Scaling up: Rakaia’s Salmon statue needs a makeover
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The iconic Rakaia Salmon needs a facelift - and cash to fund it.
Ashburton District Council’s open spaces manager Ian Soper said a structural and maintenance assessment showed the 12m high statue needs a lot of work.
The good news is the work can be done on-site, he said.
“The work can be done in situ so it won’t need to be cut down and transported.”
It will need scaffolding erected and plastic wrapped to contain the fibreglass work, he said.
The upgrade is unbudgeted work and once quotes have been obtained a report will come to the council “to see where that sits financially”.
The statue, built in 1991 with funding from the Rakaia Lions Club, was gifted to the council about 18 years ago.
The area around the salmon was redeveloped between 2020 and 2021.
The project received a $739,945 grant from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, $20,000 from the Rakaia Lions, and the council funded the remaining $198,000.
The bulk of the project budget was spent on a new public toilet facility.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Railing planters
To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.