Wanaka Sun | 17 - 24 December | Edition 1005 by Wanaka Sun

Hawea River

INSIDE THIS WEEK

A pleasant amble.

Views: Page 13 Sport: Page 16

PAGE 10

Gone viral Reusable Christmas bags.

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EDITION 1005

Health of waterways a Council priority Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

he health of Lake Wānaka and surrounding waterways had a reprieve at a full council meeting last Thursday. Deputy Mayor Calum MacLeod gained the approval of the Council to develop a policy relating to the monitoring of freshwater bodies and that it be included in the Council's 10-year plan to ensure funding. "Eventually the way we worked out to do it was external to the bylaw, and rather council developing a policy and getting it funded," MacLeod said. “This is a big deal.” There have been a dozen instances when drain water has been released into the lake, he added. "Those instances have been inappropriate stuff like building materials into the system, and one was a blockage formed by a football where everything backed up. "It's these inputs that the Council is saying we have to control and monitor." MacLeod also mentioned that there had been e coli discovered in Roys Bay by a citizen science exercise which was discovered to have come from a cross-connection of a sewer pipe in the stormwater system. "What had happened was several years prior, a new house was built in a subdivision PHOTO: Rebecca Williamson up Stoney Creek, and the plumber had These three Wānaka Primary School girls went around a few houses in Albert Town to collect food for the Food connected one of the toilets to the stormwater Bank for Christmas (instead of the annual drive this year). They dropped their collection off to Community system, not the wastewater system. Luckily enough it wasn't a permanently occupied Networks on Monday. At the back is Kim Baker from Community Networks and Piper Williamson (age 5). In the front (left) is Indiana house." MacLeod said "That was only discovered by Williamson (age 7), and beside her Gracie McCarroll (age 5).

*Includes house and land. Some conditions may apply. Photo is a sample only.

monitoring the receiving environment, or we wouldn't have known about it. That's an input that we signed off, but it was an honest mistake." There was also an instance where paint was released into the lake by a painter washing his brushes into the stormwater, he said. MacLeod said the recently implemented National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 gave councils direction on how to manage freshwater under the Resource Management Act. It said the health of freshwater should be first and foremost in council discussions and that Council should respond to any deterioration. Unable to amend the Council's Integrated Three Waters Bylaw (2020) to include water monitoring, MacLeod persuaded Council to develop a policy to monitor local lakes and rivers and that would be included in the Council's 10year plan to enable funding. "We put in a final recommendation for the policy to monitor the receivables environment and we put that into the Long Term Plan," MacLeod said. This policy would ensure that the proposed Integrated Three Waters Bylaw was complied with and the Council was meeting its obligations under the Resource Management Act, he said. "Simply put, what it is doing is getting the Council to monitor what comes out of our pipes so that we can then respond to any mistakes people make. "We need to monitor and report annually on any deterioration. If we aren't doing this, we are failing in our directives under local government."

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Funding for wildings and wallabies Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Otago Regional Council is to receive over $6m in funding for wilding conifer and wallaby control this year. The funding from Biosecurity New Zealand is part of an accelerated investment in jobs for nature, particularly in the Queenstown Lakes area. The Queenstown Lakes district is the worst affected area for wilding conifers, including areas around Wānaka. As set out in the media release, the bulk of funding will be spent in the Wakatipu management unit, with the remainder being spent in Central Otago and Luggate, said Manager Biosecurity and Rural Liaison Andrea Howard. The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has entered into funding agreements with Biosecurity New Zealand as part of its National Wilding Conifer and National Wallaby Programmes for operations starting between this year and 2024. Under these agreements, ORC will receive funding over the next four years, starting with more than $6.28m in 2020-21. $5.9m in funding has been allocated for wilding conifer management in Otago during this year. The National Wilding Conifer Control Programme’s accelerated work in Skippers Canyon, announced in June, helped to redeploy 20 staff from the Queenstown tourism industry and funded 31 additional new staff, including new ground staff and helicopter crew. $373,000 in funding has been allocated for wallaby control in the current financial year, with further years’ budgets yet to be confirmed. Most of the wallabies in Otago were nearer the border with South Canterbury, and towards the

Maniototo but there have been rare sightings in the Wānaka area. ORC General Manager Operations Gavin Palmer said the funding would go a long way to producing positive environmental outcomes. “Wilding conifers and wallabies are both significant pests with economic and environmental impacts on Otago. This funding is a big step-up that will greatly assist the region in controlling these pests. “The budget for wilding conifer control includes $5.244m allocated to the Wakatipu area in the current financial year. This will be welcome investment in one of the parts of New Zealand hardest hit by the impacts of Covid-19,” Palmer said. ORC will provide funding to the Central Otago and Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Groups and the Department of Conservation to enable them to carry out control works. Otago is divided into 17 “management units” for the purposes of controlling wilding conifers. The majority of the funding is allocated to controlling wilding conifers in the Wakatipu management unit, with the remainder allocated to the Central Otago and Luggate control units. Under Otago’s Regional Pest Management Plan, wilding conifers (any introduced conifer tree) are identified as pests requiring progressive containment. ORC also contributes $200k in grants to the two trusts, as well as staff time managing the wilding conifer programme in Otago. We have different pest management objectives for wilding conifers and wallabies, said Howard. “For wilding conifers, the objective is ‘progressive containment’, meaning we aim to

PHOTO: ORC

Monitoring the spread of wilding conifers from an RNZAF helicopter earlier this year, as part of the National Wilding Conifer Programme.

stop the pest from spreading and/or contain it within a certain area. For wallabies, the objective is ‘eradication’, meaning reducing their numbers to zero in Otago. “For wilding conifers, we work within the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme on

administering and distributing funding to control efforts, primarily through the Wakatipu and Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Groups. For wallabies, we undertake surveillance and wallaby control, respond to sightings and work with neighbouring councils towards eradication.”

Wānaka cycleway on hold PARKING AT THE DOOR, NO QUEUES, FREE QUOTES & ADVICE PHOTO: Supplied

The cycleway between Wānaka and Pisa Moorings will stretch for 55km and may include a couple of bridges.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Agent – Caltex Wanaka Phone 443 7868 PAGE 2

There is no start date for the proposed new cycle trail between Wānaka and Pisa Moorings according to Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust (COQTNT) chairman Stephen Jeffery. The 55km leg is part of the $26million network announced by John Key in May 2016. "Before construction can take place, we need to settle on a final trail alignment, and secure easements and resource consents. I'm sure you will appreciate that we can not give a start date at this time," Jeffery said "Remembering once everything is in place, we still have to go through a tendering process. Construction period is likely to be 12 months. " The cycle trail will likely criss-cross the Clutha River to avoid those landowners not wanting to be involved and could include two bridges, although where these will be is yet to be determined. The most direct route would be on the true right of the Clutha River, but there has been difficulty obtaining permission from landowners, Jeffery said. This has opened up the prospect of a section of the cycle trail passing through Maori Point, on

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the true left of the river, and crossing the upper reaches of Lake Dunstan. "COQTNT is not in a position to finalise the route which is still under consideration with a range of stakeholders. Bridges are still in the mix. Trail alignment will endeavour to avoid following the highway. We aim to deliver a unique cycling/ walking experience wherever possible," Jeffery said. The Trust is actively working with a range of stakeholders to secure access for the trail. "But initially we were looking at five-plus years from start to finish for all the projects (in Central Otago), but that's looking more difficult now,"Jeffery said. "A great deal of work still needed to be done obtaining easements from property owners and agreements with the Department of Conservation and the Otago Fish and Game Council." Jeffery said it was possible a start could be made on the Wānaka leg before construction on the Kawarau Gorge leg was finished. Construction of the cycle trail through the Cromwell Gorge was nearing completion, and a start was due to be made next year on the Kawarau Gorge section, leaving just the Wānaka section to complete the network. The cost of the Wānaka leg is unknown until the build is put out for tender, Jeffery said.

