Support for Waimakariri lifestylers
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Support is being offered to Waimakariri’s lifestyle block owners to meet their environmental commitments.
The Waimakariri Zone Committee, in partnership with Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council, has developed a resource to support the growing number of lifestyle block owners.
The Waimakariri district has more than 6500 lifestyle blocks, which is thought to be one of the highest number in the country.
Zone committee chairperson Carolyne Latham says it was found lifestylers often fell under the radar, during the process of developing the Waimakariri zone implementation plan in 2018, which became Plan Change 7 to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.
"We know that they want to be doing their bit for the environment, but sometimes it is difficult to know where to start."
Collectively, lifestyle blocks could have a significant impact on our environment as they typically had more people and infrastructure on a smaller land area.
The zone committee’s lifestyle block working group has produced a new resource called Top Ten Tips for Lifestylers.
"This resource condenses all the information available into the most important areas where improvements will make a difference," Latham says.
"It was surprisingly difficult to put it together because, while there is a lot of information out there on good management practice, we needed to look at it from a lifestyle perspective.
"Often they don’t have to do much, sometimes it might just be putting things in a different place, like moving fences or moving troughs."
Not all lifestyle blocks were the same, she says. Some were like mini farms, some were extended sections, some had sheds for storing vintage cars or machinery and others had businesses run out of them.
The tips included protecting waterways, understanding your land, taking care of plants and animals, monitoring septic tanks, managing fertiliser and manure, and being responsible with rubbish disposal.
Advice is also available from the New Zealand Landcare Trust, the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust, Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council. Latham said the zone committee was working with the councils to launch a website with the top 10 tips, and a lifestyle workshop was in the pipeline.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.6% Yes
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13.9% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
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