Dark sky initiative gaining momentum
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to protect Oxford’s night sky are gaining momentum.
The Oxford Area School Observatory has met with local stakeholders and now plans to submit an application for dark sky park status with the International Dark-Sky Association.
The ultimate goal was to become a dark sky reserve, volunteer Raul Elias-Drago said.
He said gaining dark sky park status for the 11,350-hectare Oxford Forest Conservation Area was a good first step.
"There’s no power, no light fittings, so it is very easy to gain accreditation and the Department of Conservation is supportive.
"We can use that to generate momentum and then continue the conversation with the council and local businesses, generate some funds and come back to addressing the lighting in the township."
A dark sky reserve would include the conservation area as the core and the township as the periphery.
Oxford-Ohoka Community Board chairperson Thomas Robson said the board was supportive of the project.
"It is something that has been talked about for a while and there has always been a desire to do it and hopefully it will bring people to the town.
"The observatory is such a great facility and the more well-known it becomes, the more volunteers and support it will generate."
Robson said there would be some challenges in getting a dark sky reserve application together, but he believed the initiative would have broad community support.
"The majority of us moved to Oxford to enjoy the rural lifestyle and part of that is the night sky.
"In the long term it will be a good thing for the community and it is nice to have proposals like this coming to the board which are good news stories."
Elias-Drago gave a presentation to the community board last week before meeting with stakeholders in the Oxford Town Hall.
Stakeholders included local businesses, sports clubs, schools, Oxford Gallery, the Oxford A&P Association, the Department of Conservation, Waimakariri District Council staff and Enterprise North Canterbury (ENC).
"It was a full house and we also had members of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and the International Dark-Sky Association zoom in, in support."
Elias-Drago said there were questions around lighting.
He said good lighting policies could reduce light pollution, improve melatonin levels in humans and improve animal welfare.
"It is not about living in the dark. I want people to have a better life. It is about better living through better lighting."
A study commissioned by ENC suggested a dark sky reserve could generate $5.4 million in additional spending in the town and create up to 24 jobs.
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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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84.7% Yes
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Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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