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Rik Deaton invoices Council Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

LandEscape owner Rik Deaton has issued Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) with an invoice of $15,000 for the recovery of costs in association with expert witness evidence submitted as part of his family’s application to change their property’s zoning. LandEscape applied for a Rural Visitor Zoning over their 110-hectare property at Camp Hill Road through the plan review process, in order to develop agricultural tourism activities there. In assessing the submission, QLDC carried out a seismic risk assessment of the property and identified a ‘no build exclusion zone’ some 500 metres wide and running the entire 1.4 kilometre length of the property, due to risk of surface rupture from to a fault line running beneath it. Deaton said this exclusion zone would have nullified any development on the property and rendered it “worthless.” This assessment was based on an outdated Otago Regional Council (ORC) regional seismic risk report from 2015, which had been replaced in March 2019. According to Deaton, this new report reclassified all known fault traces in the Upper Clutha Basin and located several new ones, including one located running directly under central Wānaka. It reclassified that under his property to “uncertain location”, lowered the annual slip rate and increased the recurrence interval from 5,000 years to 30,000 years. “QLDC completely ignored this new 2019 report and referred only to the now superseded 2015 report.”

Deaton said this exclusion zone would have nullified any development on the property and rendered it “worthless.”

Deaton said his family had had to commission two high level consultancy reports to “debunk the fake science of QLDC.” The panel hearing was completed in September after final evidence in reply from QLDC's strategic planner, in which she confirmed she had “changed [her] opinion” and now supported the rezoning request. Council was currently waiting on the Proposed District Plan hearing panel’s recommendations before making a decision.

In the meantime, Heron Investments (parent company of LandEscape) issued the invoice on November 2. “The $15,000 invoice is to merely cover our costs in debunking [the expert witness evidence] but if we have to sue them we will be seeking punitive damages as well,” said Deaton. QLDC spokesperson Jack Barlow said: “QLDC does not accept Mr Deaton’s claims or the basis for them, and rejects any notion of “false

PHOTO: Supplied

and misleading” expert evidence. “While a QLDC expert did, mistakenly, initially omit a 2019 GNS report on seismic risks in the Upper Clutha, this was subsequently rectified and the report was taken into account.” This is the second time Deaton has gone up against Council in recent times, having been turned down for a lakefront reserve commercial licence to rent e-bikes on the Wānaka foreshore last month.

Oldest rock in NZ found on Lake Wānaka shores

Peridotite (the green rock in the boulder) was found on the southern shores of Lake Wānaka.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The oldest rock ever found in New Zealand has been unearthed in Wānaka by Associate Professor James Scott of Otago University. The rock is estimated to be more than five times the age of any other rock found in New Zealand. The piece of peridotite rock is 2.7 billion years old; the previous oldest rocks being trilobite found in Nelson at about 500 million years old. The rock peridotite was found on the southern shore on Lake Wānaka near Albertburn Station, This particular rock comes up from an old volcano, Scott said. “Around Lake Wānaka there are little scraps of old volcanos and some of them, when they erupted magma, as it was coming to the surface it picked up bits of the peridotite and brought it up too”. These “green rocks" were rare because they had travelled to the surface from a much lower level — from 30km to about 60km below the Earth’s

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PHOTOS: James Scott

Who would have thought that this small stone was 2.7 billion years old!

surface. “I have had a research programme looking at these events across New Zealand and analysed them to establish how old the rock is,” Scott said. "We now know that New Zealand actually comprises crust and mantle and together these are called the lithosphere." Peridotite is a green magnesium-rich rock from Earth's mantle, found underneath the continental crust. Scott had also collected bits of mantle peridotite from the Chatham Islands, the subAntarctic Auckland Islands, Fiordland, through East and West Otago, and in Westland. The dating analyses for the Wānaka find was undertaken at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, Peridotite was rare even in Otago, but because of the region’s history of ancient volcanism, it was the best overall region in New Zealand to find the ancient rock, Scott said. "These small rocks give a unique insight into what lies deep beneath our feet," he said THURSDAY 17.12.20 - WEDNESDAY 23.12.20

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Kiwis heading for Great Walks in numbers Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Supplied

Ardgour Station, once the preserve of merinos, is now branching into the cherry and orchard market.

Limited partnership in Tarras Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

New Zealand horticulture specialist Hortinvest and sheep and beef producers Ardgour Station have established a limited partnership to produce apricots and cherries for export in early 2023. Hortinvests Ross and Sharon Kirk and Ardgour Station owners Bruce and Linda Jolly have joined forces to establish Ardgour Valley Orchards Limited Partnership (AVO) Orchard and project manager Ross Kirk said AVO spanned 38 hectares within Ardgour Station, Tarras with two thirds of the orchard set aside to produce new apricot varieties. The rest has been allocated for a mix of red and white fleshed cherry production. New apricot varieties NZ Summer 1,2, and 4 have been bred by Plant and Food Research at its Clyde site and are being commercialised for the first time. A white fleshed cherry variety will complement the stone fruit line up which also includes red fleshed cherries.

A significant increase in bookings for New Zealand's Great Walks is not reflected in the numbers walking the standard tracks of Aspiring National Park, according to a spokesperson for the park. "What our feeling is is that it's probably neutral – we haven't seen a massive surge, and people are focusing their trips on fine weather weekends at this stage," Caroline Ogle said.. "Obviously over the Christmas period when people have a bit more time this will change. "I think with the Great Walks, that people have to book a spot is what makes the numbers so positive. People are taking advantage of the availability due to Covid and thinking this is a good year to do a Great Walk. There are no international tourists, and Kiwis can't leave the country, so they are taking advantage of what is at home." Whakatipu District Acting Operations Manager Michel de Boulay said: “The Rees/ Dart seems to be quieter than usual so far. During holiday periods there is an upswing but for the most part, fewer trampers. On the Greenstone/Caples (non-Mt Aspiring National Park) there also seems to be fewer numbers overall, but with noticeable peaks and troughs. “Feedback from our five serviced hut rangers indicates that until very recently we have experienced lower visitation than normal on our backcountry tracks. It’s hard to predict exactly how this year’s visitor

