Record
January 14 2015
Your Local Dealership
The
NZCNA WINNER
2014
‘The voice of your community’
10,350 copies distributed weekly to Rolleston, West Melton, Darfield and districts
Further AvonGo City Ford
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Summer drought begins to bite by Kent Caddick
Selwyn residents are tightening their water belts as the summer drought strengthens its grip on the district.
New owners for The Record
Selwyn’s award winning community newspaper The Record has new owners …
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Water levels raise alarm bells
Fish & Game is becoming increasingly alarmed at the rapidly falling water levels …
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Family to bear the cost of second hearing implant The ability to hear with both ears is priceless …
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The Selwyn District Council has introduced fire bans and water restrictions to reduce the extreme fire risk and conserve water. Volunteer and fire service firefighters are on constant alert as temperatures have soared and they have been called on to deal with some significant blazes over the past week. A scrub fire on Wild Road near Weedons threatened houses on Friday and as a precaution some residents were evacuated. Around 13 fire appliances and tankers from West Melton, Rolleston, Kirwee, Lincoln, Burnham, Dunsandel and Southbridge were among those who battled the blaze for most of the day with assistance from a helicopter and monsoon bucket. It is thought the fire which covered a kilometre long stretch of grassland may have been caused by a spark from a mower. And it is not just the rural areas of Selwyn which are under threat. Quick thinking by Rolleston residents prevented a grass fire on an empty section in a residential area of the town from spreading to neighbouring houses. Sandie MacKay of Overbury Crescent said she and her partner smelt smoke just before lunch on Friday and rushed down to the empty section several houses down from their place. “By the time we got there neighbours had fed their garden hoses over their
Firefighters dampen down after a blaze in a residential section of Rolleston threatened houses.
fences and were fighting the fire,” she said. “They managed to extinguish most of the flames by the time the fire brigade arrived and they did a great job of dampening down the area.” It is believed that fire too was started by someone mowing the grass on the section. The district’s Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Douglas Marshall said people need to be very vigilant in this weather to avoid any activities which could start a fire. “We would discourage people from mowing the lawn or operating machinery during the heat of the day as sparks can easily ignite in the heat, and instead carry out these activities when it is cooler.” … continued on page 4
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Fish are being left stranded as Selwyn rivers dry up. Photo courtsey of Fish & Game