psychologist who was not due to start until January.
"This is a key role to fill having been empty since 2016," Wheble said.
Occupational therapy vacancies continued to cause challenges for service delivery and specialist input in the mental health area.
He also reported a focus on equity for Māori patients, with a Māori casual mental health assistant employed, while the manager hours for the Māori mental health team had also been increased from half to full-time.
Services had not been significantly impacted by Covid apart from the Alcohol and Other Drugs service (AOD), which had a higher proportion of positive cases with increased service delivery challenges, "all of which have been managed well".
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
NZ Compare is the home of easy and free to use comparison sites. We’re passionate about helping Kiwis compare what’s out there, so we wanted to introduce you to a new member of our brand family – PriceMe!
PriceMe is NZ's largest comparison-shopping site, sounds fun right?! Whether … View moreNZ Compare is the home of easy and free to use comparison sites. We’re passionate about helping Kiwis compare what’s out there, so we wanted to introduce you to a new member of our brand family – PriceMe!
PriceMe is NZ's largest comparison-shopping site, sounds fun right?! Whether you're buying electronics, appliances, smartphones or watches, hair straighteners or any other everyday household or office product – find the best prices on PriceMe.
Make it your first stop, not an afterthought Neighbours!
Plus, you don’t need to leave the house! Shopping made simple, just how we like it.
Business is tough and finding the right broadband plan or provider can be just as rough, so let's make it a little easier.
We want you to focus on achieving your strategy, not going from site to site, call to call to get a good deal! So we've launched Business Compare - a simple, free … View moreBusiness is tough and finding the right broadband plan or provider can be just as rough, so let's make it a little easier.
We want you to focus on achieving your strategy, not going from site to site, call to call to get a good deal! So we've launched Business Compare - a simple, free to use website that will help you compare NZ broadband retailers that supply businesses just like yours!
NZ Compare is here to help Kiwi businesses find the right plan, the right provider, the right fit. Go visit Business Compare now!
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast District Health Board says the new Buller Health complex, which will replace the ageing Buller Hospital and medical centre facilities in Westport, will be completed in mid-2023.
DHB executive director infrastructure Rob Ojala, said … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast District Health Board says the new Buller Health complex, which will replace the ageing Buller Hospital and medical centre facilities in Westport, will be completed in mid-2023.
DHB executive director infrastructure Rob Ojala, said construction was progressing well.
"All roof trusses have been installed and installation of the roofing iron is well under way, with 85% of the roof completed.
"The project is still on schedule and the expected completion timeframe remains the second quarter of 2023."
Brickwork, installation of plumbing and electrical services, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning and fire systems had all commenced, Mr Ojala said.
"Activity on site has really ramped up with service trades now well into their work."
From reporter Joanne Naish:
A rest home on the West Coast will remain closed while a nursing shortage grips the aged care sector.
Reefton’s Ziman House closed in February due to staffing shortages and a concern about levels of care during the oncoming Omicron peak. Ten residents were moved to … View moreFrom reporter Joanne Naish:
A rest home on the West Coast will remain closed while a nursing shortage grips the aged care sector.
Reefton’s Ziman House closed in February due to staffing shortages and a concern about levels of care during the oncoming Omicron peak. Ten residents were moved to Christchurch, Hokitika and Greymouth, with the West Coast District Health Board (DHB) saying it would reopen in June.
This week, DHB general manager Philip Wheble said Ziman House could not reopen until more staff were recruited.
The home, which offered hospital-level care, employed two full-time equivalent nurses, but needed 5.6 to provide hospital-level care.
Wheble said if it could not recruit enough staff, the DHB might consider reopening with rest home-leve care, which had a lower requirement for staffing levels.
Between six and seven residents had indicated they wanted to return.
“The reality is that recruiting into health care roles across New Zealand is challenging and more so for rural locations like the West Coast,” Wheble said. Continue reading A rest home on the West Coast will remain closed while a nursing shortage grips the aged care sector.
Continue reading here.
We are incredibly proud to launch Short Notice is a new initiative designed to connect neighbours with a little spare time on their hands with local businesses that need a bit of extra help!
It's very simple; using the new Short Notice community hub, share a little about yourself, your … View moreWe are incredibly proud to launch Short Notice is a new initiative designed to connect neighbours with a little spare time on their hands with local businesses that need a bit of extra help!
It's very simple; using the new Short Notice community hub, share a little about yourself, your availability and how you'd like to help.
If you're a business owner sign up for a FREE Premium Business listing to get access to Short Notice and let your community know what help you need.
Together, let's help keep small businesses busy!
Don't miss this indoor market, running fortnightly from Saturday 21 May through to the end of September 2022. New stallholders welcome to apply.
