The Sun
Friday December 9, 2016
5
COUNCIL NEWS Crafar and Crouch win award The Marlborough Award has been presented to civil construction firm Crafar and Crouch in recognition of the business’s contribution to the Marlborough economy. At the award ceremony in the Council chambers, Mayor John Leggett paid tribute to the company partners, Norm and Shona Crafar and John and Carol Crouch, describing their role in building up Marlborough’s infrastructure. The company’s record includes the construction and maintenance of housing subdivisions, power services, car parks, quarries, irrigation dams, water supplies and
stormwater services as well as projects for wineries, timber mills and railways. Not only had the company created jobs and trained a reliable workforce of about 100 people, the firm had been very generous in donating time, labour and materials to a broad range of clubs, organisations and projects throughout the district, said Mr Leggett.
From left, John Crouch, Carol Crouch, Mayor John Leggett, Shona Crafar and Norm Crafar.
Marlborough Mayoral Earthquake Fund
Looking forward to a brilliant summer The new Marlborough summer events guide showcases more than 100 events happening in the region from December to April. Packed with information for visitors and locals alike, the free, easy-to-use guide to what’s on in the region will be available from i-SITES and other businesses around Marlborough. It is
Applications to the Mayoral Earthquake Fund may be lodged now by Marlborough people finding themselves in difficult circumstances in the run up to Christmas because of the earthquake. Priority will be given to applicants needing help with the essentials of daily life, to those who are uninsured or whose costs are not covered by insurance, or who face particular financial burden due to the earthquake. Applications may be made through the Council website, www.marlborough.govt. nz or on the printed forms available from the Awatere Information office, Seddon School, Ward School and Ward Hall.
also being distributed in the Nelson and Canterbury regions. More information can also be found at www.follow-me. co.nz For copies of Show ME* Summer go to your local i-Site or contact Council’s Regional Events Advisor, Samantha Young phone 03 520 7400 or email events@marlborough.govt.nz
Applications will close on Friday 16 December. Funds will be allocated before Christmas. The Marlborough Mayoral Earthquake Fund is currently sitting at $78,200. Donations are still welcome - this is a very effective way for the public to help those in most need. • Donations to the Marlborough Mayoral Earthquake Fund should be made to the BNZ: 02 0600 0202861 00 with the reference: mayor EQ. Monetary donations may also be handed in to the Council offices in Blenheim or Picton.
Pop up park ready for summer The table tennis table at Wynen Street’s pop-up park is back in place for summer, firmly bolted to a large block of concrete. Four months after the little sports space ‘Mitchells on Wynen’ was opened to the public earlier this year vandals ripped out the community table tennis table. Council reserves and amenities officer Robert Hutchinson says the damage was very disappointing but the Council
Positive ageing Good financial housekeeping is important if you are on a fixed income. Set aside some time to make sure your financial affairs are in order. If you need help, make sure you go to a trusted source. You might like to consider • Arranging your bank accounts to minimise bank charges - setting up an automatic payment to pay off your credit card every month could save a lot in interest charges. • Reviewing your insurances – you may be surprised to see
•
Good financial housekeeping
how much you’re paying in premiums. Your circumstances may have changed and so may your requirements. Compare what’s on offer from different insurance companies. But make sure you’ve got cover that gives you peace of mind. Reviewing the rates offered by your telephone company and your power provider. Look at the terms offered by other companies competing for your business – you may be able to
negotiate a cheaper deal. •
•
One source of advice is the Marlborough Family Budgeting Service, 25 Alfred St, Blenheim, phone 03 578 2006. Maataa Waka Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust offers a financial mentoring service to the Marlborough community for anyone experiencing financial hardship or who would like help to gain control of their finances, phone 03 577 9256.
Marlborough District Council PO Box 443 Blenheim 7240 New Zealand
was prepared to reinstate the equipment with the concrete and bolts in the hope that the rough treatment won’t be repeated. The urban play space also has a container load of sports gear which is opened up each day for public use. Nearby retailers handle the daily job of opening the container and packing it away each day. It’s a free entertainment space which children, teens and young travellers have all been enjoying.
Community News Marlborough Family Budgeting Service Marlborough Family Budgeting Service offers free, confidential help to individuals and families to learn to manage their personal household accounts. For further information Ph: 03 578 2006.
Public meeting for residents of Grovetown, Spring Creek and lower Wairau Diversion, 7.30 pm on Thursday 15 December, Spring Creek Hall This meeting is to update residents on flood risk, now that some river stop banks have been disturbed by earthquake land movement. Residents need to be aware that, if there is very heavy rainfall in the headwaters of the Wairau River, there would be an increased chance of flooding. The stop banks are being repaired but that will take up to six months. Until then, residents are urged to ensure they are prepared should the weather forecast indicate river levels will rise fast.
Phone: 03 520 7400 Fax: 03 520 7496 Email: mdc@marlborough.govt.nz www.marlborough.govt.nz
People in Grovetown, Spring Creek and the lower Wairau should • Monitor the Wairau River’s water flow online at hydro.marlborough. govt.nz/floodwatch • Listen to the radio: Brian FM (100.9FM), More FM (92.9FM), The Breeze (89.7FM) and Radio Live (95.3FM). • Keep an eye on Marlborough District Council’s Facebook page and Twitter account. If a serious flood is expected, Civil Defence will also be door knocking, advising people to evacuate.