Thursday, October 16, 2014
Manawatu Guardian
Protecting farms from floodwater By ALECIA ROUSSEAU A new site housing four submersible pumps to drain excess water across farmland along State Highway 56 will provide significant benefit to farmers. Burkes Pump Station was open for a special visit last week by Horizons Regional Council who also took the chance to show local landowners and members of the Manawatu Drainage Liaison Committee around the facility. Construction began in January and the entire project is expected to cost around $3.7 million. John Hopkins dairy farms 400 hectares of land within the lower Taonui Basin and said the large flood in 2004 was devastating for his operation. “The station isn’t going to help with something like the 100-year flood but what it will really help us with is the smaller floods.” He says the biggest problem arose when the area started taking in water from Hawkes Bay rivers with no drainage. “The grass only lasts about six days under water; we had to resow the whole 400 hectares in 2004.” Horizons group manager operations Allan Cook says the station, in combination with other works, will aim to clear productive land before significant pasture damage occurs. The station is part of a package
NEWS IN BRIEF Ice Rink sliding back
The ice rink in Palmerston North’s Square is set to return next year, bringing with it a 25 metre long slide and human snow globe. The portable rink will be alongside a winter festival created by Destination Manawatu. The festival is due to last for up to six weeks and will be a biennial event. DM is hoping the festival will include markets, sporting and art events and community activities. The organisation will be working closely with the Palmerston North City Council to develop a proposal for the Long Term Plan.
Rescue Callouts
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PREVENTATIVE: Landowners and committee members take a look around Burkes Pump Station. PHOTO: HRC
designed to drain pondwater out of the Basin. It’s the largest of 23 pump stations in the region and will have the capacity to pump 7500 litres of water per second out of the basin to the Manawatu
River. Mr Cook says it’s anticipated the station will operate, on average, 3300 pump hours and shift 22 million cubic metres of water each year.
The pump is expected to be fully active later in the year and has also been made an approved site for rural fire brigades to draw water from in the event of a nearby fire.
Mayoral race heats up By ALECIA ROUSSEAU A 20-year-old DJ with little money has decided to throw caution to wind and contend for Palmerston North’s mayoralty. Abi Symes confirmed last week she will be running for the top position, and if successful, she would be the youngest mayor in New Zealand history. A by-election was announced after Jono Naylor’s resignation and Symes says this is what prompted her to launch a campaign. “I knew Jono was out and something had to be done. I want young people to get involved and excited about politics.” Raised in Palmerston North, Symes says she has no intention of leaving the city. She believes she can offer residents a fresh voice that will represent their needs. Her goal is to raise enough money through the crowdfunding website, Pledgeme to cover her campaign. “My slogan is listen, learn and lead. Over the next four months I will be constantly talking to people and getting their views; it just makes sense.” Bringing a youthful change to the Palmerston North City Council is also a goal.
“We need more women and we need younger people on council. So far speaking with people, they want to see poverty addressed and I think council can do something about this.” Symes is a part-time DJ for Massey’s radio control, has frequented the music scene and is part of the management committee overseeing The Stomach. She says being in touch with the younger generation was important for a student-city like Palmerston North and the recent voter turnout for the general election had shown her the lack of interest in the younger generations. “People need to care about politics, especially on a local level. I want to engage people with the issues that affect them.” City councillor Tangi Utikere announced his candidacy outside the Ashhurst Library on Tuesday while fifth term city councillor and chair of the Community Development Committee Vaughan Dennison has also confirmed his run for mayor. GDN161014mayor
YOUTHFUL: Abi Symes is in the race for mayor. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The Palmerston North-based Rescue Helicopter undertook 11 missions and one crew training session last week: ■ On Sunday they performed a late morning mission to a motocross track near Himatangi where a teenage boy was injured after he came off his motorbike. He was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital. Upon landing the helicopter was sent to Taihape for a woman with a medical emergency after giving birth. She was flown to Palmerston North Hospital. Later that afternoon the helicopter was sent to Turoa ski field after a snowboarder was injured after a fall. He was flown to Whanganui. ■ Just after midnight on Saturday, the helicopter was involved in searching for a missing person near Rangiwahia. The search continued after day break. That evening the helicopter was tasked with an emergency hospital transfer from Palmerston North to Hutt Hospital for a teenage male who had injured his hand in a beach buggy accident. ■ An early morning mission was conducted on Friday for a woman from Ohakune with a medical emergency. She was transported by road to Hunterville where they were met by the helicopter and airlifted to Whanganui Hospital. Later that afternoon the helicopter was called to Mount Ruapehu where a girl was injured after a fall off a ski field escalator. She was flown to Whanganui. Following this, the helicopter was tasked with an emergency hospital transfer for a man in his 50s after an accident at home with a skill saw during which a thumb was amputated. He was flown to Hutt Hospital. ■ The helicopter was called around midday last Thursday to Turoa ski field after a teenage boy collided with another snowboarder. He was flown to Whanganui. Later that afternoon the helicopter was called to Foxton Beach to search for a person after he was washed out of his kayak while fishing. He was located by ground resources shortly after the helicopter arrived on scene. ■ On Tuesday there was a callout to Turoa ski field for a teenage boy injured in a skiing accident. He was flown to Whanganui. ■ Monday was crew night training.
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