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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A sandy sports court being installed outside the EA Networks Centre in Ashburton has been delayed due to a lack of sand.
The $30,000 project was scheduled to be completed by the end of June but it will now be carried over into the next financial … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A sandy sports court being installed outside the EA Networks Centre in Ashburton has been delayed due to a lack of sand.
The $30,000 project was scheduled to be completed by the end of June but it will now be carried over into the next financial year.
Council people and facilities group manager Sarah Mosley said contractors couldn't source the appropriate sand.
“A special beach-soft sand is required and that isn’t normally held by local quarries, hence the need to delay as the contractors have indicated this isn’t currently available to them.
“The project is working through the design and scoping stage, and will require boxing and a timber edge as well as some excavation.”
The court will be suitable for “beach sports” and be available for casual community use with bookings possible if the need arises, Mosley said.
To deter the sand court from becoming a community cat litterbox, there are plans for it to be covered when it's not in use, she said.
EA Networks Centre's new manager Richard Wood said the delay had a silver lining with it benefitting the investigation and planning for installing a new 18-hole mini golf course next to the sand court next year.
The up to $400,000 course – paid for from reserve contributions –will not be manned.
Balls and clubs will likely be available to rent from the EA Networks Centre but the public can bring their own ball and putter.
The court is not suitable for pétanque.
The Ashburton Petanque Club, which has been based at the MSA Bowling Club grounds, is on the lookout for a new home after the MSA's decision to sell the site.
Mosley said the council had spoken to the club last year and they had outlined its requirements would be for 15-20 piste – up to about 1200m2, and it hadn’t been included or requested in the 30-year master plan process.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
More details of Ashburton's proposed EA Networks Centre master plan have been refined, but some are calling for the development to be brought forward.
The 30-year draft master plan provides the blueprint for the future development of a sports … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
More details of Ashburton's proposed EA Networks Centre master plan have been refined, but some are calling for the development to be brought forward.
The 30-year draft master plan provides the blueprint for the future development of a sports hub at the EA Networks Centre, but doesn't include the project's timing or budgeting.
There are some aspects included in Ashburton council's long-term plan that have a budget allocated, including the stadium’s $23.7m three-court extension starting in 2030.
However, the rest of the 30-year master plan signalled what will go where, when the time comes.
At the council hearings this week, people and facilities group manager Sarah Mosley said while the council’s available land around the sports centre appears large, they can’t fit or afford everything.
“Although we would love a sports hub to have absolutely everything, we would probably do it poorly if we tried, so it's best to limit our options and provide what we can, well.”
There are existing facilities at the Ashburton Domain for tennis, cricket, and athletics while softball and football are planned to be homed at Argyle Park, Mosley said.
The centre’s planned greenfield development includes two turfs and two sports fields that are aimed at being multi-use, Mosley said.
A final draft of the plan may take months, with the council keeping an eye on Mid Canterbury Rugby (MCRU) decisions around remaining at the A&P Showgrounds.
MCRU chief executive Tanya Dearns told councillors that developing the green field space was critically urgent and pushed for it to coincide with the stadium extension.
“Potential community partners could work together to ensure or to secure financial commitments and create a fundraising plan to be ready in seven years."
Conversations with partners and users of the entire facility, including indoor sports, should start now, Dearns said.
"There are members of the community that would partner with us, with the sports, with the council, to get this development underway sooner rather than later.”
Mid Canterbury Cricket asked only to be part of the conversation as their home ground would likely be the Ashburton Domain.
Cricket's Mike Southby said even if the field configuration changed to allow a pitch, it would only be one so they would still need games in the domain.
In another submission, the Ashburton Range Users Association wanted assurance that they would not be squeezed out by the future development and safety fears over their proximity to the proposed sports fields. The shooting range sits on Crown land adjacent to the council-owned land.
EA Networks Centre's new manager, Richard Wood, said the noise from the shooting range is negligible, and he didn’t see the fenced-off range being a problem in future.
The council removed any expenditure on an outdoor pool from the long-term plan but there is space allocation for a future aquatic extension, either indoor or outdoor, in the 30-year master plan.
Councillor Richard Wilson said squash courts were not a viable option as they not a multipurpose space.
Councillor Lynette Lovett asked about a skate park being included and also supported a climbing wall option being retained in the plan to provide youth activities.
A skate park was disregarded but a climbing wall will be considered as part of any future stadium extension.
“Leave it on the list to be discarded or built at a later time,” mayor Neil Brown said.
Adding squash courts to the plan was also raised.
However, it remained absent from the plans for now as there had been no submissions from the squash fraternity.
Respite care is a great short break option for a family member or loved one that also helps give carers some time out to recharge the batteries. There are a range of circumstances which might require respite overnight or support for day care.
It could be needed after a hospital stay or just as a… View moreRespite care is a great short break option for a family member or loved one that also helps give carers some time out to recharge the batteries. There are a range of circumstances which might require respite overnight or support for day care.
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Click read more for the full article.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton District residents will face an 11.8% average rate increase when the long-term plan is signed off later this month.
