Fires, funding and father’s great day
The effects of Covid-19 were still very apparent but articles about fires, funding, a special flight and Father’s Day also made headlines during a busy September, writes Doug Sail.
There was an $11.6 million cash boost for Timaru’s Theatre Royal upgrade and Heritage precinct on September 15.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was in Timaru to confirm the Government support for the $23m project which met the criteria of the Government’s ‘shovel-ready programme, in that it was ready to proceed and would create jobs.
‘‘The design and construction of the theatre upgrade and new [museum] facility is estimated to directly employ 155-210 people.’’
Sport wins big
A planned $7.5m redevelopment of Alpine Energy Stadium received the biggest handout from the Timaru District Council’s stimulus fund.
The Fraser Park Community Trust, which runs the facility, received $900,000 of the $1.85m available as the council culled 20 funding applications back to 10 successful projects.
Another local All Black
Eddie Cullen won’t forget his Father’s Day in 2020 as his son, Cullen, became South Canterbury’s first home-grown All Black in some 50 years on September 6.
Grace’s selection was one of seven new caps in Ian Foster’s 35-strong 2020 squad.
The former Timaru Boys’ High School star and current Crusader was in Timaru to visit his dad on Father’s Day and said the selection news was a complete surprise.
Snow, rain snuff fire
Evacuated homeowners were allowed back into their properties three days after a massive fire started in the Mackenzie District.
Snow and rain fell across the district on August 31-September 1 helping to control the fire, which started near the Twizel River and burned through about 3000 hectares of trees and scrub in Pukaki, on both sides of State Highway 80. The perimeter of the fire was about 31km.
A cottage and outbuildings on Pukaki Downs Station were destroyed in the fire and the residents of at least six other properties were evacuated as it spread quickly and threatened their homes.
Fire destroys clubrooms
Police and fire investigators in the Timaru area were looking into four suspicious fires on September 16.
One blaze destroyed the Pareora Rugby Club building and left the club’s president in shock.
‘‘Why? It’s just pointless,’’ Craig Scott said as he stood near the building’s charred remains.
A special flight
Pukaki-based pilot Chris Rudge flew around Aoraki/Mt Cook in his biplane on September 8 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first flight over New (No code on Christmas Day. For full terms and conditions, please visit stuff.co.nz/meloyelo)
Zealand’s highest peak.
A clear but freezing sky greeted Rudge and his passengers, as he followed in the footsteps of captains Len Isitt and Tom Wilkes – who on September 8, 1920, flew from Timaru to the summit of New Zealand’s highest mountain and back in 68 minutes.
Waihi School opens to girls
South Canterbury’s Waihi School announced on September 25 it will accept girls for the first time in its 113-year history in 2021. Waihi School, at Winchester, is the only independent preparatory school in the lower South Island.
Big changes for school
A multimillion-dollar project at South Canterbury’s only bilingual school has the potential to increase its roll by 25 per cent.
As Arowhenua Ma¯ ori School celebrated its 125th anniversary on September 26-27, principal Bronwyn Te Koeti James said work on a new complex to replace the existing classrooms would soon begin.
The complex has been in the planning for nearly 18 months and Te Koeti-James said it would allow the school to cater for up to 80 pupils (current capacity 60) with its current roll 47.
Wilding pines costly
Inadequate Government funding to fight wilding pine infestations could mean the New Zealand economy takes a $4.6 billion hit.
As firefighters battled a 3500-hectare blaze involving wilding pines near Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, coordinator of the NZ Wilding Conifer Group, Rowan Sprague, said on September 1 that the costs of not getting on top of the problem would soar.
Sprague said wilding pines would cost the economy $4.6b if allowed to spread, with $739m in losses to productive land, $1.95b from losses in irrigation potential, $955m from hydroelectricity potential, and $331m in biodiversity or conservation value losses.
MyWay takes over
Timaru’s on-demand public transport service became the only bus service available in town on Saturdays in September. Environment Canterbury said the Timaru Link Saturday timetable would be replaced by an additional MyWay by Metro vehicle as the on-demand service increases its trial. Other weekday Timaru Link buses with low patronage of 1-3 people per trip were also being cut.
Alpine’s record profit
South Canterbury lines company Alpine Energy posted a record profit.
The community-owned company recorded a $21.63m profit after tax for 2019-20, an increase of $7.89m on the previous year, with overall revenue up $11.66m to $91.31m and a dividend of $9.92m paid to shareholders.
Rugby success
South Canterbury’s trophy cabinet was full after winning a swathe of silverware with a 24-7 over North Otago in Oamaru.
The win saw South Canterbury reclaim the Hanan Shield, the Bill Direen Memorial Trophy, the Phil Gard Memorial Trophy and the newly minted Placemakers Challenge Cup.
Point pub reopens
Longtime Timaru publican, bar owner and restaurateur Bob Mason threw a social lifeline to the Pleasant Point community by confirming he would reopen the town’s only hotel.
Covid delays court cases
On September 22 there were 80 trials waiting to be heard in the Timaru District Court in a backlog caused by Covid-19. Three jury and 38 judge-alone trials were adjourned or rescheduled in Timaru while New Zealand was in lockdown between March 26 and June 8, according to Ministry of Justice statistics. As of July 31, there were 46 jury and 34 judge-alone trials progressing through the court.