season will go, with border restrictions in place, but what we’ve seen so far, and what we’re anticipating is that Kiwis will need activities closer to home or over weekends and holidays. That means some places will be busier and some quieter than in previous years,” de Boulay said. “We’re pleased to report that since December 7, when the Routeburn opened up fully, we are full every night up at the Routeburn Falls hut, with an increase in daily visitors, and the Routeburn Flats hut has been three-quarters full,” he said. “Our visitors are a mix of Kiwis and international residents exploring our great outdoors, the larger proportional seems to be New Zealanders from what we can tell, but do note that we don’t record data on the nationality of day walkers.” DOCs strategy and insights manager Tim Bamford said that along with the Great Walks, there were also several overnights and shorter experiences that were accessible to all New Zealanders across the country. "We are seeing a massive increase in popularity for these and Kiwis getting outdoors," he said. DOC bookings data to 31 October 2020, showed 2020/21 Great Walks bed night bookings (excluding the Milford and Routeburn tracks which were operating reduced seasons this year due to storm damage) were up 23 per cent, and 93 per cent of them were made by New Zealanders. "That is pretty extraordinary," said Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan. "And not only that, but the data also shows more people are set to undertake a Great Walk

this year than ever. "Equally surprising, across all 10 Great Walks, revenue is up to six per cent compared to the same time last year despite the loss of international visitors and the increased prices they were paying on the Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Abel Tasman Great Walks. "We know these numbers won't fully make up for the loss of international visitors to our tourism industry and economy. However, the flow-on effects will see people, regions and rural communities better supported through the current COVID crisis," Allan said. Bamford said the popularity of the Great walks was "absolutely fantastic." "We are excited to see the different types of New Zealanders and the numbers who are getting out there. It is pleasantly surprising. "The Routeburn (Aspiring National Park) opened six days ago after a delayed start due to storm damage. Even so, the revenue of this iconic walk is still up, which is phenomenal, and so is the enthusiasm for New Zealanders to get out into their back yard. To places where they haven't had the time to explore before. "The Paparoa Track on the West Coast has seen an increase on last year and bookings are up 50 per cent, which has contributed to bed nights. Bamford said: "Do I think this is a one-off? Will the internationals be back this time next year? It depends. If the borders are closed, and it's difficult for internationals to come through and Kiwis to get out, then this may continue. And hopefully, many Kiwis will get the outdoor bug from their experiences this year and come back for more."

love your hearing

Hear for the Holidays, Wanaka

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Slow progress but Luggate Hall in sight

Martin Paterson is championing the cause to get rid of the showground puddles.

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

Showground puddle problems Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Go behind the rugby clubrooms down at the showgrounds, after a shower of rain, and you will find puddles. Big ones! Saturday's shower of rain was no exception. After only 12mm of rain, the area behind the clubrooms was awash. There were even ducks, paddling around in the puddles. Author and retired farmer Martin Patterson has made it his mission to get those puddles gone. This issue is this has been like this for quite some time, he said. "I chased the ducks off when I came this morning. The ducks live in here. We've only had 12mm of rain and look at all the puddles. If we

had rain just before the show, we would have a real mess. It's not good enough. Our show is an international show-the second-biggest in New Zealand, and we can't have this. "We (the show committee) have campaigned for the Council. We asked them to do something about this two years ago. We've had assurance from the Council that something will be done and nothing happens. We think it unacceptable. This is just nonsense. "We were told that this (area) was going to be levelled out and sown over in our meeting a month ago, and nothing has happened. "If we had an inch of rain, this would be a lake. "I have pictures of ducks swimming on these puddles." Come on Council, step it up. This needs to be dealt with.

Rob Roy Glacier track to reopen in New Year

The build of the new Luggate Hall is due to start end of February.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Timing for the build of the new Luggate Hall has slipped back somewhat. The construction of the hall, due to start this year, will now not begin until the end of February 2021, according to Graham Perkins, Chairman of the Luggate Community Association. Basically, the whole thing has slipped back because of Covid, he said. “Richard Pope of APL which is a division of the Council has advised us that the hall is being pre-made down in Cromwell and will then be brought onto the site,” Perkin said. Pope told the Community Association: “We currently have the request for proposal out with prospective contractors for the main build (to put the building together on site) and have just lodged for the building consent. The requests for the proposal are to close towards the end of

PHOTO: Luggate Community Association

January when we will be appointing the main contractor at a similar timing for the building consent. If this all goes to plan construction will be starting late February. Council’s Request for Proposals for a main construction contractor is open until mid-January and we’re looking forward to construction starting soon after the appointment is made in February. People can track progress of this milestone Passive House project on the major projects page on our website,” Pope said. “We are looking forward to it,” said Perkins “We have started a special fund for it already because when it gets built it will just be the shell and we are going to have to outfit the inside. The latest fundraiser was a market that the Luggate Pub ran last weekend and the proceeds of this will go towards our Luggate Community Fund. “We have accumulated money over the last three years we have been waiting for the new hall. “It’s a slow process, but we are going to get a hall.”

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Rob Roy Glacier track should be open early next year. The track was closed back in July 2020 when the Department of Conservation (DOC) discovered a slip had undercut the route. There is a contractor working on the track at the moment although the work hadn’t been completed, a DOC representative said. “At this stage, it is possible the track will be open at the end of January depending on the weather. “There was poor weather for a while, and there was difficulty getting a contractor to do the work because they were tied up in Fiordland. “These issues slowed the rebuild down.” But contractors are expected to begin rerouting the track in the second week of January, they said. The 10km return track is enormously popular

Keeping you running fit PHOTO: DOC

The Rob Roy Glacier track offers stunning views of ice falls and steep rock faces. It attracts about 20,000 visitors a year.

with tourists offering a sedate route into a dramatic alpine landscape of ice falls and steep rock faces. It attracts up to 20,000 visitors each year. DOC said the Rob Roy Glacier could, in the meantime, be viewed from the Matukituki Valley.

Central Otago FUNERALS

As 2020 draws to an end I am sure many of us will look back on the past year as a very trying time with the implications that COVID brought us. People often commented to us that it must have been difficult coping with funerals during this time as we had restrictions on family viewings and gatherings held. While we certainly had challenges to cope with I want to acknowledge those families who were at the forefront of this. It became very important for them to hold a memorial service later on so that they and those close to them could have a fitting farewell. From the team at Central Otago Funerals—May your time at Christmas be an opportunity to connect with family again.

Office hours: 8:30am – 5pm centralotagofunerals@hotmail.co.nz 16 Ennis Street, Alexandra 9320 0800 263 863 or 03 448 8642

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Looking after all your joinery needs from design to installation. Also designer splash backs & appliance packages.

Opening hours: Monday—Friday 8:30am—6:00pm

B & M JOINERY LTD 4 Ree Crescent, Cromwell, 03 265 2077 Brendon 027 449 2291, Mark 027 768 1977

03 443 0725 • aspiringmedical.co.nz • 23 Cardrona Valley Rd

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Wānaka Primary School wins reading challenge

PHOTO: Supplied

Melissa Ashby and Wānaka Primary School donated the prize from Kraft Heinz to Kate Murray from Community Networks for the local food bank.

Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wānaka Primary School (WPS) has won this year’s Erik's Fish and Chips Reading Award - and chosen to donate the winnings to the Wānaka Food Bank. The reading challenge started last year to incentivize children in the Upper Clutha and Queenstown Lakes areas to read more, by offering any student who read five chapter books a free kids meal. The challenge was due to launch in all local primary schools this year before the Covid-19 pandemic forced it online. Over 200 children from WPS participated in the challenge, winning their school the ultimate school prize, a package of Gecko Press books valued at $500 and $500 worth of products from Kraft Heinz, for the highest number of students. Teacher in charge of the library at Wānaka

Primary School Melissa Ashby said she was blown away by the success of the programme and how it had encouraged children to read. Best of all, it was agreed that the school would donate the food products to the Wānaka Community Hub, and Ashby delivered them to Community Networks Manager Kate Murray on Monday. "It is wonderful to support families in our community during this time of the year,” she said. Murray said there were “heaps of cans” lining the shelves of the food bank now and gave a huge thank you to the students of WPS for choosing to donate their winnings - and for doing the reading which started it all. Anna Arndt from Erik's Fish and Chips said the Reading Challenge had been a great success encouraging students to read during this tough year, and one of the highlights of the program has been the positive feedback from parents and teachers.

The Council Word Libraries Fines Amnesty

Find ways to give this December

Worried about your library fines mounting up? For the month of December your local library will happily shelve fines in exchange for non-perishable food items, children’s books, toiletries and vouchers. Each item waives $5 and goods received go to Food for Love. It’s a win-win!

‘Giving’ is one of the five ways to wellbeing and a great way to look after the mental health and wellbeing of others. Once Christmas trees start popping up in homes around New Zealand, you might like to surprise someone with something you’ve made for them or bought with them in mind. For ideas on looking after yourself and others, visit www.allright.org.nz

QLDC Christmas office hours Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team at QLDC. Our offices are closed from 3pm on 24 December until 5 January. Anything urgent can still be reported 24/7 by phoning 03 441 0499.

Holiday hours at the pool Wānaka Rec Centre will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Opening hours vary on other days so check before you head out via our website qldc.govt.nz/recreation or Scuttlebutt.

Summer alcohol ban A 24 hour alcohol ban applies in Wānaka’s CBD between 24 December and 6 January. If you’re planning a gathering that includes a drink or two in a public place, please follow any signs in the area or check the maps on the QLDC website first. Nobody wants to end up paying $250 just for a couple of drinks.

www.qldc.govt.nz PAGE 6

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

The community gardens at the Wānaka Community Hub are bursting to life with a huge range of fruits and veges after all the rain and sunshine in the past two weeks. Coordinated by LINK Upper Clutha, the project aims to bring together community groups, families and individuals interested in growing vegetables who may not have the space, resources, or knowledge to do so at home. Vicki Wise, pictured here, is one of the gardeners.

r a e y w e n & s a Christm opening hours

Draft Shotover River Bylaw 2021 We’re proposing a new draft Shotover River Bylaw 2021 which retains the same restrictions on public access to the Concession Area in the current bylaw, along with a number of minor amendments. Check out the draft at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz and have your say now. Submissions close at 5.00pm on Monday 25 January 2021.

Snap, Send and Solve with QLDC If you spot an issue in the community you can now raise it with Council using an app on your phone called Snap Send Solve. The app is a simple, free and fast way to send QLDC ‘Fix It’ requests, meaning the next time you spot a pesky water leak on the road outside your house or a fallen tree blocking a trail, snap it then send it and QLDC will solve it. You can download the Snap Send Solve app on Google Play and the Apple Store.

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qldc.govt.nz/recreation THURSDAY 17.12.20 - WEDNESDAY 23.12.20

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Keep an eye on water use this summer Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

With the Queenstown Lakes District already having experienced significant increases in water use over the past month, locals are being asked to monitor their personal usage as the warmer summer months approach. Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) would like to remind residents to use water wisely in order to help avoid the need for summer water restrictions. QLDC Infrastructure Operations Manager Simon Mason said there were plenty of ways to cut down on water use, but highlighted a particular need for reasonable irrigation. “A major source of summer water use lies with

irrigating gardens and lawns. To help both your garden and the community, we suggest watering your garden in the evening or, if possible, set a timer to water it overnight. Irrigating between 10.00pm and 6.00am avoids water loss through evaporation, and helps to reduce the strain on our infrastructure during the daytime peak demand periods.” “Other easy wins could be to fix any water leaks you may have at home, and to reduce your shower times,” Mason said. “By making these simple changes we can potentially avoid water restrictions this summer.” For more tips about saving water, please visit QLDC’s water conservation page here: www.qldc.govt.nz/services/water-services/ water-supply/water-

Flyovers to monitor land disturbance

ORC is taking to the skies to determine land use.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is once more taking to the skies for a bird’s eye view on land use in the region this week, to monitor for land disturbance from forestry and land developments. ORC Manager Compliance Tami Sargeant said the flights were a good chance to spot land disturbances and discharges of contaminants to water. “Land disturbance from these operations, if proper measures are not taken, can lead to sediment and nutrients from the ground running off into waterways. One of the advantages of these flights is being able to spot issues that are harder to see on the ground.” Another objective of the flights is to help farmers prepare for new winter grazing requirements.

PHOTO: ORC

“Our usual winter flyovers are mainly monitoring for land disturbances and discharges of contaminants to water. The benefit of doing these flights during summer is the ability to spot potential risks for the environment and have a proactive conversation with landowners, rather than investigating discharges after the fact. “It’s part of our collaborative, education-first approach to compliance monitoring across Otago,” Sargeant said. Any potential issues spotted from the air will be followed up on the ground in consultation with the landowner concerned. ORC’s Rural Liaison Team are more than happy to visit Otago farms and help develop a strategic grazing plan for anyone who would like advice on managing their forage crop this winter. To get in touch with the team, contact rural@orc. govt.nz, or call 0800 474 082.

INBRIEF Tractor drivers wanted The Wānaka Tractor Club is putting out a call out for drivers of Allan Dippie’s collection of 200 vintage tractors. These will be on display (and in running order) at the grand parade at Easter’s Wheels at Wānaka event, and drivers are needed. Well over 400 tractors were on display at the first Wheels at Wānaka event last year. The first meeting of the club is scheduled for the end of January. So a retired farmer? Or just someone interested in old machinery. You are needed. Serious car crash There was a serious car crash last Friday morning when two cars collided on SH6 next to the bridge across the Cardrona River just east of Wānaka. A helicopter was called to the scene, arriving at about 11am to assist emergency services. St John and Fire and Emergency arrived at the scene at about 10.30am. There were reports of at least one person being trapped. Drug haul in Queenstown More than 2400 MDMA pills with a street value of about $125,000, LSD tabs, cannabis and more than $5000 in cash have been seized by Queenstown police. Officers searched several properties on Wednesday morning, resulting in the arrest of at least six people in relation to the supply of class A, B and C drugs. Senior Sergeant Paula Enoka said the operation targeted the ongoing supply of MDMA in the Queenstown area. “High levels of MDMA have been detected in the Queenstown water supply and local bar owners have noticed the effect drug use was having on their establishments and were worried about the safety of their patrons,” she said. Lake Wānaka SouNZ Incorporated announces YAMI 2021 The biennial YAMI Sounz Summit, (Youth & Adults in the Music Industry) returns to Wānaka for its fifth event, over the weekend of May 8 & 9 in 2021. Held during New Zealand Music Month, YAMI hosts a weekend of music workshops and panels, culminating in concerts open to the public. Music professionals share their wealth of knowledge on the many areas of the industry to its participants. Open to ages 10 to 110, the summit offers workshops and panels, covering topics such as song writing, djing, demo recording, marketing and funding. Director Lynne Christie has noted that lockdown proved a productive time for many creatives. “It’s a tough time for our musicians,” she

