New Roads Immortalise Amberley Legends
Two new roads in Amberley will honour the contributions of well-known community figures.
The naming of the two private roads, both to be located in Amberley Country Estate Retirement Village, have been approved by Council.
The new McEwan Crescent will pay homage to Gordon McEwan, a blacksmith who worked for Arthur Burke Ltd Blacksmith Shop during the 20th century, and was put forward as a 'tribute to local craftsmanship and community backbone'.
The second namesake lives in the Amberley Country Estate, close to the new road that will bear her name: Lodge Lane - 'in honour of Helen Lodge, a recent recipient of the Hurunui District Council Community Service Award. Helen and her husband, formerly Amberley's local police constable, have served the community for decades.'
There are few community organisations Helen hasn't served on. Her Community Service Award, awarded last year, recognises her service to the Amberley Lions' Club, the Amberley District Community Vehicle Trust, Amberley Returned Services Association, Poppy Day Appeal, Hato Hone St John, Cancer Support, the Dementia Unit in Amberley, IHC, and more.
Arriving in Amberley 40 years ago from Otago, Helen has been a volunteer for most of her life and, she says, her husband Mike was a member of the Lions Club for 50 years. 'He was the last of the sole-charge policemen,' she says.
Council's Planner Scott Rose says while councils are responsible for the naming of public roads, it is common for privately-owned retirement villages to request the naming and registration of private roads for easy navigation around the village for residents, visitors, postal services and emergency services.
'Council involvement ensures consistent naming and avoids duplication and confusion with any existing public roads. It also ensures these names are known to Council for future road naming.'
Scott says road names need to conform to the Rural and Urban Addressing Policy to meet legislative, Land Information New Zealand, New Zealand Post and emergency services requirements.
'Badly assigned addresses can cause problems and are costly to rectify.'
Once a subdivision is established, road naming can start, Rose says. 'Applicants submit three suggested names, Council Planning officers make recommendations, and a report is brought to Council for final approval with the recommendation of the relevant Council Committee.'
Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black, who presented Helen with her Community Service Award last year, says the new names are fitting tributes.
'Every road tells a story — and in this case, both honour the people who helped shape our community.'
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