Walking and biking trails receive top up in Ashburton
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A new fund is laying the foundations for better walking and cycling trails in the district.
The Ashburton District Council approved $9600 to projects from the new Trail Maintenance Fund.
The fund has a balance of $102,443 to be used over the next 10 years to repair and maintain walking and biking trails
The Methven Lions Club received $3000 towards lime chip to reseal the Methven Walkaway.
The Lions has a three stage development of the walkway over a three year period and the council recently issued the club with a licence to occupy for all council-owned land within the walkway.
Mountain Bike Ashburton also received $3000 towards its annual maintenance
The Mt Somers Walkway Society receives $2500 for resurfacing and levelling of a 120-metre boardwalk on the Bus Stop track
The other successful applicant was the Ashburton Lions Club, receiving $1100 to fill holes and grade the river track between Milton Rd and Cochranes Rd.
Two groups were unsuccessful in their applications.
Ashburton Motorcycle Park because it was not a walking or biking trail and Bike Methven as it was looking to purchase capital items in the form of a motorbike and spray unit.
To be eligible a project must be a volunteer-led, existing public-accessible trail.
Applications for the fund open in March each year.
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Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
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48.3% Yes
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49.7% No
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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