said, “so YAMI provides that perfect opportunity to gain strength, ideas and networks.” Feeling crafty? Join the markets Held every Thursday from 3 until 6pm, the Wānaka Artisan Market is opening its doors to the community. The most popular market of the year is the Christmas eve market held on Pembroke Park, and organisers are calling out to locals to get crafty and have a stall. Market committee Chair Samantha Stout said: “Locals have always supported the Thursday markets and we want to say thanks by opening our doors on the busiest market day of the year and give people an opportunity to sell items they have made” You don’t have to be a maker to enjoy the markets - for the past three years the Wānaka Artisan Market Christmas eve market has been a favorite of locals and visitors alike for special Christmas gifts, last minute shopping and tasty treats for the Christmas table. Email hello@wanakaartisanmarket.co.nz if you are interested in having a stall. Buy and stack your firewood now The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is encouraging people to buy and stack their firewood for next winter now, ensuring it will have time to dry out before winter, meaning less air pollution from home heating. ORC Air Quality Scientist Sarah Harrison said preparation was the key to better home heating with firewood. “When winter comes around, dry firewood means more efficient home-heating, and less air pollution from smoke hanging over our towns. That’s why we strongly encourage people to get their firewood early, stack it well to ensure that airflow enables it to dry out and burn only dry wood in the colder months.” As well as being better for the environment, dry wood will burn more efficiently, allowing people to get more out of their wood burner. Making Southland’s Homer Tunnel even safer Work has started on a $25million safety upgrade of Southland’s Homer Tunnel on SH94 providing a welcome economic boost for the Te Anau and Milford Sound Piopiotahi communities, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. In July this year, the Government announced the funding for this project to improve the safety and resilience of the Homer Tunnel, which opened in 1953. Waka Kotahi’s Milford Road Alliance has made a start on $3million worth of “shovel ready” smaller safety improvements that came out of recommendations of an investigation into a car fire in the tunnel at the beginning of 2020.

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Reusable Christmas bags go viral Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Almost 6km of ribbon and 2km of fabric that’s what it takes to make a Merry Waste Free Christmas, as Emma Conyngham has discovered. Three Christmases ago, rebelling against the vast amounts of post-Christmas waste - and the fact that the vast majority of Christmas wrapping paper is non-recyclable - she started making colourful fabric gift bags at home for her friends and family. Last October, after deciding to take her creations online, her Merry Waste Free Christmas website went viral. Launch products sold out in twelve hours - and once restocked, she watched in panic as her phone started shutting down, unable to process the influx of orders after being featured on New Zealand-made product site Chooice. “I never thought there would be so much demand,” said Conyngham. But what tells her that the waste free Christmas revolution is here to stay is that customers are coming back for more. She sold sets of 6 bags, then 10, then 34 - and demand is only growing, as evidenced by her employee roll of twelve women from Wānaka, Queenstown, Cromwell

and Alexandra. Some of these women, who had lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, were working 60 hours a week to meet demand, whilst others were working, retired or disabled (using adjusted sewing machines) and doing what they could. Conyngham envisioned that her business would become part of the local waste minimisation movement alongside initiatives like Waste Free Wanda and Plastic Free Wānaka's 'SUC Free Wānaka' project. “I want every retailer in Wānaka and Queenstown to be offering reusable gift bags,” she said. “They are made locally by women at home, so that will go back into our economy.” She also hoped to produce themed sets for all our big holidays - such as ring, chocolate and bubbles bags for Valentine’s Day - alongside yearround birthday gift bags, set to be on offer from March (“it depends how fast I can move!”). Her biggest goal was to be featured in the wrapping paper sections of stationers nationwide. She was on the hunt for seed funders and business mentors to help make that happen, and asked for anyone with the relevant skill sets to make themselves known.

PHOTO: Supplied

Emma Conyngham: “I want every retailer in Wānaka and Queenstown to be offering reusable gift bags.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i Temporary Alcohol Restrictions – Queenstown & Wānaka

QLDC Draft Shotover River Bylaw 2021

In accordance with clause 1.11 of the Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2018, and section 147B of the Local Government Act 2002, a 48 hour temporary alcohol restriction will be in place in the Queenstown and Wānaka Town Centres.

Council is seeking feedback on the draft Shotover River Bylaw 2021.

The temporary restrictions will be in place from 8.00am Friday 25 December 2020 to 6.00am Sunday 27 December 2020. The ordinary alcohol restrictions still apply from 8.00pm on Thursday 24 December 2020 until 8.00am on 25 December 2020, and from 6.00am Sunday 27 December 2020 until 6.00am Wednesday 6 January 2021.

The draft bylaw, summary and statement of proposal are available for public consultation from Friday 11 December 2021 on the Council’s website letstalk.qldc.govt.nz or from the Council offices at 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown, 74 Shotover Street, Queenstown or 47 Ardmore Street, Wānaka and every library in the district. Any person or organisation has a right to comment on the draft bylaw and Council encourages everyone with an interest in the draft Shotover River Bylaw 2021 in the Queenstown Lakes District to do so.

The temporary alcohol restriction will include the following areas for Queenstown:

Submissions should be completed online at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz; or emailed to letstalk@qldc.govt.nz with the words “Shotover River Bylaw 2021 Submission” in the subject line, or posted to Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348.

The whole of the Lake Wakatipu foreshore area from the One Mile roundabout to Park Street including the Queenstown Gardens;

Written submissions must be dated and signed by you and must include the following information:

The area from the foreshore to an outer boundary formed by and including Lake Esplanade, Lake Street, Man Street, Memorial Street, Stanley Street, Coronation Drive, Park Street to the Lake Wakatipu foreshore area directly adjacent to Queenstown Gardens, Boundary Street; and

Queenstown Recreation Reserve adjacent to the Memorial Centre.

• • • •

Your name, postal address and telephone number. If possible, please also include an email address. Your submission on each aspect you wish to address, with reasons to support your view. Whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission. Whether you would consider making a joint submission.

Submissions must be received no later than 5.00pm on Monday 25 January 2021.

The temporary alcohol restriction will include the following areas for Wānaka: a.

The whole of the Lake Wānaka foreshore area from Sunrise Bay/Edgewater to Penrith Park; and

The area from the foreshore to an outer boundary formed by and including Meadowstone Drive, Stone Street, Golf Course Road, Macpherson Street, State Highway 84 and Ardmore Street.

Further information regarding the temporary alcohol restrictions can be found on the QLDC website at www.qldc. govt.nz/services/alcohol-licensing/alcohol-restrictions-in-public-places

New Years Eve Firework Displays – Lakes Wakatipu/Wānaka 2020/21 Public Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Queenstown Lakes District Navigation and Safety Bylaws 2018 that Bylaws 31 and 43 have been uplifted to ensure the safety of all users. This uplifting/reservation applies to both Queenstown Bay and the main waterfront area of Roys Bay, Lake Wānaka. Date: Thursday 31 December 2020 to Friday 1 January 2021. Queenstown Bay restrictions - once the firework barge is on it’s mooring around 200 metres from the main beach in Queenstown Bay at around 7.00pm on Thursday 31 December 2020, all boats shall maintain a separation of at least 50 metres. During the fireworks firing, vessels shall either be on the main beach moored to a jetty or 200 metres away. Roys Bay, Lake Wānaka restrictions - fireworks will be let off from two pontoons around 200 metres from the shore adjacent to the main town pier. Once these pontoons are in position around 6.00pm on Thursday 31 December 2020, all vessels shall maintain a separation of 50 metres. During the fireworks firing, vessels shall be 200 metres away. These restrictions are necessary in the interests of public safety, especially in Queenstown Bay. The directions of the Harbourmaster and/or all authorised Council personnel are to be followed at all times.

