News 8
Ashburton Guardian
Monday, April 11, 2016
www.guardianonline.co.nz
■ BLUFF EMERGENCY
Ammonia leak in Bluff By Rhys ChamBeRlain Bluff is on edge as emergency services try to contain an ammonia leak that could force residents to be evacuated. An 800m exclusion zone has been placed around tanks at South Port, where the leak is being tended to by the fire service and port services. Senior Station Officer Deane Chalmers, of Invercargill, said a fire in a cool store on a Bluff wharf on Saturday night caused a small
leak in an ammonia tank and there were fears it could escalate. “At this stage the leak is small but it has the very real potential of escalating into a large scale leak that will require the evacuation of residents of the Bluff township.” Firefighters from Bluff and Invercargill were on scene as was a HMU (hazardous materials unit). Police had cordoned off the area and were controlling the exclusion zone. “Police and the fire service are urging residents and visitors of
■ CHILD LEFT ALONE
Bluff to keep away from the port area and obey all police instructions and cordons as well as keeping themselves and others indoors until the situation is rectified,” Mr Chalmers said. South Port chief executive Mark O’Connor said the fire was in a third party tenant’s premises, Wilbur-Ellis, a pet food operation. “Some ammonia product is used in the freezing process,” Mr O’Connor said. Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnssen, of Dunedin, said the ammo-
nia was being transferred to another tank. “They have got concerns that it [fire] may have compromised the tank,” Mr Dinnissen said. The exclusion zone included the wharf area and boats were also being denied access, he said. Mr Dinnissen said the transfer was not expected to take as long as it had but it was “a slow process”. Southern fire communications shift manager Tim Reynolds said the fire was in a commercial
building and was “well alight” when two fire appliances arrived from Bluff about 11.30 on Saturday night. The fire was about 100m long and 40m wide, he said. There were no reports of injuries, he said. A fire investigator from Dunedin was on site. South Port, at Bluff, is New Zealand’s southernmost commercial deep water port. There is only one road out off Bluff, State Highway 1. - NZME
■ SPORTING GEAR CAMPAIGN
Child left in car Panicked shoppers launched a frantic search and considered breaking a window after a baby was left alone in a car for more than 20 minutes on Saturday. The child was found crying and distressed in a locked car at the Asian supermarket Fresh & Save in the Auckland suburb of Glenfield during the afternoon. Witness Erick Sia said he was the first to spot the child, who he thought was around two years old, and a crowd soon formed around the car. “I saw her in the driver’s seat screaming and crying. She was trying to open the door, looking for her mum,” he said. “There was just a window a little bit open for her.” Mr Sia ran to get the attention of staff, and then rushed back to the car to try to calm the child. “People were running through the store, saying ‘who left a baby in a car’ but they couldn’t find anyone,” he said. “People wanted to smash the window and call the police.” Staff were extremely worried he said, and there was an argument about the best thing to do. Just as the group were about to break into the car, Mr Sia found the mother, who was completing her
shopping at the checkout. “I told her, ‘you can’t leave a baby in the car’.” The woman was apologetic and said the baby hadn’t wanted to go into the shop with her. He said she was new to New Zealand and didn’t know the law. Mr Sia later posted on Facebook about the incident to warn others of the dangers of leaving children in cars. “I’m new to New Zealand, too, so I thought it was part of my obligation to let people know.” Police said they hadn’t received a report about the incident. Last year, a 16-month-old child died from after being left in a car by his mother. A Wanganui woman was charged with manslaughter but discharged without conviction. The boy died of heatstroke and dehydration. He was discovered only after his creche texted and then phoned to inquire where he was. The law states that young children must never be left alone in a house or vehicle – they need constant supervision. It is illegal to leave a child under the age of 14 years without reasonable provision for their care. - NZME
Traffic woes continue From P1 NZTA might argue that traffic volumes in Ashburton were largely locally generated, but the problem had now become a regional issue, not just an Ashburton issue, Mr McKay said. “We need to keep our foot on the pedal on this.” Work on the Tinwald corridor, originally in the form of traffic lights, has been on the drawing board since 2005. Since then, their installation has been continually moved and the project reshaped. It has now been downgraded and lights were no longer considered a priority. The alternative of changed road markings was deemed more appropriate.
As the lights project continued to drop off NZTA’s radar, the council continued to keep pressure on the roading organisation and in desperation, in 2013 suggested it would be prepared to foot the bill itself if that meant getting the job done. Traffic lights at the Walnut Avenue roundabouts on West and East streets have been on the council’s agenda since 2012. In 2014 the council went through a land designation process to secure the land that would become part of a redesign of the two intersections once the lights were installed. This project is now not likely to go ahead until after 2020.
Westpac Ashburton staff (from left) Suzie McLauchlan, Leanne Pierce, Sharon McCormack and Rebecca Withell are ready for people to drop off their unused sports gear. PHOTO AMANDA KONYN 080416-AK-056
New life for your old sports gear If you’ve got unused sports gear lying around, Richie McCaw wants to help find a home for it. The former All Blacks captain has declared a national sport gear recycle month to level the playing field for schools who can’t afford the gear they need. The iSPORT Foundation is calling for New Zealanders to donate unused sporting gear to help lower decile schools to support our next generation of sports stars.
Founded by Richie McCaw, Ali Williams and Daniel Carter in 2009, the iSPORT Foundation helps 12 to 18-year-old kiwis achieve their sporting goals, no matter their circumstances, by providing grants and crowdfunding, sports gear, leadership and inspiration. “There are New Zealand schools that don’t have the right gear to help kids develop their skills in the sports they love. “We want to help schools get
the equipment they need to help those kids so they can realise their sporting potential. “I have had a good run of it, but I could not have got there without access to the right gear. If you are not using the stuff in the cupboard and garage, pass it on to the next generation,” McCaw said. The drive runs through until April 30 and anyone with any gear to donate in Mid Canterbury, can drop it in to Ashburton’s branch of the Westpac bank.
Call for Maori wards to be established The Maori Party is calling for a “long overdue” law change to establish Maori wards on every district council in New Zealand. Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell will present a petition to Parliament at the urging of New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd, who championed the creation of a Maori ward in his city – a move blocked by a public vote last year.
Under existing legislation, councils can choose to establish Maori wards. However, if 5 per cent of voters sign a petition opposed to such a move, the decision then goes to a binding referendum. Maori representation on local government has been a heated issue at times, with parties divided at the last general election.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said Maori wards were separatist while National and Labour were not opposed to councils establishing Maori wards if they wished. Mr Flavell said mandatory Maori wards on every council would give tangata whenua better representation at local government. - NZME