Views

Springing into bowls

Where many bowling clubs are focused on the summer season, the Wānaka Bowling Club offers bowls all year round - in the summer on their outside green and in the winter in the comfort of the Club’s Indoor Stadium.

With the Covid lockdown, the transition from the winter programme to the upcoming outdoor summer programme has been somewhat disrupted, but with the move to Level 2 things are certainly starting to happen.

The mainstay of the winter programme - the Neil Studholme Trophy - came to a very sudden stop with the latest lockdown. It’s been a great competition this year and such a shame that the last two ‘finals’ days have yet to be played - and may not.

As it stands the teams have finished in the final order after 20 weeks of round robin play - Top Four: Meadowstone 1 Mt Albert 2. Hāwea Blue 3, Beacon Point 4. Bottom Four: Pembroke 5, Rippon West Meadows 6 Hāwea Gold 7, Village 8.

Usually, we have the semi-finals in the second to last week of play and the final on the last week. With Covid conditions applying, the summer season has opened quietly with bowls only allowed on the outside green with its new mat, laid during the winter. Thankfully Wānaka has had some extremely nice days that have seen members enjoying bowling outside.

The first major event in the season is the annual women’s Spring into Bowls Tournament on today (Thursday). This annual triples tournament is open to outside teams. This year there are 14 outside teams and two Wānaka teams competing. It is an event that is thoroughly enjoyed by all participating Central Otago Clubs.

Next week will feature the Matt Ecroyd/ Bayley’s Mixed Triples tournament that was such a great success last year.

Covid allowing, it will be a busy summer bowling season that will include weekly men’s and women’s social bowls, Friday progressive

Club with a view – An aerial view of action at the club.

bowls, club championship events for both men and women, trade bowls, men’s pennants on Wednesdays and Saturday against Central Otago Clubs, women’s inter-club events, plus events at other clubs, centre events and representative fixtures.

On top of all that the club hosts many business groups (and the like) who enjoy late afternoon bowls assisted by club members, followed by a social time and something to eat.

The Club is forging links with Mt Aspiring College and this year had a delightful group of students doing an NCEA module in Bowls and working to achieve the required standards.

Let’s hope for a full season of enjoyable bowls.

– By Peter Wilson

Muster with a difference

Through the Covid mist, a ray of sunshine brought smiles to the cross-country skiing community in Wānaka after Level D2 put paid to the Merino Muster.

Merino Muster is a cross country ski event similar to a city marathon where the elite compete alongside recreational skiers.

In its place, the organising committee designed an event to meet Covid Level 2 criteria to allow skiers to enjoy a fun event at Snow Farm on Saturday.

Young and old had the opportunity to compete for the best fancy dress and the best mask as well as ski four distances - 7km, 14km and 21km and an Under 10 1km.

More than 100 skiers completed the distance of their choice. It was back to the old days with registration on the day and no entry fees.

The usual merino lamb dinner and prize giving was replaced by a BBQ on the snow on completion.

Wānaka’s Campbell Wright blitzed the 21km Men's event. He is preparing to head to Italy to train in the Dolomites for the Biathlon world cup season. Second was Jason Sklenar from Wānaka and third Jason MacDonald from Dunedin. The women’s was won by Sonja Mueller from Dunedin with Mount Aspiring student Olivia Jones second and Rachel Brown from Hāwea third.

Steve Malushnig, Hāwea, dressed in traditional Austrian attire won the men’s 14km with David O’Sullivan second and Ian McNabb, Wānaka, third. The women’s 21km race went to Kathy Deacon from Invercargill while Baxter Pollard, Wānaka, skied strongly to win the 7km and the women’s 7km was clearly won by Hana Jones, also of Wānaka.

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Hello again Wānaka.

Well with us settling into our level 2 lifestyle things are looking a little bit more normal in and around Wānaka. With that in mind what a mixed bag of offerings your local Police have had this week.

A petrol drive-off from a service station is resulting in further enquires as a registration number was taken and the driver has been named. Hopefully this will be resolved quickly.

A Lewis Hamilton understudy also decided to plant his foot this week and was captured on radar at 88kph in a 40 zone. He didn’t see the Police vehicle behind him and blew an alcohol level which provided him with a fine and 50 demerits. Coupled with the 28-day suspension of driver’s licence for the speed, it was not a good choice of actions.

A trespass notice was issued to a homeowner who was becoming very frustrated with contractors working on a property beside his until early evening. We know the lockdown had knock on effects regarding timings for building and such, but with that in mind, tradies should also be aware of how much noise pollution can be caused on site and how frustrating it can be those living beside it.

A timely reminder also this week of how road conditions can change and how becoming distracted while driving can have severe consequences. Police had to humanely destroy a deer which had been hit by a vehicle on the Lake Hāwea - Albert Town highway on Thursday night. There was evidence of two other deer also having been hit in the same area. So, watch your speed and watch out for stock on the road - they don’t have much in the way of road sense. On Saturday a driver had a very lucky escape after becoming distracted while driving on SH6 near the Wānaka Airport and losing control of her vehicle. The vehicle rolled approximately five times before a fence post entered the vehicle. She sustained no injuries and may have used up all her luck towards a Lotto win.

Police have been kept busy with more Family Harm incidents this week with a range of actions from warnings to arrests being made. Please remember help is there and always available. Please contact the Wānaka Community Hub to be put in touch with agencies which can help when times get tough.

