Northland news in brief, rail arms faulty and principal made life member of SPANZ

Police diverted traffic while a fault on the Kamo Rd railway crossing, above, was repaired yesterday. Photo/John Stone

Forced detour in Whangarei

Motorists in Whangarei were forced to detour around a rail crossing for two and a half hours yesterday after the train detection system failed.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said the system, that activates the alarm at the Kamo Rd level crossing failed just after 11am yesterday.

The system is designed to fail safe, and as it was not able to determine whether a train was approaching the level crossing alarms and barrier arms were activated. The system is monitored and a technician was dispatched to fix the fault. Repairs were completed about 1.30pm. The fault was not related to the weekend's steam trips.

Independent Commission to look at chicken farm next month

Independent commissioners to deal with an application for a broiler chicken farm in Northland won't be appointed until at least next month. Only 17 of the nearly 5000 submissions the Northland Regional Council and the Kaipara District Council received are in support of a proposed broiler chicken farm just outside Dargaville.

Tegel wants to set up a broiler chicken farm at Arapohue with a capacity to stock up to 1.3 million chickens and employ 28 people. Public submissions closed on March 7 and both councils are currently going through them to determine the issues raised.

Kerikeri High Principal recognised at awards

Kerikeri High School principal Elizabeth Forgie has been awarded life membership of the Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand. Making the presentation, at last month's annual conference, SPANZ president Mike Williams acknowledged her 23 years of service. She had been elected to the executive by her peers every year since 1995, serving as vice-president and national conference convenor since 2000.

Have your say

Whangarei District Council is holding it's Have Your Say Event for the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan tomorrow in the Cafler Suite at Forum North from 6pm to 9.30pm. The Have Your Say Event is an informal way for members of the public to give feedback to councillors face to face, outside the formal setting of a council meeting. Public consultation on the Long Term Plan closes on April 8. Go to www.heretowhere.co.nz to read the plan and give feedback.

Correction

A story on the Northern Advocate website incorrectly stated the Whangarei Canopy Night Markets would start again on October 13. The market will in fact be back on October 19, 2018. The Northern Advocate apologises for the error.