FORMULA 1 - FRENCH GRAND PRIX - PRACTICE

Leclerc beats Verstappen to fastest time in opening French GP practice

French Grand Prix Practice - Charles Leclerc - Ferrari

Charles Leclerc’s French Grand Prix weekend got off to a strong start as he beat championship rival Max Verstappen to the fastest time in opening practice at Circuit Paul Ricard.

The Ferrari driver clocked a 1m 33.930s on the soft tyre to finish just 0.091s ahead of the Red Bull, however Verstappen lost around two tenths of a second running wide at Turn 11 on his best lap.

Carlos Sainz was more than 0.3s off the pace in third, the Spaniard facing a tricky weekend ahead after Ferrari fitted a new control electronics to his F1-75 that triggers a 10-place grid penalty.

All three tyre compounds were on show in the opening 60-minute practice session of the weekend, as teams evaluated how the Pirelli rubber coped with the heatwave cruising across Europe right now. Track temperatures hit 58 degrees Celsius.

Mercedes, who have brought updates to France, were inside a second of the fastest time, courtesy of George Russell, with the team’s reserve Nyck de Vries borrowing Lewis Hamilton’s car for practice 1 and ending up ninth, half a second further back.

This was the first time in Hamilton’s career – which hits 300 Grand Prix weekends in France – that he has given up his car for a practice session. The rules mandate each driver must do so at least once this season and the seven-time world champion, who watched the action from the Mercedes garage alongside boss Toto Wolff, chose this weekend to step aside.

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ROAD CLOSURE ON STATE HIGHWAY 6 AT DELLOWS BLUFF WEST OF MURCHISON OPEN TOMORROW AT 8AM SATURDAY 23 JULY

ROAD OPEN 8AM SATURDAY 23 JULY

Dellows Bluff west of Murchison ROAD OPEN 8AM SATURDAY 23 JULY.  Photo thanks to Tasman District Council

 TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL have advised this afternoon the 22 July that:  

Waka Kotahi has advised that following extensive safety work, State Highway 6 at Dellows Bluff west of Murchison will reopen by 8am tomorrow (Saturday 23 July).

 

The road was closed following a major rockfall early on Wednesday morning. Initial indications are that tree roots and water ingress into the fractured cliff face caused the massive boulders to fall. This has left further fractured rocks overhanging the cliff face at risk of falling onto the road.

Temporary protection will be in place that will allow people to use the road safely. Contractors have been building a stone-filled container wall in the northbound lane to protect the existing road shoulder. This means all traffic will be able to move through the section of road while work continues to stabilise the rockface.

On July 20 the Dellows Bluff section of State Highway 6 west of Murchison was closed. Photo thanks to Tasman District Council.

A permanent fix for the rockfall risk will take some time to complete, meaning only a single lane will be available initially. However, the intention is to get two lanes open as soon as possible. 

If you have any further questions, reach out to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - South Island.

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Tim Skinner formally announces standing for Nelson Mayoralty

Tim Skinner

𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫

As we near the time to elect a new Council I look back on what has been a difficult and challenging year for many Councillors to achieve unity. This has been compounded by the unfortunate interference of party political interests around the Council table. The effect of that on democratic decision making has been devastating.

And even more challenging for our community organisations and local businesses navigating the last two years, trying to plan with the uncertainties that may still lay ahead.

As a senior councillor, with a rewarding nine years experience representing our city, the public have always been able to depend on my consistent and common sense decision making.

It is now time to serve the community even further, providing solid no-nonsense leadership and direction to improve our environment, facilitate economic development, bring back genuine engagement with our community, and foremost improve the wellbeing and health of our community.

Thus I am today announcing my standing for Mayor and I am asking Nelsonians to support my election as we strive for a better future for our City.

I have never stood on the fence, nor have I ever shied away from listening and championing our people and local businesses.

As proven, from wood-burners, pensioner flats, prudent spending of your rates, developing our community gardens and self sustainability, progressing our sports facilities, youth parks, mountain-bike and recreation hubs, reviving the arts, culture and heritage strategies, to establishing the $7m budget over 10yrs for protecting our established native forests in our public reserves, to pushing back against the handover of your Three Waters assets.

We have an incredibly diverse and beautiful city, populated by an amazing and resilient people.

I am devoted to improving the welfare of all citizens.

And as Mayor I will continue to be an approachable representative for all people and our region, and will remain at all times forthright in ensuring a healthier Nelson for all to flourish.

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EVENT - TREE PLANTING - The Motueka Catchment Collective

The Motueka Catchment Collective 

 
The Motueka Catchment Collective tree planting

The Motueka Catchment Collective is planting 5,000 trees across the catchment to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and have a few planting days coming up over the next week. All are welcome. Come prepared for planting and bring your own spade. Pre-register your interest in attending so they can provide you with more information including the physical address and contact you if there are any changes: www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9V6BH6.