Late submissions or oral submissions (without prior written material) will only be accepted where exceptional circumstances apply. All submissions and the name of individuals/organisations making submissions will be treated as public information.

Notice of Intention to Grant Lease Variation Over Recreation Reserve PURSUANT TO SECTION 114 RESERVES ACT 1977 The land described in the Schedule to this Notice (the Land) is vested in the Queenstown Lakes District Council pursuant to Section 26A of the Reserves Act 1977 as recreation reserve. Upper Clutha A & P Society is seeking a lease variation for the purpose of their building to provide for ‘Other community organisations purposes (being noncommercial activities which support the function and needs of the Upper Clutha community)’. The land is located on the corner of Ardmore and McDougall streets, Wanaka and is known as the Wanaka Showgrounds. The Council is considering granting the lease variation pursuant to Section 114 of the Reserves Act 1977. Pursuant to Sections 114 and 119 of the Reserves Act 1977 the Council has an obligation to publicly notify its intention to grant such lease by way of this Notice. Any person or organisation may object to the Council granting the lease referred to above or make submissions with respect to the said lease variation. More information can be obtained from the Council’s agent, APL Property Queenstown Ltd, PO Box 1586, Queenstown, phone 4427133 or email queenstown@aplproperty.co.nz Submissions will be required no later than 10 February 2021 and should be sent to APL Property as above. Schedule: The reserve is legally described as part section 12 Block XV Town of Wanaka. THIS NOTICE is given on behalf of Queenstown Lakes District Council by APL Property Queenstown Limited, PO Box 1586, Queenstown, phone 4427133.

Dated at Queenstown 17 December 2020 Authorised by Harbourmaster M A Black

Private Bag 50072 | 47 Ardmore Street Wānaka Phone 03 443 0024 | www.qldc.govt.nz

PAGE 8

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Sun News

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Wānaka Primary student wins Young Leader Award Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wānaka Primary student Hannah Radford (11) was last week awarded a BLAKE Young Leader Award for her enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to her peers and the natural world. Sir Peter Blake was a New Zealand leader, explorer, and environmentalist. The annual BLAKE Awards have been taking place since 2005 and recognise outstanding New Zealand leaders who follow in his footsteps and continue to exemplify his extraordinary kiwi ‘can do’ spirit. The Young Leader Award, in association with Westpac, recognises young people who have shown promising leadership in their schools and communities. Westpac staff around New Zealand present an award to a student in each primary and intermediate school that participates, as selected by teachers and peers. Pod 8 teacher Markus Hermanns, who

nominated Radford for the award, said she was a “a very mature, compassionate and wellmannered young leader who is a true role model to all her peers.” “With her affectionate and kind nature as well as her well-developed leadership skills, she can assist all other students in our pod (collaborative learning space with 125 students and 5 teachers) and school (600 students) with their learning,” he added. Radford is involved in a number of leadership groups within the school, including the Touchstone Project - which looks at how to best protect Lake Wānaka and its catchment - and the Wānaka Primary School Backyard Trapping group, which monitors and traps pests around the school grounds. “She passionately supports both groups with her broad knowledge around these topics and her proactive engagement and motivation,” said Hermanns.

Alpha Challenge a hit with locals and out-of-towners

PHOTOS: Supplied

Fit Collective Manager Kim Parry: “2020 has been a pretty tough year for many and we wanted to end it on a high.”

Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wānaka obstacle course event the Alpha Challenge had its inaugural race last Saturday at Dublin Bay. Set against an epic backdrop, the challenge comprised a 5km, 10km, or six hour relay over a 3km course as well as a mini Alpha kids race, and had entrants jumping over walls and swinging on monkey bars before relaxing with friends in the festival atmosphere at the finish line. The event was set up by local gym the Fit Collective as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic stopping them taking groups to Spartan races overseas. Manger Kim Parry said: “We decided to put on something that could hopefully bring people to Wānaka to support our local tourism providers and also to be able to raise money for Community Networks Mental Health.

“We wanted this year’s event to be a celebration and a chance to take the fear out of obstacle course racing and events and show how much fun it is and what a great thing it is to do with friends and family. 2020 has been a pretty tough year for many and we wanted to end it on a high.” 40 per cent of participants came from out of town, but Wānaka local Carissa Saxby took out the 10km competitive women's event and Rhys Cunningham the men’s. There were many people who came to enjoy the day non-competitively, including a group of Mint Collective kids. Dean Langham, from Nelson, said it was a “fantastic event… such welcoming people that catered to us competitive folk and the social runners alike. “We are already planning 2021 with more obstacles and challenges and will be applying to become an obstacle course world champs qualifier,” said Parry.

PHOTO: Supplied

Year 6 student Hannah Radford with teacher and nominator Markus Hermanns and a representative from Westpac, who presented Radford with the award.

Central Lakes Trust (CLT) has appointed new trustee, Kathy Grant, effective 1 December 2020. Grant’s appointment replaced Michael Sidey who stepped down after completing a three-year term on the board. CLT chair, Linda Robertson welcomed Kathy to the board and acknowledged Michael’s contribution to the Trust. “I wish to thank Michael for his excellent and valuable contribution to the Trust over the past three years. The knowledge and expertise he has contributed around the board table will be missed. “We welcome Kathy, and look forward to the contribution she will undoubtedly make over the coming term.” Kathy brings extensive governance experience and knowledge in the education, commercial and health sectors. A Taieri resident, Kathy is the first trustee to be appointed to the board from outside of the Central Lakes region.

PHOTO: Central Lakes Trust

Wānaka Bowlers to the fore One of the premier bowls events in the season is the Central Otago Bowls Night n’ Day Mixed Pairs. This was held over the weekend of December 12/13 at the Queenstown Bowling Club. As usual, the event attracted the top bowlers from clubs throughout Central Otago and there were many very tight matches and close finishes. The field was eventually whittled down to 11 qualifiers and eventually the finalists were found to be Richie Muir (Wānaka) playing with Christine Buchanan (Queenstown and Tom Malcolm and Marilyn Steel (both Wānaka) This was an extremely hard-fought match with all players demonstrating pin point accuracy

and clever tactics. The majority of ends were very tight. It was ’tit for tat’ for much of the game but in the end Richie Muir and Christine Buchanan eased ahead to win the Centre title 17-12. To have three PHOTO: Peter Wilson Wānaka Bowling Club members in the final of this prestigious event was, in itself, a real achievement. – By Peter Wilson

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THE WĀNAKA SUN

THURSDAY 17.12.20 - WEDNESDAY 23.12.20

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PAGE 9

Sun News

HIKING COLUMN

The Hāwea River Track

thewanakasun.co.nz

MAC uniform goes to non-local supplier

After a lengthy process, the new uniform is set to be rolled out from Term 2 next year.

Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Joanna Perry

Only one of us was hot enough to brave a swim in the cold water of Lake Hāwea.

Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

It was a beautiful walk, but the start of the Hāwea River Track didn’t have quite enough river for me or my four-legged sometimes walking companion Sabai. After some self-inflicted confusion about where I was supposed to park, which involved me taking a road in my tiny Mitsubishi that would have been bumpy even in a 4WD truck, we found our way through the Albert Town campground to the Hāwea swing bridge. We were met on the other side with two choices, the Newcastle Track or the Hāwea River Track, and - it being a hot day and Sabai being a particularly furry dog - we chose the Hāwea River for its promise of, well, the river... Unfortunately, crossing the swing bridge was the last water or shade we saw for a little while,

and after a couple of kilometres, swim-loving Sabai started looking at me with increasing suspicion that I had tricked her. The cheek! We rejoined the river after a while - although it was another minute or two before we found a way to climb down and into the water. Once all had been forgiven, a soggy Sabai and I continued along the 12km trail, accompanied by the usual Wānaka suspects - mountains, crystal waters and native forest - as well as some less usual. Even if you aren’t an adrenaline junkie, it’s definitely worth stopping off to watch the kayakers and bodyboarders enjoying the Hāwea Whitewater Park, which offers about the only surf opportunity in Central Otago (except on a really windy day). I emerged into Hāwea a little sunburnt and in need of an ice cream - but only one of us was hot enough to brave one last swim in the cold water of Lake Hāwea.

After over three years, Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) new uniform is set to be rolled out from Term 2 next year - but the selection of a non-local supplier has caused upset. Jennifer Rumore, a local business owner and MAC parent, said she was “shocked” when she learned that Wānaka’s Apparel Studio - the supplier of the current MAC uniform, as well as her business’ uniforms - had not been chosen to supply the new one. A design option for the new uniform was first put together for community feedback in March 2020, following four separate surveys which were sent to parents over the course of two years. It was after this design was displayed at the school and the Wānaka A&P show - and during the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown - that Caroline Wigg, owner of Apparel Studio, was approached by Shona Brown (parent representative on the Board of Trustees (BoT) and member of the Uniform Committee) to put forward her proposal for the uniform. It was particularly difficult to put together a proposal over lockdown, said Wigg, but she “worked really hard” to do so, and included pricing in her submission as requested. Yet, according to Dr Ian Hall, Chair of the MAC BoT, pricing had yet to be agreed with the College’s chosen supplier, The Uniform Group - an Auckland-based company working across New Zealand.

PHOTO: MAC

Wigg, who was disappointed that none of her design options or prices were put in front of parents, said the College had “settled” with her in a meeting by buying all remaining stock of the existing uniform and asking Apparel Studios to continue to supply the physical education T-shirt for next year. “It’s a hard time for everybody, especially local businesses,” she said. Rumore said that MAC’s decision was not in line with the ‘LoveWānaka, Supporting Local’ campaign that the Chamber of Commerce had been pushing since lockdown. Hall responded that the consideration of proposals for the supply of the refreshed uniform, which was to be introduced in term 2 next year, had been “lengthy and robust.” “All companies who were invited to present proposals were treated even-handedly, and with every consideration,” he said. “After due consideration, the Board decided to award the contract to The Uniform Group, a New Zealand owned company with a strong reputation of providing excellent service to a large number of New Zealand schools. Various factors were considered in arriving at a final decision. “Samples of the agreed uniform have been seen by the Uniform Committee and the agreed pricing will be published to the school community in the New Year. “The supply of the College's physical education and sports uniforms will continue to be provided by Apparel Studios.”

Track your inactivity, these holidays. Galaxy Watch Active

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PAGE 10

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THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Environment

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Problematic PET gets the red card

GREBE DIARY 2

December 15, 2020

PHOTO: Wastebusters

PHOTO: John Darby

There were the makings of a nest on the transom itself. It appeared that the builders were the pair in the water and that the bird in the boat was an interloper.

I should have introduced the new “grebe man” to you in my first diary a week or so back. I am delighted to report that Markus Hermanns has agreed to take the grebe programme over. Markus is a teacher at Wānaka Primary School, and I came to know him from when I sat in on classroom sessions and talks, demonstrations and field trips on Lake Wānaka by freshwater scientist Chris Arbuckle. Chris runs the Touchstone project. The ease and rapport Markus has with the children are impressive in and out of the classroom. Markus and I work together at weekends and evenings on the grebes, and it is so lovely and special when children from Markus’s class; smiles on their faces run up to greet him. My first grebe diary of this breeding season mostly concerned itself with the damage that a particularly fierce wind gust did to more than half the nests under study. For a brief time after that wind, there appeared to be a renewed enthusiasm of nest building, but much of that was yet again destroyed by another “blow”, leaving us with just three viable nests by the December 3. Three more nests were added by the 7th and by the 13th eleven nests with 29 eggs between them. One of those new ones is number one, just north of the marina bridge. My attention was drawn to a fight between three grebes a few

days ago. One was on the transom of a boat, and two appeared to be trying to get onto the transom. There were the makings of a nest on the transom itself. It appeared that the builders were the pair in the water and that the bird in the boat was an interloper. Markus moved a new platform into the area close by, moved the nest from the boat to the new platform, and within hours the birds had settled for the substitute, and within two days, the first of the eggs arrived. Other desperate attempts included a nest on an outboard motor and one on a pontoon. The pontoon birds had laid an egg, which we marked and quickly transferred to a pair that had located a safer place. We will follow that with interest. With all of this loss, destruction and renewal, most birds re-nested within a day or so of each other. Most eggs will hatch over the first week of January I know that the folk at Hawea are excited that their grebes are due to hatch their eggs this week. My calculation is for 14-16 December. If they make it on the 14th, they can celebrate the occasion in conjunction with those who can recall celebrating the birthday of the late King George VI. He was born December 14, 1895, and had he still be alive he would be 125 and memorable. – By John Darby

Ben Taylor and Lucie Prochaskova show off some of the plastic bottles & containers that can be recycled at Wastebusters

