Waimea Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 8 November 2023
NEW LOCATION
Love and heart of Pinnacle House Page 5
PAGES 19-21
Page 8
Lego to go on show
Poisoned pines lead to big bill for council KATE RUSSELL The removal of four poisoned pine trees in Dellside Reserve is estimated to cost the Tasman District Council around $10,000. The 80-year-old trees were over
20 metres tall and were removed on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 November, as they posed a danger to nearby walking and mountainbike tracks. According to a council spokesperson, the trees had been drilled
and poisoned by a member of the public. A weedkiller or herbicide had been used, which was “very effective and quick”. But, due to the “difficult site, steep hillside, and constricted access”, the removal work has come
at a “reasonable expense” to ratepayers. “Due to the complexities, the work will be in the ballpark of $10,000. That’s an estimate from doing similar previous work to remove poison trees in an area
like this … Costs are high and could impact existing work programmes.” The two-day tree removal process required three arborists,
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Firie family member ignited as chief GORDON PREECE
Community fire safety will be Aaron Thawley’s priority as the new chief fire officer at Māpua Fire Station. Photo: Gordon Preece.
Māpua Volunteer Fire Brigade’s new chief, whose surname is seared in the brigade’s membership history, plans to spark more local fire safety in his new role. Former senior station manager, Aaron Thawley, takes over as chief fire officer from Ian Reade, who recently retired after 17 years in the role and 31 years at the Māpua brigade. Aaron says he was initially reluctant to accept the new challenge, but he was now eager to drive the brigade forward. “I like to think I can bring some added enthusiasm and youth and I want to bring some renewed drive to the management of the brigade and see where we can take it,” he says. “My plan is that we will re-engage with our community and get out and re-
ally deliver a focus to fire safety information support to key members of our community. “Get back to smoke alarm installation and checks for some of the elderly, and target some of our rural community members with fire safety support around what plant species they want to be growing closer to their house that will slow down burning if there is a vegetation or forest fire.” Aaron, who’s been a member at the Māpua brigade since 2003, credited his new role to Ian Reade, and to Ted Perry, who founded the station in 1972. “I would like to acknowledge Ian’s service and the commitment he’s made to the brigade. He’s gone through some pretty tough times and taken it in his stride, and the
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