Now as we are in level two remember mask wearing is mandatory in many places, shops, supermarkets, and other areas where potential interaction with others may occur. So, if you are asked to put a mask on by a staff member of that establishment it is because it is a mandatory requirement.

It is not a slur on you personally but is a requirement to prevent any spread of the disease. An “I forgot it” or “it’s in the car, I won’t be long” doesn’t cut it. We all need to do our part to stop this disease - unless level four looks good again to people. Your behaviour matters so please do the right thing.

Finally, there was an extreme act of vandalism on two tiny houses and a van which was parked at the Hikuwai Estate over the last week. Both houses have been destroyed beyond any form of liveability with thousands of dollars of damage done. A van in the area has also been extensively damaged. Forensic investigations are underway to identify the culprits and hopefully gain reparation to the owners for the damage. If you have any information around this Police would like to hear from you.

Well, that’s all from me this week, as I said quite a mixed bag, so we have been kept busy. Until next time, stay safe, please stick to the rules and be kind to each other.

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun Views

Back in the swing

Viv Milsom

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

The ANZ Private Wānaka Golf Club Tournament, one of the country’s most popular tournaments, will be played over five days next week having been delayed by Covid restrictions.

Despite Covid setbacks though, the Women’s tournament filled up within 24 hours, with 200 golfers, plus a wait list. Play starts on Monday morning with an individual Stableford competition, followed by a team four ball best ball on Tuesday and the 36-hole individual Championship on Wednesday.

With Central Otago’s unpredictable spring weather, players need to be prepared for anything, including snow. The weather is no deterrent though to this popular tournament, with old friends and new gathering for three days of golf and socialising. While the majority of players are locals, over a third come from out of town, most from around the South Island.

The Men’s tournament will run over just two days this year on Friday and Saturday, with a much smaller field of around 125 golfers.

“The men’s field is always smaller than the women’s,” says Liz McRae, “but this year, because there was a clash with the Arrowtown Golf Club Men’s Championship we’ve made the decision to cancel the Wānaka Men’s 36-hole Championship.”

With over $20,000 in prize money spread across the women’s and men’s competitions, players who come up with their best golf will not go away empty-handed.

“We hope that under Level 2 we will still be able to hold the prize-givings,” says Liz.

For the rest, there are the raffles, which help raise money for the club, at the same time as they raise the spirits of the golfers who have not played so well, which, let’s face it, is usually most of us.

The Wānaka Golf Club began in the 1920’s and this tournament has been running since 1936, making it one of the longest running, as well as one of the most popular golf competitions in the country. Tournament convenor and top player, Liz McRae has also had a long association with the event. She has been convener for 15 years, as well as a frequent winner of the Women’s Championship. She is Wānaka’s living golfing legend: not only a great golfer, but a player who has given much back to the Wānaka and Otago golfing community.

With the first players teeing off just after 7am on Monday it is now up to the weather gods and Covid. We will let you know who the winners are next week.

Liz McRae

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PUBLIC NOTICE

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Phone: 03 443 8000, Top of Helwick Street, Wānaka Noticeboard | Papa P ā nui

Notice of Decisions on QLDC Proposed District Plan Variation to Chapter 11 Large Lot Residential and Chapter 27 Subdivision & Development & Stage 3b Walter Peak Zoning

Pursuant to clause 10 and 11 of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991, public notice is hereby given as of 23 September 2021 that at its meeting on 16 September 2021, the Queenstown Lakes District Council (Council) has made decisions on the submissions and further submissions on the following: • The variation to Chapter 11 Large Lot Residential and Chapter 27 Subdivision and Development; and • To Stage 3b (Walter Peak Zoning) The effect of the decisions is to adopt the recommendations of the Hearing Commissioners to: • confirm amended provisions for Chapter 11 Large Lot Residential and Chapter 27 Subdivision and Development; and •confirm amended provisions for Chapter 46 Rural Visitor Zone as it relates to the Walter Peak Rural Visitor Zone and the associated District Plan mapping application at Walter Peak. The Proposed District Plan is amended in accordance with the Council’s decisions from the date of this public notice. The decision report and decisions version of the chapters and web mapping application together with the reasons for the decision are available for inspection for free at the following locations: • QLDC website: www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/district-plan/proposed-district-plan/decisions-of-council • Online access to the decisions is available at QLDC Libraries and offices without charge A person who made a submission on the variation to Chapters 11 and 27 or Stage 3b Walter Peak Zoning may appeal the relevant decision to the Environment Court within 30 working days of the service of the notice of the decision (by 5 November 2021). For further information on making an appeal see the Environment Court website. For further information on the district plan review please contact Queenstown Lakes District Council on 03 441 0499 or email PDPenquiries@qldc.govt.nz.

Queenstown Lakes District Council Meeting Schedule for October 2021

Public Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 that meetings of the Council will be held as follows, during the month of October 2021. Audit, Finance & Risk Committee – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 14 October at 10.00am. Planning & Strategy Committee – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 21 October at 10.00am. Council Meeting – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 28 October at 1.00pm. Meeting dates, times and venues are subject to change. All of the above meetings are open to the public. Some meetings may have items of business that will be discussed with the public excluded, as set out by the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. Mike Theelen

CHIEF EXECUTIVE