Monday, Oct 7, 2019 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2 Home delivered from $1.35 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY All the fun of the fair www.guardianonline.co.nz FULL STORY P4 Hunter Dirks, 9, and Riley Fitzgerald, 9, at the Extravaganza Fair at the Ashburton Domain at the weekend. PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 051019-HM-0048 Children’s book a hit P4 CRISIS MEETING BY LINDA CLARKE The special meeting will be at the impacts and what our submissions will [email protected] Ashburton Trust Event Centre on Mon- contain.” Mid Canterbury farmers are so worried day, October 14, starting at 7pm. He said the freshwater proposals about the impact of Government’s pro- Minister for the Environment David pointed to a report prepared for neigh- posed freshwater reforms that they have Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien bouring Selwyn district, and Mid Can- called a special community meeting to O’Connor are currently seeking feed- terbury could expect similar impacts. spell out the spin-off effects for the dis- back on the freshwater proposals and The report said widespread loss of trict. people have until October 17 to submit. equity and change in land ownership Federated Farmers wants farmers, Government has said it will accept late was likely and rural communities would business owners and individuals to hear submissions up to October 31. experience loss of services and depop- about the widespread negative financial Ministry representatives have been ulation. impact of the reforms on the district’s holding meetings around the country Operating surplus returns from the economy. since mid-September to outline the catchment would reduce from $348 mil- Mid Canterbury president David proposals and farmers have been con- lion to $45 million per annum. Clark said Government had not ana- cerned that the speed of change re- Clark said he hoped the Ashburton lysed how the reforms would financially quired will put them out of business. event centre would be packed with affect Mid Canterbury but dairy farming Speakers at the Ashburton meeting members of the farming and business on the plains would have to end to meet will include Federated Farmers nation- communities, as well as others directly the proposed blanket bottom line water al president Katie Milne, CEO Terry and indirectly linked to the region’s ru- quality measurements for nitrate. Copeland, water spokesman and Mid ral economy. Farmers were already committed Canterbury farmer Chris Allen and ex- Federated Farmers will be offering to achieving tough new nitrate rules pert water policy analysts. help to farmers and others who want to Oilers in brought in by Environment Canterbury “We want people to understand the make their own submissions. and making good progress, he said. position we have taken and what the “We want the community’s support,” Federated Farmers says that in the effect on Mid Canterbury will be,” Clark Clark said. the final absence of Government providing any said. Federated Farmers says similar com- financial analysis, they have tried to “We are going to outline our concerns munity meetings could also be held in P24 source their own. around this policy, where we see the Southland, Taranaki and Waikato. Ph 03 307 7900 $100 to subscribe! towards your travel costs* One of the best selections of mobility scooters around. Guaranteed to impress. *Conditions apply. Find out more. Drop in to 113 Blenheim Road, visit moremobility.co.nz or call 0800 666 222 News 2 Ashburton Guardian Monday, October 7, 2019 www.guardianonline.co.nz ■ CHESS COMPETITION Getting back on the board BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY Grand Masters in his time as a player. [email protected] “It is a bit of a bucket list thing that After 10 years away from the com- I have wanted to do for a long time,” petitive chess table, 84-year-old Roy he said. Keeling is getting back in to the game “I hope I can win four out of my nine with a few old Ashburton Chess Club games.” players. The trio make up part of a 36-person Keeling, along with Steve Taylor and field that will all play nine games over Rex Scarf, are competing at the South six days in the resort village. Island Chess Championships this Games can last anywhere from 15 weekend. minutes to four hours, with Taylor be- The trio, who were all once part of lieving he has the record for the short- the former Ashburton Chess Club est game at a tournament in Nelson in which folded around four years ago, 2007. decided to get back together and com- “It was the Rugby World Cup game pete at the South Island Champion- between the All Blacks and France and ships. we pushed the start of play that day For Keeling, it was a big decision back so we could watch the game,” he to make, having not competed at the said. championships for 10 years. “I think it was over in about 10 min- “Ten years ago I finished second utes cause I was so upset at the result it equal but then my wife became ill and put me off the game.” haven’t been since,” he said. The trio now mainly play their chess “To be going back at 84 is a big thing, online and thanks to the folding of the I’m hoping they will have something Ashburton Chess Club rarely get to ac- like a bottle of wine for the oldest play- tually play any games across a physical er.” board. Keeling has form on the board, hav- Keeling said while it is unlikely the ing been a long standing player in club could get started again, he would Ashburton since around 1970, playing be more than happy to play anybody the first game on the chess board on that was interested, and asked them to Steve Taylor and Roy Keeling have packed their bags and will be heading to the South East Street in 1995, and taking on two give him a call on 03 308 6936. Island Chess Championships this week. PHOTO JAIME PITT-MACKAY 041019-JPM-0019 ■ ROAD SPEEDS Rakaia residents’ speed concerns continue BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY would argue that it is up to the the speed limit was dropped to “It was really fortunate I was 50km/h speed limit to be extend- [email protected] Ashburton District Council to 60km/h, an anticipated aver- doing 50km/h, I looked at him ed to the north of the town, and Rakaia residents are feeling that raise it with NZTA in such a way age speed would only drop to and he looked at me and we both Scott speculated that perhaps their concerns about dangerous as to get action,” she said. 54km/h. knew it had been a really close people in the district were too po- speeds through their town are Scott said it the speed through Scott said while a lot of locals call. lite to challenge NZTA to ensure falling on deaf ears. Rakaia had been a big issue in the like herself stick to driving at “Had I been doing 70km/h that these changes were. Last week the New Zealand town for the past 10-15 years. 50km/h, those travelling through or was a big truck he probably “Winchester has had a 50km/h Transport Agency announced “I don’t think there is any- the town, especially large trucks, would’ve died.” speed limit for a long time and I a number of speed reviews for body in the town that would ar- would stick to doing 70km/h. Scott said local police had con- certainly don’t think it is any bus- South Island towns, but did not gue against it being lowered to Near-misses are a common ducted radar operations around ier than Rakaia,” she said. include Rakaia. 50km/h,” she said. sight across the road, and Scott the area and found the average When contacted on Friday an Rakaia resident Tania Scott said NZTA statistics show that herself had a near-miss recently. speed was around 60km/h and NZTA spokesperson said the peo- it was an issue that raised at a while the speed limit through “There was an older man who that that was not safe, but there ple involved in the Ashburton meet the candidates evening in the township on State Highway had bought some swede from the was not anything they could do as to Rakaia safety improvements the town recently. 1 is 70km/h, the average speed swede trailer and was crossing the speed limit is 70km/h. which is an ongoing project that “None of the candidates really of vehicles through the town is the road to get back to his car and A petition by the residents of could include speed limit chang- responded to this call, each say- 55km/h. tripped and fell in front of me,” Winchester had been present- es in the Rakaia township would ing it was an NZTA issue – but I Their analysis shows that if she said. ed to the NZTA asking for the not be available until this week. Allen Lim for ECan 2019 “A practical approach to sustainability” * Proven - Leader in local water issues * Ability - Extensive governance experience * Balanced - Working collaboratively for best outcome Email: [email protected]| Phone 027 282 8567 | Facebook Allen Lim for ECan 2019 Authorised by Allen Lim, 31 Lincoln Rolleston Road, RD8, Christchurch News www.guardianonline.co.nz Monday, October 7, 2019 Ashburton Guardian 3 ■ ASSOCIATION CROQUET In brief Fatal crash One person has died following a Not just posh frocks and gin crash involving two recreational off-road motorcycles on private land near Atiamuri yesterday.