Wastebusters' commitment to real recycling can sometimes force us to change the materials we accept for recycling, as reprocessing options change and global recycling matures. To ensure we're transparent with everyone who recycles with us, we've had to reduce the number of plastics we can accept for recycling. From the start of December, Wastebusters can no longer take coloured PET (#1), plastic meat trays, biscuit trays or veggie punnets for recycling, as sadly, we don't have anywhere in New Zealand or overseas to send them for reprocessing. You can still bring us your clear #1 plastic bottles, your #2 bottles and containers, and your #5 containers for recycling. The good news is that they will all be reprocessed onshore in New Zealand, which is awesome. So why has Wastebusters had to stop recycling these other plastics? For some it's the colour I'm looking at you coloured PET - that makes it undesirable to reprocessors because of the murky, dirty hue it produces. For some, it's because contamination gets in the way of recycling stuff that in a perfect world could be recycled. PET meat-trays are a good example. Our reprocessor turns our clear PET (#1) bottles into clear PET products like trays and punnets from recycled PET. Unfortunately, because of the high risk of contamination by trays made from different plastics, like PVC (#3), our reprocessor won't accept PET trays and punnets for recycling. We're

hopeful a government proposal to ban hard-torecycle plastics #3 and #6 will come into effect, and this hurdle can be overcome. As part of our commitment to real recycling, we have to adapt as the industry grows and matures. And as part of our commitment to zero waste, we have to acknowledge recycling isn't a silver bullet. The reality is that only a small portion of plastic packaging is accepted by reprocessors to be made into new stuff. Moving up the waste hierarchy, we need to think of reducing the packaging we bring into our homes, reusing and refilling where possible. There is an increased number of local bulk food and market veggie retailers, and loads of reuse opportunities - think reusable water bottles and coffee cups, milk in glass bottles. And while it's depressing if you still end up putting more waste in the rubbish bin, a transparent recycling system will help producers and manufacturers make better packaging decisions in the long run. So think reduce and reuse where you can, and opt for stuff in easily recyclable materials like glass, cans and tins. When choosing products packaged in plastic, look for a number 1, 2 or 5 in the little triangle which is usually found on the bottom of bottles/containers. If you get stuck, email me (ruth@wastebusters.co.nz) a photo of the product, and I'll let you know if it can be recycled. With any luck, I might even be able to get back to you before you leave the supermarket. – By Ruth Blunt, Wastebusters

Beautiful design. Brilliant functionality. And really, really easy to wrap. Galaxy TAB A 8” Wi-Fi Tablet

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PAGE 11

Sun Sport

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MAC students perform well at athletics champs

PHOTO: Two DNFs for Alice Robinson

Alice Robinson and her coaches during inspection before the World Cup Giant Slalom in Courchevel, France.

Two DNFs for Alice Robinson Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

It was a “tough day in the office for the Kiwi Team” at the FIS World Cup Giant Slalom in Courchevel, France last weekend as Queenstown alpine ski racer Alice Robinson received a DNF (did not finish) in both races of the double up event. For the first race on Saturday, the weather conditions were tough with snow falling throughout the duration of the race, resulting in variable visibility and fresh snow on the course. Snow Sports NZ communications manager Britt Hawes said Robinson “attacked the course with her trademark aggressive skiing but struggled to quickly find the course rhythm, which was the key to this course.” Part way down the course on her second run, she lost her left ski as she came around a gate at speed, resulting in a crash and a DNF. On day two, after a 24-hour postponement due to snow surface conditions, Robinson had a good inspection, came out of the start gate firing and

was up 12 hundredths of a second on the first split. “She lost some pace through the second and third splits and got hung up as she came around the third to last gate, resulting in a crash at the second to last gate,” said Hawes. Robinson’s coach Chris Knight had set the course for run one, in what was the first time New Zealand has ever been awarded a World Cup Giant Slalom course set. New Zealand was awarded this historic course set due to Robinson’s outstanding World Cup success over the past year, and she had gone into the races saying she had confidence “knowing that the course is set to my advantage. However, I still have to ski my best to take advantage of it.” Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) was crowned the winner, her time 82 hundredths of a second faster than Federica Brignone (ITA) in second place. Tessa Worley (FRA) rounded out the podium in third. Robinson has an opportunity for redemption on Sunday, December 20, where she will be racing in the World Cup Super G in Val d'Isere, France.

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PHOTO: Lincoln Bruce

The MAC athletics team, one of the strongest in Central Otago, performed well and the New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Champs last weekend. From left to right are: Estelle Gellatly, Abby Fisher, Millie East, Georgie Bruce, Niamh Townsend and Scarlett Norman.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Champs were held in Tauranga over the last weekend. The Mount Aspiring College (MAC) team consisted of Georgie Bruce, Millie East, Abby Fisher, Estelle Gellatly, Scarlett Norman and Niamh Townsend. Abby Fisher won the bronze medal in the senior girls 200m. Millie East, Abby Fisher, Georgie Bruce and Niamh Townsend won the silver medal in the senior girls 4x100m relay and Estelle Gellatly, Georgie Bruce, Millie East and Abby Fisher won the silver medal in the senior girls 4x400m relay. Lincoln Bruce, a teacher at MAC was the team manager and coordinator. MAC is one of the stronger Otago schools in athletics, he said. “We have some great coaches in Michael and Barbara Beable. Michael Beable is a former national coach.

“So we have this squad of kids who have trained regularly together and others who didn’t go to nationals but who are part of the squad,” he said. “The kids that went up to the champs were a mixture- some who were in year nine and then others who were year twelve. So that’s 14-yearolds up to 16-year-old.” At the nationals, there are only two grades- the junior grade which was under 16 and the 16 and over grade, Bruce said. “This is the first national event in the athlete's calendar. Most athletes going to the nationals will be competing regularly for their club and so are pretty committed to their sport. “A couple will be going to the South Island Coalgate Games which is for 7 to 14-yearolds, held in Nelson. That is the school and club nationals. “One or two might go to the New Zealand club nationals next year in March. “In February will be the Otago School Champs followed by the South Island School Champs. “It ends up that the athletes are training all year round with only a month off,” Bruce said.

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EDITORIAL

More great walks would be a good thing

The Milford Track is one of ten Great Walks that this year is attracting a record number of people.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

On page 4 is an article about the popularity of the Great Walks this year and the relative inactivity on other “normal” tramping tracks within Aspiring National Park. There are I think nine Great Walks in New Zealand (or maybe ten now with the addition of the Paparoa Track) and they include the Milford Track, the Heaphy, Abel Tasman and Routeburn. Walking these is highly regulated – bookings are necessary, you have to pay and you can only walk a certain distance every day to avoid crowding the huts. Way back in 1978 my friend Chris and I did a three-month traverse of the Southern Alps, from Foveaux Strait to Cook Strait following the divide. We were very young being 17 years and 18 years respectively – quite capable physically of doing it but psychologically it took its toll on us. We missed family and friends and in those days you didn't see as many people in the hills as you do today. So we got a bit lonely at times. It was worse when the weather was bad. At one stage, after slogging our way up through Fiordland rain and bog for several weeks we got onto the Milford Track. In some ways, it was heaven- a beautiful track and a warm dry hut every night. A change from our

PHOTO: NZ.com

soggy tent. We even carried a pumpkin and a cabbage along with us so that we could eat decent meals. A respite from the dehy food we had become used to. But we treated the experience with disdain. No self-respecting tramper/ mountaineer would rate the Milford Track as an achievement. What's more, we went on to climb up onto the Routeburn Track and treated it the same way. We were better than that. We were way too hardcore and were only using the tracks to get into the more remote, more challenging country. How times have changed! These days I have a completely different take on it. If we are to manage our burgeoning tourist industry and get value for money from it, we need to be offering more of the likes of the Great Walks. Tourists (and Kiwis) need to be paying considerable amounts of money to enjoy our great outdoors, and they need to be regulated to reduce the impact on the environment. The Great Walks do all this. Plus they offer a premium experience with high standard tracks and huts which can only add to our reputation as a quality international tourist destination. So bring on more Great Walks. The DartRees would be a good example. Regulate the heck out of our outdoors and support our environment. There is still plenty of country out there for the hardcore.