Mayor Neil Brown said 11% was an acceptable result considering the average rate rise across the country was sitting at 15% … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton District residents will face an 11.8% average rate increase when the long-term plan is signed off later this month.
Mayor Neil Brown said 11% was an acceptable result considering the average rate rise across the country was sitting at 15% and Ashburton aimed to keep its increase around 10%.
“It’s high, but inflation is certainly not our friend, interest rates are kicking in and it’s all biting.”
The rates increase in 2024-25 is 11.8%, with a forecast 10.1% and 11% the following years.
More than 1500 submissions presented a wide range, and polarising, views for councillors to consider, with four days of hearings and five days of deliberations to finalise the plan.
A common thread from the community through the process was to make savings where possible and focus on core services like roads and water, Brown said.
“We dropped the frilly stuff and focused on what was needed.
“We had some good comments come through the submissions which gave us food for thought and we’ve changed our minds after we've listened to them.”
Some tough decisions were made that might not please everybody but they were made in the best interests of the district, he said.
The plan has $67.6 million budgeted over the next 10 years on road upgrades, $33.9m on drinking water infrastructure, and $22.6m on wastewater.
Those figures alone make up the bulk of the rate increase in 2024-25.
From what the council consulted on it has added $200,000 to tackle water quality issues at Lake Hood and an additional $500,000 per year for shingle roads that pushed the increase up to 11.8%.
Of the big decisions, the simplest was introducing a green waste bin to the kerbside collection service.
The others required more debate.
Councillors couldn’t support spending $3.1m on either outdoor pool option – as well as the around $400,000 operating costs for a four-month operation.
Working with the Tinwald Reserve Board on an alternative for the Tinwald Pool site is “the best solution for that community”, Brown said.
“It’s now going to the community to say what they want to turn that site into.”
Councillors had to be brave with the decision for a managed exit of stockwater services by 2027, with a working group to help find alternative delivery options, Brown said.
Pushing the stadium extension out two more years to start in 2030 means it will go through two more long-term plan processes allowing future councils to re-evaluate its cost and timing.
After a lengthy debate on the future of Balmoral Hall, the decision was to retain it for two years before being either sold or demolished, while the adjacent land will be turned into a shingled car park.
The outlier was a mini-golf course to be constructed for up to $400,000 at the EA Networks Centre, to be paid for from the reserve contributions fund.
The final plan is set to be adopted on June 26.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A local election overhaul is on the cards with four-year terms and the end of postal voting up for consideration - and both concepts have the backing of Ashburton mayor Neil Brown.
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has set up a group, headed by … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A local election overhaul is on the cards with four-year terms and the end of postal voting up for consideration - and both concepts have the backing of Ashburton mayor Neil Brown.
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has set up a group, headed by Nelson mayor Nick Smith, to consider how best to improve voter turnout and build support for reform from communities, councils, and central government.
LGNZ president Sam Broughton said "serious reform" was needed, adding that voters would see more work achieved if council terms were extended to four years.
"Currently, local elections are cumbersome and inefficient compared with the general election.
"We also feel there is too much time and money wasted by having short three-year terms."
Brown has previously signaled his support for a four-year term.
“I think it’s a good idea and good to see they have set up a task force to look into it.”
Under a three-year term with a long-term plan review landing in the middle, councils have a limited window to set in motion and oversee any direction before elections rolled around again, he said.
As well as extending the council term, Brown said they should look at the long-term plan being reviewed every three years.
“It’s a huge process and the value of it being reviewed every three years is not in tune with the cost and workload.”
Especially when they still go through an annual plan process in the intermittent years, he said.
The days of voting in a local election by post could also end.
Smith said there are questions over the “viability of postal voting with the decline of postal services and most people doing their business online”.
A shift away from postal voting also had Brown’s support.
“It makes sense in today's age of everything being electronic.
“Some people are sceptical it could get tampered with, but I'm not so sure.
“It will get participation up, making it easier to vote.”
Who should administer the local elections is also up for review.
At present, most individual councils hire private companies to conduct local government polling.
Turnout has been in steady decline nationwide.
In the last election, only 50.5% of Ashburton’s eligible population voted, which was down from 55.05% in 2019, but remains above the national average of 45.62%.
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By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Transforming Aotearoa into a dark sky nation could attract stargazing international tourists, creating huge economic benefits, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says.
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand believes New Zealand could become a dark sky … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Transforming Aotearoa into a dark sky nation could attract stargazing international tourists, creating huge economic benefits, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says.
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand believes New Zealand could become a dark sky nation, an idea Doocey says he supports.
To become a dark sky nation the country would need to cut light pollution, such as outdoor lighting, to allow for greater stargazing and astronomy.
Tourism New Zealand research indicated more than 70% of people thinking about visiting New Zealand were interested in stargazing, he said.
The best times for stargazing were during the off-peak and shoulder seasons for tourism, which meant protecting New Zealand’s night skies could provide an economic boost when tourist towns were otherwise quiet.
"It is something I am keen to encourage," Doocey said.
‘‘We want to grow tourism because we know it brings jobs to rural New Zealand.
