We Say/You Say: Winter has come
Hi Canterbury,
How were you impacted by the snowfall?
It was a short, snowy blast for residents in Canterbury this week as temperatures plummeted, bringing with it magnificent photo-ops and significant disruptions.
Fine but cold weather is set to last for the next few days in Canterbury before a southerly change brings with it gale force winds and rain.
Wild and chilly weather closed roads, left several residents without power, and overwhelmed ski fields as a cold front made its way up the South Island.
"The weather is going to be fairly changeable – you'll get northwesterlies and southwesterlies and brief rain and then some fine spells, so it's fairly busy but nothing too dramatic at this stage," MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said.
Hundreds of motorists were trapped as heavy snowfall closed alpine passes. Arthur's Pass and Porter's Pass and the Lewis Pass reopened on Sunday and through Monday morning.
Snow fell down to 100m and those in Christchurch central were greeted with snow flurries.
How have these weather disruptions affected you? Let us know in a reply below and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comment used in the Northern Outlook.
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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89.1% Yes, it's fair
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10.2% No, it's unreasonable
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
House fire causing road closures
Pages Road is closed this afternoon from Breezes Road, this is due to a house that has caught fire in the area.
Coastal Ward Community Board member, Alex Hewison, shared the closure on a local Facebook page.
Fire and Emergency are at the scene but further details have not been shared at this stage.
Avoid the area where possible.