Chicanepictures.com
The risk is low
In The Southland Times, December 9, 2014, is an article: Quake bill recognises low risk in Invercargill.
In it, the building and housing minister, Nick Smith, and Invercargill Mayor, Tim Shadbolt, discuss the new earthquake building bill. The first paragraph reads: ‘‘An Invercargill planning boss says a new earthquake building bill could benefit Invercargill as it recognises Invercargill as a low seismic risk area.’’
The risk of any earthquake causing serious damage is extremely small; to my knowledge, there has not been one in the so far recorded history of Invercargill.
There may be risks to staff with some features of the existing building in a one or two hundred year earthquake but infinitesimal in comparison with the risk of driving there to work every morning. Max Skerrett Invercargill
Disgraceful handling
The heart of Invercargill has been stopped! Sadly there has, so far, been practically no response from the public regarding the closure of our Museum and Art Gallery.
The handling of this closure has been disgraceful. It must have been known for some time that the Museum is an earthquake risk but what notice was given about closure?
Four days. The staff who have been employed in the building deserve better.
Why the hurry? There has been so much activity based within the museum so how is the chaos caused by the sudden closure able to be resolved. We can only hope some realistic solutions can be found and that staff will be well supported. James Wilson Invercargill
Think inside the pyramid
Our museum is making an exhibition of itself and for all the wrong reasons. Where to now? As a ratepayer, and regular user of the pyramid, I have a personal interest in the answer.
To hasten that answer we could permanently relocate those who will be making the decision to offices in the pyramid in the hope that the seismic threat will speed up decision making. Living dangerously sharpens the mind. Daniel Phillips Invercargill Abridged - Editor
Te Anau SAR
It made difficult reading to learn that Fiordland could lose the rescue helicopter services currently being operated out of Te Anau by Southern Lakes Helicopters which has been the principal provider to that region for a number of years.
Helicopter operations need prompt and efficient services performed by local efficient personnel at all levels with the benefit of machines strategically located at the extremity of a region furthest from a hospital facility and capable of covering vast areas of mountainous land and far out to sea.
As far as I am aware the rescue aircraft operated from Te Anau have been augmented by a highly specialised and equipped BK117 twin engine helicopter fully equipped and accredited to Air Ambulance standards.
The desirable location for such a competent rescue service base has to be Te Anau from where they can be dispatched to the place of need.
Advocates of the ‘‘golden hour’’concept will advocate, despite controversy, that the chances of survival ‘‘increase dramatically if trained professionals can stop the bleeding, treat the injury and restore blood pressure’’ then get the desperately ill or critically injured trauma patient to definitive speciality care.
That’s a lot to do in a short period of time.
In Fiordland’s unique rural environment helicopters with specialised equipment can make a huge difference for the trauma patient and that is what is believed the experienced personnel who operate the Southern Lakes Helicopters and competent paramedics endeavour to do.
Over the past 50 years there have been too many decisions made from sources outside the region that have not been advantageous to Fiordland and yet once again locals may have to fight for their rights to control their own destiny to retain this most important and valuable rescue service. R S Palmer Christchurch Ron Palmer is a past chairman of the Fiordland Ambulance Service, past controller of Fiordland Civil Defence, and past Wallace county and Te Anau community councillor - Editor