Grab yourself a delicious Barista Made Coffee for only $4 at McCafé.
McCafé, simply good coffee.
Available for a limited time.
Congratulations to Robert Fenwick, owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Canterbury, the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero.
Robert has been recognised for his ongoing service and support for the community through tough times. Fenwicks pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdown with friendly greetings,… View moreCongratulations to Robert Fenwick, owner of Fenwicks Pharmacy in Canterbury, the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero.
Robert has been recognised for his ongoing service and support for the community through tough times. Fenwicks pharmacy remained open throughout the lockdown with friendly greetings, conversations and smiles!
Congratulations to all the finalists and thank you for nominating your favourite local business. We'd like to acknowledge the official winner of the public voting poll, Josh Coe, owner of Page 42 cafe. Unfortunately, Josh has decided to close his business after 3.5 years and we wish him all the best.
The weather is getting chilly, ya power is going to rise! So why are you sticking with the same plan and provider if it might be costing you MORE money?!
53.9% of Neighbours said they switched over 6 months ago and 33.6% said you have no idea when you last switched! We want to know why … View moreThe weather is getting chilly, ya power is going to rise! So why are you sticking with the same plan and provider if it might be costing you MORE money?!
53.9% of Neighbours said they switched over 6 months ago and 33.6% said you have no idea when you last switched! We want to know why you're not switching power providers?
Our winning Nice Neighbours have been featured across NZ in the local papers, maybe you've spotted these smiling faces...
If you have a nice neighbour who needs recognised for the little (or big!) things they do, nominate them on our Nice Neighbour page and you could each get a $25 Prezzy® … View moreOur winning Nice Neighbours have been featured across NZ in the local papers, maybe you've spotted these smiling faces...
If you have a nice neighbour who needs recognised for the little (or big!) things they do, nominate them on our Nice Neighbour page and you could each get a $25 Prezzy® card - that sounds like morning tea to me!
Hi neighbours,
It's time to sow your seeds and cut those flowers because NZ Gardener's new special edition is on-sale now!
The NZ Gardener team takes you through the seasons with advice on cutting fresh flowers 365 days of the year. Flick through the pages and find stunning … View moreHi neighbours,
It's time to sow your seeds and cut those flowers because NZ Gardener's new special edition is on-sale now!
The NZ Gardener team takes you through the seasons with advice on cutting fresh flowers 365 days of the year. Flick through the pages and find stunning photographs, step-by-step instructions on how to arrange bouquets and what to plant and when.
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Landslides high above State Highway 67 north of Westport in a stream catchment straddling an active fault-line is worrying the West Coast Regional Council.
An internal engineering staff report has highlighted the deterioration of vegetation on slopes… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Landslides high above State Highway 67 north of Westport in a stream catchment straddling an active fault-line is worrying the West Coast Regional Council.
An internal engineering staff report has highlighted the deterioration of vegetation on slopes at Barrytown and parts of Buller from Cyclone Ita in 2014, and delves into the progressive erosion in the Lake Stream catchment, 10km northeast of Westport township.
The cyclone caused massive damage throughout the entire West Coast, flattening swathes of native forest and vegetation, particularly in river valleys.
In Buller, the Lake Stream catchment on Mt Rochfort had already split into three channels by the time of the heavy storm this February, but the erosion has now escalated, regional council engineer Paulette Birchfield said.
"Multiple landslides" had left a huge volume of slip material sitting high up in the catchment, about 1 kilometres above the highway.
When the slip material did eventually move it could radically change the stream's direction, with significant potential to spill on to the road at the bottom of the slope, Birchfield said in her report.
The majority of the slips in Lake Stream were in the upper catchment, diverting the flow across a fan. In future heavy rain events the high slip material was likely to mean the stream would "take any number of other flow paths".
Birchfield said the possibility of mechanically diverting the flow and excavating the original Lake Stream channel would be difficult. Steep topography and thick vegetation made both foot and access for machinery challenging.
A large-scale landslide did occur in the catchment in at least 2015, a year after Cyclone Ita, and this had been supplying increased sediment and debris to the Lake Stream channel.
In normal conditions the stream flow would not have sufficient energy to transport additional slip material and the channel would slowly evolve in response.
However, an earlier heavy rainfall event in early May 2020 was probably large enough to move significant volumes of sediment and debris, causing Lake Stream to tear away from its original channel, breaking out in several places.
A 1997 thesis noted that until the downstream channel width and depth was increased to the new flow regime, floodwaters would continue to break out of the channels and drains, causing flooding and sedimentation of farmland and damage to property.
PICTURES: West Coast Regional Council
1: Lake Stream catchment, north-east of Westport.
2: Approximate location of the diversion site in Lake Stream.
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