For everything real estate, buying or selling, contact Glenn Walsh Mob 021 925 744 or A/H 07 870 1831 7386693AA Published Tuesday and Thursday TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 Licensed REAA 2008 Circulated FREE to all households throughout Te Awamutu and surrounding districts. Extra copies 40c. BRIEFLY CBD businesses left in dark Fastest women BY GRANT JOHNSTON in world A large number of central Te Awamutu Te Awamutu cyclist Rushlee retailers were without power for most of Buchanan’s women’s pursuit Thursday after a Waipa Networks cable failed. team may not have won gold at Waipa District Council fielded numerous the UCI World Track Cycling calls from irate retailers, who mistakenly Championships in Copenhagen, believed it must be a problem encountered but they posted the fastest time. during street works for the Heart of Te The trio of Alison Shanks, Awamutu Upgrade currently underway. Lauren Ellis and Buchanan Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce presi- bounced back from a mixed dent Chris Smith sas there was some ‘lively qualifying ride to blitz the world debate’ at Thursday night’s Chamber meeting record in winning the bronze about the outage. ‘‘The main beef was about the lack of medal over USA in the 3000m communication. To be fair to Waipa Networks, team pursuit. this is something they have generally been good They beat off the challenge at, but for some reason on this occasion it was from USA to clock 4:21.552 lacking,’’ Mr Smith says. which was faster than Australia’s Mr Smith was at work at Selectrix when the gold medal ride and inside the power was initially interrupted just after 7am previous world record set by and lost to half the shop, before it went out Great Britain in Manchester last completely at 8am. November. There were attempts by Waipa Networks to See more on the world record get a generator going, which only kicked in ride on page 3, plus details on effectively after 4pm. fellow Te Awamutu Sports’ The generator on the corner of Bank Street TC300310GJ01 cyclist Peter Latham’s bronze and Alexandra Street was still chugging away CHRIS SMITH, Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce president, alongside the generator that was medal. until power was restored on Sunday night/ providing power to central Te Awamutu businesses from Thursday through to yesterday Monday morning. morning. Later recycling Mr Smith says while Waipa Networks fault line was initially responding to callers that works and Waipa District Council met earlier To exacerbate matters, the second test due to Easter there was no fault, office staff made every this month to look at ways of progressing a indicated that the remaining length of cable was There will be no recycling attempt to communicate regularly with him. second main power supply line for Te Awamutu. unsuitable for continued use. collection carried out on Good ‘‘The real issue is that if Waipa Networks had ‘‘A second line would not have prevented the The existing cable was abandoned and been able to communicate early enough that it loss of power last week, or in the case of the subsequently replaced by a new cable. Friday (April 2). was a major fault and they would be bringing in switching gear problem earlier in the year, but “It appears the cable may have suffered Waipa District Council a generator to restore power to affected busi- it would significantly reduce the number of damage at some time in the past and moisture advises that recycling will be nesses late in the afternoon, then businesses times there are major power outages for allowed to enter it leading to the failure on picked up on Saturday, April 3. would have been able to make an informed upgrading work,’’ Mr Smith says. Thursday morning” Mr Goddard says. There will also be no decision about whether to keep operating.’’ Waipa Networks says the cable failure cut “There is no evidence that recent excavations collection on Easter Monday Mr Smith says some businesses did make supply to a number of businesses in the in the area have damaged the cable and it is pure (April 5), so recycling will be that call early on, while others battled through Alexandra, Bank and Teasdale Street area. coincidence the failure happened at the same picked up on Tuesday, April 6. ‘in the dark’, without facilities like EFTpos, tills ‘‘While immediate arrangements for the time. Each collection for next week and computers. supply of a generator were made, delays in its “We would like to apologise to all customers will then move out one day, so if Mr Smith says the Chamber enjoys an delivery meant that supply was not re- affected by this incident, especially regarding your usual collection day is excellent working relationship with Waipa established until about 4.30pm rather than the late arrival of the generator. Wednesday, it will be picked up Networks and he hopes steps are put in place to midday