Planting days:

•  Saturday 23 July, 10am, Stanley Brook.
• Saturday 23 July, 10.30am, Woodstock.
• Tuesday 26 July, 10am, Upper Stanley Brook Road.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS. - LONDON

Britain on course for hottest day on record 

A member of the Queen's Guard receives water to drink outside Buckingham Palace in London, July 18, 2022. REUTERS

LONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - Britain was on course for its hottest day on record on Monday with temperatures forecast to hit 40C for the first time, forcing train companies to cancel services, schools to close early and ministers to urge the public to stay at home.

Much of Europe is baking in a heatwave that has pushed temperatures into the mid-40s Celsius (over 110 Fahrenheit) in some regions, with wildfires raging across tinder-dry countryside in Portugal, Spain and France.

Britain's government triggered a "national emergency" alert as temperatures were forecast to surpass the 38.7C (102F) recorded in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden in 2019 on Monday and Tuesday.

"We've got a difficult 48 hours coming," Kit Malthouse, a minister in charge of government coordination, told BBC radio.

London's metro network imposed temporary speed restrictions for Monday and Tuesday, meaning it would run a reduced service with journeys taking longer than normal. It urged commuters to only travel if essential.

The national rail network also urged passengers to stay at home and said some services - including a key route between northeastern England and London - would not run during parts of Tuesday.

Jake Kelly from Network Rail said he hoped normal operations would resume on Wednesday, when temperatures are forecast to fall, but that would depend on "the damage that the weather does to the infrastructure over the next couple of days".

The government urged schools to stay open but many were due to close earlier than usual, normal uniform demands were ditched and end-of-term sports days were cancelled. Some schools were shut, resorting to lockdown-style online lessons.

News from the Police

Tasman Police

Ute stuck in the Waimea River. Photo Police

Successful water rescue, Appleby

A man has been successfully rescued after his vehicle became submerged in the Waimea River earlier this morning.

At around 6:30am Police were alerted to a ute stuck in the water, near Appleby Bridge.

The water was reported to be up over the bonnet and rising.

The man sought refuge on the back of his ute while he waited for emergency services to attend.

He was successfully extracted by the Swift Water Rescue Team shortly after 7am.

The man had no apparent injuries, but was very cold and being checked over by ambulance staff.

Plans to recover the vehicle are underway.

Police want to make special mention to everyone who assisted in the man’s successful rescue.

Update: Missing Maruia Falls swimmer

Police can now release the name of the man missing at Maruia Falls.

He is Mikhail Buchanan, also known as Mikhail Anderson, 26, of Christchurch,.

“This continues to be an incredibly difficult time for Mikhail’s family and friends, and we want to be in a position to provide them with closure,” says Nelson Bays Area Commander Matthew Scoles.

Searching continued over the weekend and included searching of the river bank, camera searches of pools that were unable to be accessed by the Dive Squad due to conditions, and a chute downstream of the falls. However due to water conditions visibility was an issue throughout the weekend.

“Over the past 10 days the search teams have been confronted with considerable challenges due to the weather and river conditions but have made use of all search windows available,” says Inspector Scoles.

“This has included searches of the river by the Police National Dive Squad, Nelson Dive Club, Swift Water Rescue Team and Nelson Surf Rescue, and onshore support and bank searches by Police Search and Rescue members."

In total teams have searched the area of the falls and about two kilometres downstream.

Police expect to reassess in the coming days and determine whether further searching is possible in current conditions.

Appalling driver behaviour disappoints Nelson Police

Nelson Police are appalled at the driving behaviour of some motorists following an operation on State Highway 6 Whakatu Drive on the weekend.

During the three-hour operation across Friday and Saturday nights seven people were processed for drink driving and 12 notices issued for excessive speed and insecure loads.

Nelson Bays Road Policing Acting Senior Sergeant Tyson Martin says those caught speeding were often inexperienced young drivers breaching their licence conditions and carrying passengers. Depending on the offence a restricted or learner driver could be liable for an infringement fine, have their vehicle impounded or licence suspended.

He says Police have previously detected high speeds in the area so we will continue to target road users who create a risk on our roads.

In the past year, Police have attended multiple crashes, as well as 119 reports of insecure loads on Whakatu Drive and the Richmond Deviation alone.

“The flow-on effect of an insecure load dropping onto the motorway creates serious hazards to vehicles and occupants and can significantly reduce commute times,” says Acting Senior Sergeant Martin.

“Please slow down – secure the load on your vehicle or trailer – and do not drink and drive.”

A reminder to make a report to 105 if you see any unsafe driving with as much detail as possible. If there is an immediate safety risk call 111.

Pigeon Post News

Keep Motueka Beautiful working bee

 EVENT:  Thorp Bush Motueka Saturday 23 July - KEEP MOTUEKA BEAUTIFUL

Thorp Bush Motueka         Photo Supplied

There will be a Keep Motueka Beautiful working bee on Saturday 23rd July from 9.30am to 12.30pm at Thorp Bush - third time lucky we hope! Facebook noted due to weather.

We will be planting up the south (drier) side of what was the turning circle, as well as some infill planting, so meet at the far end of the driveway (past the playground).  It will be muddy so dress appropriately.  BYO spade if you can, but we will have some available. Morning tea will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you. KEEP CHECKING FACEBOOK

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