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Wednesday 14 October 2015
First of the season
NelsoN speedway Season Opening - LIFTOUT
Page 9
Public invited to jail
Page 24
Big dry expected to cause hurt Simon Bloomberg
Fire fighters and farmers are facing a long, hot summer with the Waimea Rural Fire Authority ramping up its state of readiness after a series of fires including one sparked by a tracer bullet hitting a piece of metal near Hira. The fire danger has escalated after a long spell of dry, windy weather and the authority’s principal fire officer Ian Reade expects
things to get worse with the El Nino weather pattern predicted to result in one of the driest summers on record. “It’s the wind and the low humidity that is the main issue because that dries out Ian Reade. all the fine vegetation and that’s often where the ignition starts,” Ian says. “It’s an early start to the fire season
and if we don’t get significant rain before the end of the year it will get very serious.” Ian says they have already had a number of vegetation fires but fortunately they “didn’t get away”. The fire ignited by a the bullet on Mt Duppa only burned three-quarters of a hectare of scrub and pines thanks to “a good save by the Hira Volunteer Rural Fire Force and Nelson Fire Brigade”. Fires have also been caused by permitted burn offs getting out of control and ashes
from household fires igniting vegetation there have also been cases of extinguished fires reigniting. Ian warned home owners to take extra precautions with ashes after a fire started by dumped ashes “took out a garden shed in Golden Bay”. “It’s still been a bit cool at nights in some places and people are still having fires but it’s also really dry so everyone needs to
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Photo comp to get ‘every aspect’ of Rabbit Island Kate Russell Nelson residents are being invited to bring forward their best photos of Rabbit Island for a new calendar that will “capture every aspect” of one of the region’s most popular spots. Ali Slotemaker, from Rabbit Island Coffee Co, is behind the idea, and is encouraging Nelsonians to get creative and help create a ‘tribute’ to the island. The best 12 images will be published in a ‘bespoke’ calendar for 2016. “It won’t be your typical touristy calendar,” she says. “It will be really beautiful and elegant. Rabbit Island is such a spectacular resource and we wanted to get that in print.” Ali says they have quite a few entries already, especially of the beach and summer months. She says they’d like to get more photos that capture the winter months too. “We’re looking for a whole range of photos, including the Hunter Brown Reserve, Rough Island and the estuary - people who walk dogs, ride horses and the bike riders,” she says. RABBIT ISLAND PHOTO COMPETITION: Jimi-Zara Slotemaker, left, Ali Slotemaker, Lewis Lee, 2, and Stephen Lee from Rabbit Island Coffee Co on Rabbit Island last week. Photo: Kate Russell.
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