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Planners after Heathcote, again |
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Credit: Drina Sisarich
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“ For the hearing, the HVCA urgently needs experts and evidence to help us - Drina Sisarich” [Editor: If I said "Proposed Change Number 1 to the Regional Policy Statement: Integrated Growth Management in Greater Christchurch" to you, what would you do? Stop listening and fall asleep most probably. Well not this time, because it's important we do something for the sake of Heathcote and all of this part of Christchurch. Drina Sisarich, Chair of the Heathcote Valley Community Association, translates the planner's gobbledegook to tell us why and what we can do to help.]
Under this proposed plan change, the designation of 'rural' for the land on Heathcote's valley floor will be changed to 'urban'. This will allow for the building of offices, houses, warehouses and factories on land that has previously been generally used for the grazing of livestock. The Heathcote Valley Community Association has begun the process of objecting by sending in a submission, but needs your help if we are to be successful.
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Tui in Heathcote, we hope |
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Credit: Peter McKie
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[Editor: You can see tui in Auckland suburbia, but in Heathcote there are none. With the Port Hills on our doorstep, Peter McKie uses poetry to ask why this is so and to tell us how to bring them back. He sent his poem in to us with the following note:
"I have written many poems and limericks over the years, and wonder if there is a place for a poet's corner on our website. Here's one I wrote in 1999, for a competition. No prize, but I still enjoy reading it. A lady had written that people were monitoring one tui in Akaroa, possibly the only one on Banks Peninsula.
I love our native birds, and am greatly saddened by the carnage our first settlers made of our splendid flora and fauna. By 1900, only 1% remained of the original bush that covered our peninsula, but now it's back up to 15%!"
Maybe we could invite budding poets to contribute to a section of the website, even school children. Perhaps we could elicit some verse and prose from Heathcote School! Use the Send Us Your Story page to share them with us.]
TAHI TUI
 She said there is only one upon these hills,
Only one, on Banks Peninsula.
Where once they thrived, so numerous, their bills
Had plucked the fruit in forests of totara,
And fed on insects and nectar abounding there.
Now the Tui song is scarcely heard.
Men have come to fell, and burn, and clear,
To graze their flocks where should be bush and bird.
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Lake Heathcote - Born today |
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Credit: Peter McKie
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 How does a new lake get a name? In Heathcote, it is a little-known tradition that if you are seven years old and taking your yacht out for its first voyage on a lake with no name, you should get the chance to give it one. This is what happened recently at the pond in the wetlands area opposite Ferrymead Heritage Park. The result being that Heathcote now has a pond with the new name of Lake Heathcote!
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Worst hedge in Heathcote? |
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Credit: Author
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 Hedges are great, they give you privacy, their height can be adjusted to suit your situation and they don't need painting. They can also look neat and tidy, if you are prepared to cut them! As the owner of this hedge, I obviously have a problem. Is it the most overgrown hedge in Heathcote? If it isn't, let me know as the thought will make me feel better!
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Credit: Drina Sisarich
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 For nearly two years the Heathcote Valley Community Association has been trying to get the traffic islands on the corner of Port Hills Road and Scruttons Road repaired. They have become untidy and unsafe with the terminals crumbling and scattering over the road. This has happened because they were too long to be navigated by some of the bigger trucks that leave the Tunnel Road via the Scrutton's Road off-ramp.
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No Easter bunny for these cats! |
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Credit: Kevin O'Byrne
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Any family heading away this Easter needs to decide what to do with their pets. I was asked recently if I knew of anywhere local to look after a cat and I had to say no.
Well, on a walk to the dairy along Port Hills Road recently, I discovered Heathcote does have its own home for cats. I decided to call in and find out what Easter would be like for the residents and whether they would be having any Easter bunny for their dinner!
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