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1137 days ago

Council to install smart water meters ahead of next year's excess use charge

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

New smart ultrasonic water meters will be installed in about 1200 east Christchurch homes over the next six months.

The meters can send information about water use back to the council directly, which means staff will no longer need to visit a home to get a reading.

The new meters, which the council intends to eventually install across the city, also collect more data about water use and can provide readings over the course of the day.

The first installations in east Christchurch come as the city approaches its last summer before the introduction of an excess water use charge.

From July 2022, households using more than an average of 700 litres of water a day over a three-month period will be stung by the new charge. The average Christchurch household uses 540 litres per day. Continue reading here.

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

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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Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
  • 89.2% Yes, it's fair
    89.2% Complete
  • 10.1% No, it's unreasonable
    10.1% Complete
  • 0.7% Other - I'll share below
    0.7% Complete
2995 votes
1 day ago

Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

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).

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1 day ago

House fire causing road closures

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

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.

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