Windsurfing may be moved

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 4

Windsurfing may be moved

Estuary windsurfing may be shifted because of congestion caused by this increasingly popular sport near the Mount Pleasant Yacht Club.

The Christchurch City Council’s parks and recreation committee was told yesterday that the sport could move to the Estuary shoreline where Linwood Avenue meets Humphreys Drive.

The area next to the yacht club, used for two years, was becoming congested and dangerous to both yachts and windsurfers. Councillors were told that the Windsurfing Association was willing to clean up the Estuary bottom at the new location. There are wetlands along the shoreline on that side of the Estuary, but they are some distance to the east.

The suggested site does not have a formed car-park or toilets, but there is room for parking on both sides of the Linwood Drain outfall, where the road used to have a sharper curve. Both the Windsurfers’ Association and Combined Estuary Association will meet councillors on the site next week. Sludge Digested sewage sludge will probably be spread on Cuthberts Green playing fields after this soccer season to encourage, good turf growth in the sandy soil. Cuthberts Green has 12ha of playing fields and open space, aside from the land used for Cowles Stadium, car-parks, changing facilities, and clubrooms. After sludge is spread by the Christchurch Drainage Board, the playing fields must be rested for a year. They must also be stpar-

ated from the rest of the reserve by fencing, under a Health Department requirement.

Spreading of sludge and cultivation of the area could be done over two months. Irrigation, provided for in this year’s estimates, will help establish the turf cover. Schools and sports associations will be found other grounds in the meantime. Cemetery The road through Ruru Lawn Cemetery in Bromley will be closed" to vehicles after dark soon to combat rising vandalism. Similar action was taken at nearby Bromley Cemetery a few years ago. Councillors were told that considerable damage had been done inside the lawn cemetery over the last few weeks. Water taps had been broken, trees and shrubs had been removed or damaged, and an entire bedding plot had been removed. Roses had also been removed and destroyed at the Ballantyne’s Memorial. Both cemetery entrances will be prepared for closing after dark. Advance notice will be posted so that motorists who use the cemetery road regularly will know of the change. Garden gates Botanic Gardens gateclosing times will be brought forward for part of the year to allow for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 59 minutes between closing time and darkness. Councillors were told that the closing was done by one park ranger, who worked alone, and he had faced problems in dealing with groups of people at closing time during the last year.

He was at risk unnecessarily when it was dark. With the gate-closing time change, the gates could always be shut during daylight. Footbridge Service club and other help, perhaps from Govern-ment-funded temporary labour, will be sought for the Hansen Park footbridge project in Opawa. Because of other commitments and a time lag in getting budget approval for the footbridge, the Kiwanis Club of St Martins had to reverse its intention to help with bridge installation. The footbridge will cross the Heathcote River from Armstrong Avenue and offer pedestrian and cycle access to the park from the south. Although the Council owns the bridge, some repairs are required. The total cost of the project, including installation, would be about $19,000 at commercial rates, compared to a 1981 estimate of about $9500. Hagley parking Signs prohibiting parking along a substantial length of the South Hagley Park boundary have been removed because they were being consistently ignored by sportsmen and spectators, especially at weekends. “No parking,” signs had stretched from the Blenheim Road roundabout and along Deans Avenue to Moorhouse Avenue, then along Hagley Avenue to Hospital Corner. The signs were removed after an agreement with the Ministry of Transport. Cr Rex Lester said he had some .reservations about the action. “At least everyone wasn’t,, parking there,” he said. Wow everyone will.”

He said that more mud, creating a possible driving hazard, could be taken into the streets by cars parking along the boundary. Carp Cr M. J. Glubb said he had seen a large number of dead carp in Victoria Lake, between the shoreline and the present water line, since the lake was drained to allow weed-control measures to begin. Council officers will study whether fish could be retrieved alive before the lake is drained next year. Cr Glubb said that some dead carp had even been seen at the lake’s outfall into the Avon River. Victoria Lake will be refilled on August 1, in time for the Fishing and Boating Club’s spring activities. Weed growth had hampered some model boating activities last summer. Hairdressing Councillors disagreed with a union assertion that the Queen Elizabeth II Park hairdressihg course should be stopped because of its effect on the hairdressing industry. The course is part of City Council community recreation programmes. Cr Noala Massey, the committee’s chairman, said it was “purely a recreational course for people who want to take an interest.” The New Zealand Shop Employees Union’s Canterbury and Westland branch said in a letter to the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, that the course had a detrimental effect on the industry, which had already suffered a 20 per cent drop in hairdressing apprenticeships. Councillors said that other recreational programmes, such as course in

horticulture or motorvehicle maintenance, could be affected by such a stand. A professional hairdresser is the course’s tutor, and the programme emphasises general hair care and cutting. Vehicles

Councillors approved the purchase of two parks and recreation vans, with a total tender price 0f'523,141, but said they should not be actually bought until after a policy and finance committee report on council vehicle needs was received. The two vehicles were among a committee-ap-proved parks and recreation vehicle and equipment purchase list with tender prices totaling $335,977. Cr A. J. Graham said that the report on vehicle needs was in a draft form now, and would be ready soon.

The council should adhere to its earlier decision not to buy any new cars until the report had been considered. Mr N. W. Drain, the parks and recreation director, said that both replacement vans were specialised vehicles that could not be interchanged with other council departments. He said there was “definitely no surplus” of parks and recreation vehicles. Over the years, the department had economised so much on vehicles that it faced a shortage when responsibilities grew, and more were needed so that staff members could do their jobs. If vehicles were not replaced, some of the department’s activities would have to be reviewed. Purchase of the two vans should be deferred, the committee said. Cr Graham said the special report would review “the whole area of light vehicles, not just cars.”