Hanmer flyride gets green light
By David Hill, Local Democracy
A proposed Hanmer Springs flyride has been given the go ahead by the Environment Court.
But there are still a few bumps in the road.
The Environment Court issued an interim decision on Friday to reject an appeal by The Friends of Conical Hill Incorporated, three years after a Hurunui District Council appointed commissioner granted a resource consent.
The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa had applied to install and operate a gravity-based recreation activity at Conical Hill Reserve.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the council is relieved to finally get a decision.
‘‘It is good news. It has taken a long time to get here, but at least we’ve got a decision.
‘‘We will need to work through the viability of the project and then the council can consider what it does next.’’
Dobbie said staff would prepare a report to present to the council early in the new year.
The project received $2 million from the Government's ‘‘Shovel Ready’’ fund in 2020.
When first proposed, the attraction was expected to create 23 jobs and inject $4m into the local economy in its first five years of operation.
Submitters opposed to the flyride said it would have a visual impact on the recreation character, biodiversity and horse trails in the area.
Concerns were also raised about parking, traffic congestion, noise, along with the risk of fire, and devaluation of properties.
In her decision, Judge Lauren Semple said she was satisfied the effects of the proposal could be managed under the Hurunui District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️