Bollard removal approved at Hakatere Reserve, Canterbury
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The removal of 31 bollards on a trial basis at a Canterbury picnic area has been signed off, but not everyone is happy about the compromise.
Ashburton's council faced a community backlash when it installed bollards at the Upper Hakatere Reserve in February 2023, blocking cars from the area. It also introduced a camping ban in the upper reserve.
In a compromise between the council and locals, Hakatere reserve working group agreed to remove some of the bollards to allow parking in the picnic area on a trial basis. The height of the remaining bollards will be reduced.
However, camping would remain prohibited at the upper Hakatere reserve.
Working group chairperson councillor Russel Ellis said some Hakatere Huts residents were still not happy with the decision of no camping and they wanted all the bollards removed.
Councillor Lynette Lovett said she was also aware of some mixed feelings among the hut holders but ultimately it came to the council to make the decision.
The decision made “was a good compromise” she said.
“We have to look at what the ones living down there want and we also have to look at the wider community of Ashburton that goes down there and enjoys that space as well.”
The working group’s recommendation – to remove some of the bollards and that camping remains prohibited on the reserve - was approved by council on Tuesday, after it had revoked the previous decision based on an incorrect recommendation on June 26.
The bollards will be removed and the situation will be monitored over summer.
Additional 'no camping' signage will also be placed at the picnic area.
New signs at the entrance to Upper Hakatere Road will direct campers to the Lower Hakatere camping site and picnickers to the upper site.
We're talking new year resolutions...
Tidying the house before going to bed each night, meditating upon waking or taking the stairs at work.
What’s something quick, or easy, that you started doing that made a major positive change in your life?
⚠️ 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 ❤️
What word sums up 2024, neighbours?
If 2020 was the year of lockdowns, banana bread, and WFH (work from home)....
In one word, how would you define 2024?
We're excited to see what you come up with!
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