Waimea Weekly
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Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Page 11
Wooden toys donated
All I want for
Christmas...
Big field to compete Page 24
Page 16-17
St Arnaud and Murchison speed limits need reviewing Simon Bloomberg Tasman district mayor Richard Kempthorne wants speed limits on the crowded post-earthquake State Highways in and around St Arnaud and Murchison changed “urgently” before there is a fatality. New Zealand Transport Agency figures show that 2700 vehicles,
including 550 trucks, were travelling on SH1 between Christchurch and Picton every day before the road was closed by slips following the massive 7.8 earthquake on November 14. Those vehicles are now using the shortest alternative routes though SH6, 63 and 65, almost tripling the traffic volumes through Murchison and St Arnaud from 1500
to 4200 vehicles a day. Richard says that’s increasing the risk to pedestrians in those towns and making overtaking on the narrow, winding roads difficult. “We are working with the NZTA to see what changes need to be made to all the roads coming from the Wairau Valley to St Arnaud and through to Murchison and Springs Junction,” Richard
says. “The whole section from the Rainbow turn-off to Springs Junction only has limited opportunities for passing and, with so many trucks going in both directions, at times it’s very dangerous. “On the Howard Valley Rd to Kawatiri Junction there are places where it’s quite difficult for two trucks to pass in opposite directions so they may need to put up
some stop-go lights. NZTA need to act urgently and I think they are looking at making changes quickly.” Richard says St Arnaud and Murchison residents also want speed limits through their towns reduced to make the roads safer. He says St Arnaud residents want
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Big crowd greets Santa Jessie Johnston Families lined the streets and children both young and old got as close as they could to witness this year’s Richmond Pak ‘n Save Santa Parade. Around 37 floats took part in the parade down Richmond’s Queen St, “more than we’ve
Emily Weir blows some bubbles from the Life Education Trust Float during the Richmond Santa Parade on Sunday.
Lo c a L Ly o w n e d & o p e r at e d
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had for quite a number of years, including several new entries,” says organiser Kim Quint of Richmond Unlimited. “We were very lucky with the weather because we managed to dodge the rain. We just about decided not to run it at
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