‘‘Tourism is very seasonal, so we need to be looking at how we can market and promote New Zealand during those shoulder and off-peak periods.’’
The Waimakariri MP said an economic impact report commissioned by Enterprise North Canterbury last year showed a dark sky trail would provide an economic boost in the region.
The report said a dark sky reserve could generate $4.6 million of visitor spending in Waimakariri and create up to 24 jobs.
The Oxford Dark Sky Group obtained dark sky park status in January for the Oxford Forest Conservation Area from the Dark Sky International.
Oxford Dark Sky president Raul Elias-Drago said there was no cost to the group, thanks to support from the community, the Waimakariri District Council, Oxford-Ohoka Community Board and Government agencies such as the Department of Conservation.
The group was now planning to apply for dark sky reserve status, which would incorporate the town of Oxford.
Doocey said the Oxford example showed how communities coming together could achieve economic benefits at little cost.
Enterprise North Canterbury has been working with other regional tourism organisations (RTOs) to develop a Canterbury dark sky trail.
The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was established in 2012, while the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust is about to apply for dark sky sanctuary status and interest is growing in other Canterbury communities.
‘‘I would encourage RTOs to think about whether dark skies should be part of their destination management plans,’’ Doocey said.
‘‘There is real potential for a ground up approach and I would be really supportive of that.’’
Elias-Drago, who is also the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) secretary, said a national approach was needed, perhaps led by the Department of Conservation.
‘‘The Department of Conservation has been very supportive regionally,’’ he said.
‘‘The Rangiora office supported our application and other regional offices have supported other applications, but every time each regional office is doing the same thing.
‘‘If the work was done nationally, we wouldn’t have to replicate the work in every region.’’
Doocey has accepted an invitation to speak at the New Zealand Starlight Conference in Tekapo in October, which is organised by RASNZ and the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve board.
‘‘We are hoping to use the conference as a springboard to advance the discussion around becoming a dark sky nation,’’ Elias-Drago said.
Niue became the world’s first whole country to become an International dark sky nation in 2020.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
This winter, we are celebrating the 2024 Olympics with our TV Guide readers with a chance to win 1 of 4 65” Panasonic 4K TVs worth $3,999 each.
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Every year, thousands of New Zealanders are called up to serve as jurors in the High and District Courts, and it's an important way to contribute to your country.
But for some, jury service can be a huge disruption and a financial burden. Do you think changes could be made to our jury … View moreEvery year, thousands of New Zealanders are called up to serve as jurors in the High and District Courts, and it's an important way to contribute to your country.
But for some, jury service can be a huge disruption and a financial burden. Do you think changes could be made to our jury service system to address these challenges?
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury households are facing a lower than expected rates rise after the regional council found savings, including delaying some transport projects.
After two days of deliberations last week, Environment Canterbury pulled back its proposed average … View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury households are facing a lower than expected rates rise after the regional council found savings, including delaying some transport projects.
After two days of deliberations last week, Environment Canterbury pulled back its proposed average rates rise from 24.2% to 17.9%.
Acting chairperson Craig Pauling said there were some tense negotiations, but he was pleased with the outcome.
The councillors voted on 15 main resolutions, with several resulting in close division among the 16 councillors, he said.
‘‘Even though it was tense throughout, there was good support at the end and people felt there was some good give and take in the room,’’ Pauling said.
‘‘The feeling in the room was, ‘we have done all we could have’.’’
More than 1300 submissions were received on the draft long-term plan, with 153 making oral presentations during the hearings, which were held over four days.
‘‘We tested the water with some bold options in our consultation and the response demonstrated there were mixed views, with some saying we needed to deliver more, while others identified we could make savings or prioritise work,’’ Pauling said.
Savings were made by delaying some of the proposed public transport projects, including delaying work on a mass transit business case until year 2 and postponing bus route improvement work until year three.
‘‘It makes sense to delay this work so we have a better idea of where the Government and Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) are heading,’’ Pauling said.
‘‘Some councillors thought we should be more cautious, but if we don’t put it in the plan, we don’t get anything from Waka Kotahi.’’
About three-quarters of submissions supported the council increasing its spending on ‘‘river resilience’’, including flood protection, and pest and weed control.
The council is proposing to invest $25 million a year, over the next 10 years, to boost flood protection.
There was strong support for a district-wide rate for river resilience in Selwyn, and the council was considering similar options from the Ashley Rakahuri River and other rivers in South Canterbury.
Pauling said it would need support from the community, local councils and ultimately central Government.
‘‘Over the last five years we have been getting more and more requests for how we might move forward in addressing our rivers.
‘‘It is recognition that rivers are important to everybody.’’
He said river resilience was a national issue, as disruption to bridges on major routes could affect the whole country.
‘‘Room for rivers’’ was an important conversation and could be achieved by buying land, such as Environment Canterbury buying land beside the Ashburton River.
Another example was the Waimakariri District Council’s land purchase on Lineside Rd, beside the Cam Ruataniwha River.
‘‘By acquiring the land we can do something great for the community,’’ Pauling said.
Council staff will now finalise the long-term plan before it is audited by Audit New Zealand and adopted by councillors on June 26.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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