Two words banished

Two words often associated with South Canterbury in the latter part of the 20^th century were "static"  and  "stagnant".  They cannot fairly be applied now.

Static applied to the population.

For example,  in the 50 years from 1951, the area's population grew by 10per cent to 52,782.  But in the last five years there has been a 2 per cent increase, giving the lie to statistics New Zealand projections of a population drop.

Stagnant applied to the level of economic development.

Significant commercial and infrastructure expansion was rare in the last quarter of the 20^th century, but contrast that with South Canterbury today. This is an area on the move. No better illustrated than with the building boom in the Waimate district principally on the back of dairying.

But while the dairying expansion has helped lift the level of economic activity and reduced unemployment in South Canterbury to less than half the national average,  it is by no means the only reason why the word "stagnant" can be banished from the districts dictionary.

Consider this :  In Timaru, four new shops are proposed for Ashbury and zoning changes have been approved to allow expansion of the Northtown Mall; a $2million Maori Rock Art Centre is to be developed; there is the $15 million supermarket development at Highfield; planning is proceeding for a replacement  hotel on the Hydro Grand site, and there are plans for a hotel on the corner of  State Highway 1 and Elizabeth Street;  a new courthouse is to be built,  the Aoraki Polytechnic has a $2 million expansion planned, and a new shop is being built for Rebel Sport;  work is progressing on a $12 million upgrade at the Smithfield meat works; a $2million social housing programme is under way, the biggest in the district for 30 years; Prime port Timaru is buying a $6million tug and spending another $4million on wharf facilities so larger vessels can be handled;  and there is the proposed $15million aquatic center.

But wait there's more:  Fairlie has a new CRT outlet and PGG has upgraded its building; the residential expansion of Twizel and Lake Tekapo continues and a new ice rink and spa has just been opened at Lake Tekapo;  a $7.5 million museum and theatre complex is to be built in Mt Cook village; and as part of Waimate's economic development a dairy factory is being built at Studholme.

That list is not exhaustive but to it can be added the proposed Hunter Downs irrigation scheme taking water from the Waitaki River to 40,000hectares of farmland up almost to Timaru, and the Rangitata South scheme to put  the high flows from the river on to 10,000 hectares of land.  The two schemes are estimated to add $400 million to the South Canterbury economy each year and create 600 new jobs.

Static and stagnant ?  Yeah right.

Timaru Herald

Editor's View

Saturday July 7^th 2007