as planned,’’ says Lee Goddard, Net- ‘‘While this was due to circumstances beyond on Thursday etc. ensure communication in circumstances like work Asset Manager for Waipa Networks. our control we did not keep businesses informed Normal collections resume these is always well co-ordinated. ‘‘The site of the cable fault was difficult to of the delay in expected time of arrival. the following week. This was the second major outage for Te locate and specialist equipment had to be “We would also like to acknowledge the co- Awamutu businesses this year — the previous brought in.’’ operation of the Council and their contractors as Kihikihi keeps one being caused by a fault in Transpower’s Once it was located, the site was excavated we have to take our new cable right through the switching gear at Te Awamutu Substation. and the faulty section of cable removed and the middle of their works at a critical time for postal services Mr Smith says the Chamber, Waipa Net- cable retested prior to repairs. them.” Kihikihi Bookshop is changing from a Post Shop to a Post Centre. While that means it will lose Contest to design proposed centre some services, it will retain core postal services such as parcel mail and stamps. It will also Waipa District Council has heritage director, Jan White says the ‘‘The design of the facility should April 8 at 5pm. retain Lotto. released a brief inviting entries for design project is exciting, with the reflect the unique character of Te Stage two: Short listed architects New Zealand Post is an architectural competition to opportunity to be part of designing Awamutu/Waipa. It should reflect and/or practice invited to submit a removing the computerised develop a concept design for the an iconic $15 Million museum and both Maori and Pakeha cultures,’’ concept design for the complex. system, meaning Transport proposed new Heritage and Cultural theatre complex opposite the Events Mrs White says. Closes May 28 at 5pm Agency registrations will go, Centre in Te Awamutu. Centre in Te Awamutu. The design project will involve Entry details and a full project along with bill payments and The competition is open to all ‘‘The winning designer’s practice two stages: brief are available from the Te Kiwi Bank services. New Zealand architects and/or will be awarded the commission Stage one: Expressions of interest Awamutu Museum on 872 0085 or on architectural practices. when the project is ready to proceed invited from all New Zealand the museum’s website at Waipa District museums and in 2013-16. architects and/or practices. Closes www.tamuseum.org.nz. THIS WEEKS SPECIAL 2006 Suzuki LTR 450R COMPLETE HYDRAULIC HOSE REPLACEMENT Stewart&Cavalier & REPAIR SERVICE. Engineers Supplies We have a full Range $5,495 of hose & fittings for every WAS $6,495 NOW PHONE 871 7062 application. 7387483AA The Honda Shop 462 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 1317 Alexandra St, Te Awamutu (Opposite Dairy Factory) Phone 871 7317, Fax 871 7302 7316664AA 2 TE AWAMUTU COURIER, TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 YOUR LETTERS Salt Water Sports Fishing KAWHIA HIGH TIDES ADD FIVE MINUTES FOR RAGLAN HARBOUR Sculpture park a town treasure TUESDAY: 11.00am & 11.25pm WEDNESDAY: 11.44am & ---------- THURSDAY: 12.07am & 12.26pm I am replying to Carly Tims senting the local landscape is a musical instruments is a fun discovery. FRIDAY: 12.48am & 1.08pm letter in the Courier on March great talking point with the way to introduce children to Tucked away near the SATURDAY: 1.29am & 1.51pm 23, who considers the ‘musical children as they know many of modern art, but unfortunately bushes is ‘Nurturing’ by Fred SUNDAY: 2.12am & 1.37pm park’ a waste of Council money. the features depicted and is a it has been vandalised. Graham, another beautiful MONDAY: 1.59am & 2.28pm This area of Te Awamutu is magnificent artwork. Who has examined the sculpture. a sculpture park and we often ‘The gate’ sculpture by Rich- instruments closely? art is not always in the eye of visit with our grandchildren ard Page is a wonderfully tac- The patina on the metal in the beholder but do take time to and consider it a hidden tile piece and the grandchildren full sun is lovely: and the very visit this park to really appreci- NEW! treasure. offer interesting adjectives clever musical and meteorolo- ate what delights Te Awamutu ‘Design’, the concrete con- when describing this artwork. gical embellishments on the has to offer. GULP! struction representing repre- Jan Shirley’s ‘Concept’ of the drums is a talking point of GLENIS FRASER Punk Prawn Purple Softbait Architectural designer, not architect NITRO JIGHEADS I write in response to an or allow others to describe your- long and arduous process registered architect, can do so article in the Courier on self as an architect unless you involved in becoming an archi- on the NZRAB website: Elevator heads Tuesday, March 23.