Latest news with #Beca
Otago Daily Times
06-08-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Excavating tip may need military help: Beca
Excavating a former Dunedin tip may need military supervision after rumours a wax-wrapped box of machine guns and ammunition were found there. The suggestion comes from a review of investigations into the historic landfill under Kettle Park for the Dunedin City Council by consultancy Beca. The release of the review comes after the city council put about $38 million in its 2025-34 plan for the remediation of the former landfill. The review, from November last year, was released this month by the Otago Regional Council under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (Lgoima). Anecdotal evidence suggested "a wax-wrapped box of machine guns and ammunition from World War 2" was found buried next to the Dunedin Ice Stadium. The Ocean Beach army battery and firing range were also nearby, the Beca review said. Although explorations to date had failed to turn anything up, they recommended a desktop exercise be undertaken in order to better understand the site's use by the New Zealand military, the consultants said. "Remaining risk could be managed with appropriate procedures and working alongside New Zealand military or specialist third-party suppliers to control and manage the disturbance and disposal." The city council is due to re-visit options to clean up the historic landfill along the St Clair-St Kilda coast before the end of the month. For that reason the regional council declined to release a report entitled, "Draft Kettle Park — Review of Assessment of Remedial Options". That report was due to be presented to the city council on August 26 and would be made public at that time, the regional council said. However, another Beca review from late last year released by the regional council said the city council needed to better understand the impact on public access, long-term maintenance and potential changes to wildlife habitat of its forthcoming plan to deal with the toxic waste beneath Kettle Park. Beca reviewed three options put forward to address the threats to the environment and public posed by the historic landfill — which operated from around 1900 to the early 1950s and is now under threat from coastal erosion. A Beca senior associate said the three options provided "different levels and durations of protection". They said all three remediation options were "generally sound" but recommended further work on "long-term sustainability, structural design to prevent future outflanking and the logistics of extensive waste removal". "Attention to maintenance, ecological impacts and the ability to adapt to future sea-level rise will also be critical to the success of these interventions," the senior associate said. "Public access, long-term maintenance and potential habitat changes should be further explored." The three options reviewed were using "geosynthetic containers" as reinforcements, waste removal along with "dune reprofiling" or waste removal and a "backstop wall", or rock armouring. Beca said the three options, advanced in 2023 by Tonkin + Taylor, were developed in order to align with the city council's St Clair-St Kilda coastal plan. Accordingly, Beca assumed there was to be no further investigation of alternative options. Geosynthetic containers offered "an efficient and relatively quick solution" for around 20 years, but could be overtopped by waves in a one-in-10-year storm, which could result in sand dune material that contained contaminants being spilled. The option of waste removal and reprofiling the dunes with clean sand was advanced with the suggestion that removing waste material up to 50m inland from the beach could be required. Such extensive excavation, Beca said, could disturb neighbouring areas and measures would be required to prevent environmental contamination. The review also said "empirical evidence" should be provided to show the new sand dunes would withstand the erosion and storms predicted with climate change. Waste removal and the installation of rock armouring would reasonably provide a 50-year lifespan for the intervention, the review said. "And the provision for future adaptation as a conventional seawall is sensible." However, the review also noted the option did not include a specific plan to prevent coastal processes from "outflanking" the the rock wall. Further, although rock walls typically offered long-term protection, once exposed they would "alter the coastal landscape and potentially impact local ecosystems", the consultants said. City councillors discussed coastal hazards at Kettle Park and the St Clair and St Kilda beaches behind closed doors on Tuesday.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Senior Dachshund Only Walks a Certain 'Path' and It's Too Cute
