Fireworks a fizzer but Covid no dud
The year began with a fizzer in South Canterbury but it was not Covid-19 related, writes Doug Sail in the first of our series looking back on the year that was – one in which our world changed dramatically.
2020 was just minutes old when thousands of people gathered at Caroline Bay in Timaru were unknowingly given an early insight of a year ahead which would be full of disappointment through the disruption of everything from events to business and education to health.
It was a ‘‘gutted’’ Caroline Bay Association president Allen Martin who fronted on New Year’s Day to apologise to those who flocked to the Bay and surrounding viewing areas for a $15,000 pyrotechnic display that did not eventuate just after midnight.
Spectators were left underwhelmed when technical issues first delayed the show until four minutes past midnight and eventually left more than twothirds of the 269 individual fireworks unignited.
Smoky skies
Adding to the disappointment of the underwhelming fireworks the night before, South Canterbury residents and visitors woke to a thick haze on New Year’s Day with a region-wide sepia sky caused by smoke from the Australian bushfires.
MetService meteorologist April Clark said they had been tracking the smoke using satellites because it was being moved by an uninterrupted northwesterly wind coming across from Australia to New Zealand.
New service stations
Nelson-owned fuel company, NPD, confirmed 15 new jobs in Timaru with the construction of two service stations at 161 King St (State Highway 1), in Redruth, and opposite Phar Lap Raceway (also SH1), in Washdyke. The Redruth outlet is open with the Washdyke site set to open before Christmas.
Freight train tragedy
The death of a former South Canterbury police officer and Timaru District Council candidate in a freight train crash in Australia was confirmed in early 2020.
Greg Reid was a police officer in Timaru for a number of years, leaving in February 2013.
The 61-year–old train driver was the only fatality when a freight train crashed into the rear of a stationary grain train about 2am on Christmas Eve near Perth.
School vandalism
Arowhenua
Ma¯ ori School caretaker Rick
James was unimpressed with vandals who slung coloured powder paint about the grounds of the Temuka school.
The door to a shed at the school was jemmied open and $300 worth of pink, yellow, and blue powder thrown around.
‘‘It’s really quite devastating and I’m not particularly happy about it.’’
A few days later The Timaru Herald reported the vandals had come forward to help clean up the mess.
Cruise ships return
On January 14, Timaru was preparing to welcome the return of cruise ships with a special gift handmade for arriving passengers.
The arrival of the Seabourn Encore on January 15 ended a three-year absence of cruise ships at the port.
The Seabourn Encore was the last cruise ship to have visited when in February 2017 its moorings broke in high winds and it collided with the Milburn Carrier II, causing damage to the hull.
Soundsplash success
Organisers of Timaru’s inaugural Soundsplash music festival hailed it a success.
Promoter Sam Heath said about 2500 people attended the three-day festival held in midJanuary and featuring a mix of more than 40 New Zealand and international acts across three main stages.
Despite the success, the event will not go ahead in 2021.
Toxic algae warning
The region’s medical officer of health warned that toxic algae outbreaks in South Canterbury rivers were only going to increase.
‘‘They’re becoming increasingly common over the summer period,’’ Canterbury District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said on January 20.
‘‘It’s not just that we’re getting better at measuring and monitoring them, there is a genuine increase.
‘‘Overall, we are seeing longer seasons for toxic algae. This is something that should concern everyone,’’ Humphrey said.
Roof fixed
The roof of Timaru’s public library was, in places, in a very poor condition when it was opened up for repairs, according to the district council on January 21.
The job of fixing the leaky roof cost around $1.9 million.
Big Lotto win claimed
The winner of $17.1m with a ticket bought in Twizel for a December 28, 2019, draw came forward three weeks later.
Lotto NZ spokesperson Marie Winfield said a private investigator had been engaged to try to find the winner ‘‘but the winner came forward before they managed to make too much progress’’.
New judge
On January 23 long-serving
Timaru lawyer
Quentin Hix was confirmed as a District Court judge.
Hix was appointed alongside 20 other lawyers from around New Zealand in a move the Government said would improve access to justice and boost diversity on the bench. Hix was sworn in on February 29.
Retail development proposed
On January 25, the developer linked to a proposal to develop Timaru’s Showgrounds Hill site into a large retail centre said work could begin as early as September.
However, as 2020 draws to a close, work is only just about to begin with resource consents granted this month.
Dirty air
Timaru’s first dirty air day recording of the year was on January 25, at Washdyke. Environment Canterbury said there was a variety of possible sources of the particles in Washdyke including dust, sea salt, unpaved areas and industrial coal boilers.
Coronavirus emerging
The emerging threat of the coronavirus – re-named as Covid19 on February 12 by the World Health Organisation – got closer to home with news on January 29 the South Canterbury District Health Board had formed an emerging infectious diseases group to plan for the coronavirus threat.
‘‘[We] have set up a project group and planning is underway for any confirmed coronavirus cases in South Canterbury,’’ SCDHB chief executive Nigel Trainor said.
He said advice, information and posters had also been provided to primary care and other health providers.
Trainor said the public shouldn’t be alarmed, but they should be aware the virus could circulate in New Zealand, but they can be reassured the SCDHB and community health providers are preparing for the event.