THE PRESS, Christchurch Friday, October 1, 2010 NEWS A5 ■ CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE ■ TRIBUNAL Street works, tree planting put on hold Dentist Glenn Conway Projects postponed until already started or is con- would ensure funding and should be delayed until staff his ward when other parts of to the council as soon as to learn the 2011-12 year include work sidered essential by council staff resources were available knew the full cost. the city were devastated. possible. More than $56 million of on kerbs and channels, water staff. for recovery work. Cr Sue Wells said ‘‘the The new council will Parker said the council Christchurch street works mains and footpaths, along Corporate finance man- The council had planned to world has changed’’ and the be asked to urgently investi- wanted to give ratepayers ‘‘a will be deferred until next with tree replacements and ager Diane Brandish, in a spend about $102m on renewal deferments were ‘‘prudent gate rates-relief options for clear signal’’ there would be his fate year as the city focuses on non-urgent roading. report to the council, said staff projects this financial year. It financial management’’. owners of quake-damaged rates relief for residents ‘‘in earthquake recovery. Details of changes will be were still determining the has so far spent $8.8m. Of the Cr Claudia Reid said properties. extraordinary circum- A Canterbury dentist found Mayor Bob Parker said the given to affected residents and council’s earthquake bill. $93m left, $56m will not be communities would accept Council chief executive stances’’. guilty of making a sedated move, endorsed by the Christ- community boards. Most of it would be covered spent until the 2011-12 year. some work had to be delayed, Tony Marryatt said there The review would be done female patient touch him church City Council yester- Some projects were by insurance or through Yani Johanson, the only and Cr Barry Corbett said he were still many details before November 15 – the sexually should learn his fate day, meant the disaster would retained or got partial funding government subsidies. councillor to vote against the would be uncomfortable to be confirmed, but the penalty date for the next rates this month. have no impact on rates. cuts because work has She said the deferments move, said the decision having a new road sealed in information would be given instalment. In May, the Dentists Disci- plinary Tribunal found the dentist guilty of causing a patient to touch his penis while she was sedated under More roads limited to 30kmh his care in 2001. The dentist, who has name suppression, continues to Police are enforcing 30kmh practise. speed limits in central A draft decision on a Christchurch and penalty and continued name earthquake-damaged suburbs. suppression is expected today. A 30kmh limit was It will be checked by tribunal introduced in parts of members and should be sent Dallington, Richmond and to all parties this month. Avonside this week because of However, the victim has damaged roads and concerns criticised the dentist’s ability about vibrations causing to continue practising. more damage to buildings and ‘‘I think all women have underground pipes, the the right to know who he is so Christchurch City Council they can make a call whether said. to go there or not. I am sure The 30kmh restriction has his clients would be horrified also been introduced on parts and not use him again,’’ she of New Brighton Rd, Rocking said. Horse Rd and Queenspark ‘‘I think the name sup- Drive. pression needs to be lifted and In the central city, a 30kmh he needs to be struck off.’’ limit remains in place on The tribunal upheld the parts of Oxford Tce and charge relating to the 2001 Gloucester, Worcester, case, but did not uphold two Hereford, Cashel, Lichfield similar charges relating to and Tuam streets to keep alleged incidents in 1984 and pedestrians, cyclists and 1989. drivers safe. The dentist claimed a The council said yesterday sedative caused sexual that all 485 bridges in hallucinations in his patient Christchurch and Banks in 2001. Peninsula had been inspected by structural engineers. Eight had structural and approach damage, one – the ■ EREBUS MEMORIAL Sabys Rd bridge in Halswell – had been demolished, two footbridges were destroyed and four bridges needed 80 people structural repairs. Photo: DAVID HALLETT The council also announced yesterday that drawn for admission to its Centennial, Getting Christchurch back to normal Jellie Park, Pioneer and Queen Elizabeth II Park pools Drilling contractor Grant Christchurch’s vital Christchurch had water Supplies had been tested, would be free this weekend as Ice visit Freeman checks a water- services back to normal. supplies, but there could be and those tests were con- a goodwill gesture. The QEII pumping station in Hills Rd The Christchurch City short breaks if work was tinuing. All tap water was hydroslides will have a as work continues to get Council said that all of being done in the area. safe to drink. discounted price of $6. Eighty people who lost family members in the 1979 Erebus tragedy will travel to Antarctica on a remembrance ■ GST CHANGES ■ ROAD ACCIDENT ■ WESTPORT DISTRICT COURT flight this summer after their names were drawn in a ballot. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 will fly to 13th drink-drive Scott Base in February, en- Welfare payments up 2% abling family representatives to spend a few hours experi- Pensions, benefits, student annuitants and beneficiaries. encing the unique environ- allowances and Working for The people at the ‘‘The people at the top of offence ‘ludicrous’ ment that drew those on flight Families tax credits rise by the heap, the top 10 per cent TE901 to it almost 31 years just over 2 per cent today to top of the heap, that get 42 per cent of the tax A West Coast fisherman ago, Air New Zealand said compensate for the increase the top 10 per cuts, will laugh all the way to convicted of his 13th drink- yesterday. in GST under National’s ‘ the bank. driving offence has escaped a The ballot, open to the im- flagship tax reforms. cent that get 42 ‘‘This is a very good jail sentence. mediate families of the 257 Income tax rates will be cut per cent of the change for the highest income Raymond Thompson, 54, of people lost in the tragedy, across the board under the tax cuts, will earners, and for the bottom 20 Cobden, was twice the legal drew nearly 200 applications changes, with about half the per cent, who get 2 per cent of alcohol limit when he was representing 126 of those lost $14 billion cost over four years laugh all the way the tax cuts, this is going to stopped last November. on Erebus. It was drawn on covered by GST rising from to the bank. spell further disaster in their He had had 12 convictions September 20. 12.5 to 15 per cent. ability to balance their budget for drink-driving dating back Some of those successful in State payments will Phil Goff at the end of the week.’’ to 1975, and was jailed in 1987 the ballot lost more than one increase by 2.02 per cent to Opposition leader But Social Development for drink-driving. His last family member in the tragedy, compensate for higher prices, Minister Paula Bennett said conviction was in 2004. and the 80 represent more but while some superannu- Labour leader Phil Goff the Government had taken In the Westport District than 100 of the Erebus itants will be more than $10 a also warned that the lowest- steps to ensure nobody was Court yesterday, Judge Raoul victims. week better off according to paid workers, who get the worse off. ‘‘Tax cuts coupled Neave said Thompson had Last year, Air New Zealand Government calculations, smallest tax cuts, would be left with compensation for the displayed ‘‘repeated bad judg- Raymond Thompson took six family members of beneficiaries and students worse off once the increase in rise in GST, means that ment’’. victims on a flight to mark the will have nothing extra. GST and other price rises – beneficiaries will not be ‘‘One conviction could be be no deterrent for Thompson. 30th anniversary of the disas- A paper by the New such as the effect of an adversely affected by the forgiven, but 13 is ludicrous, In the latest case, Thomp- ter. Zealand Institute for Econ- increase in petrol levies – October 1 changes,’’ she said. particularly for a man of your son had returned home im- It has since been working omic Research, an indepen- were taken into account. Under the changes, the top years.’’ mediately after setting out in with the Government, the air dent think tank, said the tax Petrol is expected to tax rate will drop from 38 to 33 He said Thompson had a his car because he realised he force and Antarctica New cuts would boost take-home increase by 7 cents a litre cents in the dollar. Photo: DAVID HALLETT low risk of reoffending and was too drunk to drive. Zealand on a further Antarc- pay, but warned it would not from today as higher GST The middle rates drop from did not have a drinking Thompson told The Press tic opportunity for families be enough to close the real adds 4 cents and a 3-cents-a- 33 to 30 cents and 21 to 17.5 Cyclist injured in Christchurch problem. he was ‘‘grateful’’ for his who lost loved ones. wage gap with Australia. litre fuel excise comes into cents, and the bottom rate Thompson was sentenced sentence.