Senior Dachshund Only Walks a Certain 'Path' and It's Too Cute originally appeared on PetHelpful. Meet Beca, a senior Dachshund dog who is very set in her ways. She's TikToker Mariam's best friend's dog, and she broke the internet in June with the adorable way that she takes her daily walks. Beca walks the same 'path' every day. The first time I watched the video, I missed it. But when I noticed that the pooch was walking along a stone pathway among all the stones, my heart did a flip! She has the sweetest little path that she travels down each day. I wasn't the only one smitten with Beca. Mariam's video garnered more than 19 million views and nearly 11 thousand loved it! Commenter @ swooned, "What a good and law abiding citizen!" and got more than 80 thousand likes for their comment. @Rey J brought us all back to childhood and got nearly the same amount of likes when they pointed out, "She's protecting you by avoiding the cracks!" @Soppa97 added, "If I step on a crack, my mother will perish horrifically..." Then @kenzzi0704 shared, "I love how she stopped, realized how far she still has left to go, and was like aww, and kept trodding on. Probably cursing her tiny legs lol!"If you have a dog at home, you know that they (for the most part) thrive for the most part by living on a schedule much like we do. They know when to expect breakfast, lunch, dinner, potty breaks, walks, and even extra snacks. They know when you leave the house for the day and when to expect you back at home. And they thrive on those timelines. The American Kennel Club (AKC) explains more for dogs of all ages, "A routine can reinforce previously taught skills in adult dogs and help them learn new behaviors. Changes—such as travel, moving, new relationships, or family members coming into the home—are a part of life. But a routine based on exercise, enrichment, training, and grooming can allow dogs to be more confident and comfortable." Bottom dog needs to know what to expect every day. Of course, some days are different than others, but for the most part, we all operate on the same day-in-day-out schedule. This offers comfort and security for them, so don't think they'll get bored with the same old, same old every day. Senior Dachshund Only Walks a Certain 'Path' and It's Too Cute first appeared on PetHelpful on Jul 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Owner Cries As Senior Dachshund Sticks to Her 'Little Path' in Yard
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A ten-year-old dachshund named Beca has melted hearts online after strolling her way into viral fame on TikTok. The short clip has melted hearts as the senior pup showed off her peculiar walking preference to over 15 million viewers since being posted earlier this week. In the video, she was delicately navigating a slim strip of smooth path in her backyard, carefully sidestepping the surrounding cobblestones. Posted by a friend of Beca's owner, @mariamnlv, who goes by Mariam on TikTok, she wrote: "She only walks on the little path. I'm crying." As the moment gained more attention, people flooded the comments with affection. "Doggo has lil sensory needs," one viewer, Ren, wrote. While another chimed in: "Don't like them cobbles on the beans!" Even brands joined the chorus. Walmart declared, "We love a delicate little lady," while fashion retailer Princess Polly added: "The perfect size path and all." And LidlGB quipped: "She's just a Lidl baby." Referencing the viral meme, Burger King Deutschland said: "MY SHAYLA," and TULA skincare commented, alongside a nail varnish emoji: "It's her little runway." One viewer summed it up: "Not to be dramatic but I would die for her." Another dachshund parent shared that their pup followed snow-covered routes from memory—"She was a little OCD, but we loved her." And responding to comments the stones hurt Beca's feet, Mariam confirmed: "The pebbles don't hurt..." When it comes to walking dogs, most paths are fine for dogs' paws, although there are some surfaces that should be avoided by owners. Hot sidewalks, asphalt and artificial grass can also pose a risk in warm weather, even when the air temperature feels comfortable. For example, at just 77degrees Fahrenheit, asphalt can reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to burn a dog's paws within a minute. A screenshot of Beca the dog walking along the path in the backyard. A screenshot of Beca the dog walking along the path in the backyard. @mariamnlv/TikTok At the other end of the spectrum, icy or slippery paths can be dangerous and uncomfortable too. Ice can cause slips and prolonged exposure to cold surfaces can lead to discomfort and even ice burn. It is also a good idea to avoid paths with broken or too much uneven surface, and off-road walking along nature trails can lead to other hazards. Snakes, poisonous plants and ticks can all hide in wild areas and pose a risk to pets. This isn't the first time dogs have gone viral on a narrow path. In 2023 two Corgis left people in stitches when they refused to let a narrow path stop them from their adventure. In a post on TIkTok, Finn and Fry managed to figure out how to continue walking side-by-side despite the narrow path on their hike in California. Newsweek reached out to @mariamnlv via TikTok for comment. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
NZ Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Waikare Gorge highway realignment plans pass crucial consent milestone
A spokesperson said with the applicant's agreement, processing timeframes were extended until the district council designation process was complete and 'draft conditions of consent could be worked through and finalised'. The district councils have consented changes enabling farmland to be used for the road on the near-4km route announced four years ago bypassing the gorge and the southern-approach township of Putorino. NZTA senior project manager Chris Mahoney said once property agreements had been finalised, NZTA would be looking to bring forward early enabling works. In the past fortnight, a tender process ended with Beca and Stantec appointed to a joint 'Principal's Technical Advisor' (PTA) role and the Design and Construct (D&C) contract will be awarded via a tender process later this year. 'As much as possible, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will be working with local contractors, supporting the local economy, while also accommodating the area's planned growth and ultimately increasing reliability and efficiency for freight and other road users,' Mahoney said. The priority was to see construction under way as soon as possible. A funding green light was announced by Government in February, and Mahoney said this week: 'At this stage, we are on track to begin main on-site construction of the realignment early next year.' There is expected to be little disruption to traffic during the construction, which is mainly off the current highway and includes a bridge over the gorge. The road through the gorge was closed for three months in 2023 after the Waikare River bridge was destroyed in Cyclone Gabrielle, with no suitable detour. A one-lane temporary Bailey bridge was opened the following May and has now been in use for almost two years. With a cost estimated by Minister of Transport Chris Bishop in February at possibly up to $425 million, it will be the most costly highway project ever in Hawke's Bay.
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Peter Davies obituary
My colleague Peter Davies, who has died aged 80, was an artist, arts administrator and latterly professor at the University of Sunderland. He raised the profile of visual arts in the north of England and also championed Welsh identity – especially through the Beca group of artists he and others formed in the 1970s with his brother, Paul. Between 1974 and 1992 Peter was visual arts officer for the public body Northern Arts, where his greatest successes included establishing the first forest sculpture trail at Grizedale, Cumbria, in 1977, and public art commissions such as the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen Bottle of Notes sculpture unveiled in Middlesbrough in 1993. Peter also initiated Art in the Metro programmes, and artist residencies for Durham Cathedral and Sunderland FC. Peter was born in Swansea, south Wales, to James Davies, an RAF officer, and Beryl (nee Peregrine). The family moved often for his father's postings and Peter and Paul went to numerous schools before boarding at Plymouth college in Devon. Peter went on to study fine art at Goldsmiths' College, London, where he met Annette Fox, a fellow student, whom he married in 1969. After a summer trip in 1967, between 1968 and 1972 Annette and Peter worked in the US. Peter first took a teaching post at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, and then was appointed a lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Contemporary art was changing and moving outside the gallery. Inspired by this, Peter curated the institute's 'visiting artists' programmes. As Chicago was an ideal stopping-off point between New York and Los Angeles, he attracted well-known artists and thinkers such as Richard Serra, Sol LeWitt and Lucy Lippard. Back in the UK, Peter joined Northern Arts and the couple settled in Tynemouth with their three sons, Jesse, Gabe and Owain. He gained an MA from the Royal College of Art before he went on in 1992 to become a freelance and consultant. In 2000 Peter was appointed a senior research fellow at the University of Sunderland, and later became a professor and head of glass and ceramics (and my manager), based in the university's National Glass Centre. He developed 'reach in' strategies, inviting artists to work with glass and ceramics – often for the first time. Peter's book Glass North East (2007) showcases the innovative outcomes. He oversaw the expansion of PhD numbers and secured funding for equipment to advance glass art, such as waterjet cutting. After his retirement in 2010 Peter refocused on his own art and had several exhibitions with Beca. The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, recognised his importance and added Peter's works to their collections. Peter is survived by Annette and their sons, and by five grandchildren, Bethan, Bo, Blake, Wolf and Farryn.
