Ashburton District newsletter
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The timing of the demolition and rebuild of elderly housing units in Ashburton will be known once the contract is finalised.
BP Construction Limited has been selected as the preferred contractor to demolish and redevelop 16 units at Friendship Lane … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The timing of the demolition and rebuild of elderly housing units in Ashburton will be known once the contract is finalised.
BP Construction Limited has been selected as the preferred contractor to demolish and redevelop 16 units at Friendship Lane for the tendered price of $3,073,668 plus GST.
The council’s business support group manager, Leanne Macdonald, said the detail of the timeline for the two stage project, with eight units demolished and rebuilt at a time, is being developed.
“We will be able to share more information about the tender process once the finer details of the contract have been formally agreed by council and BP Construction Limited.
“The Friendship Lane units are of a design that no longer complied with the recent changes in Healthy Homes Legislation and so were a priority to upgrade.”
The remaining units at Friendship Lane comply with legislation and no future work is programmed in the draft long-term plan, Macdonald said.
The $3m project is being funded by a “range of streams”, including external funding, a previous property sale, and loan funding.
There are already nine vacant units at Friendship Lane, clearing the way for stage one to begin, pending funding applications and contract negotiations.
“As we refurbish vacant units in our district, we will work with any existing tenants impacted by this project to be relocated within the timeframe that is yet to be determined.”
The nine units have been vacant for some time, one since August 2021.
The 16 units are part of the council’s 102 elderly housing units, available for people over 65 years of age across six complexes spread throughout Ashburton, Methven, and Rakaia.
A recent property activity report outlined that there are 20 applications on the waiting list, with 10 people wanting single units and 10 requesting double units (three couples and seven individuals). This does not include the seven tenants at Friendship Lane.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton's councillors are demanding action from the regional council so money from a proposed hefty rates hike isn't "just sucked up into Christchurch".
With the community facing a 24% average rate increase from Environment … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton's councillors are demanding action from the regional council so money from a proposed hefty rates hike isn't "just sucked up into Christchurch".
With the community facing a 24% average rate increase from Environment Canterbury, Ashburton District councillors said they want to see action in key areas and assurances that money is being well spent.
Their comments came as they discussed their submission on the regional council’s proposed long term plan.
Councillor Richard Wilson said ECan is loading a lot of costs back onto users and the Ashburton District is facing a large rate increase.
“A lot of that is for what I would call common good things like protecting the Ashburton River.
“We need to recognise that a lot of money is being taken out of our district and we hope the services come back [and] it’s not just sucked up into Christchurch and lost in the ivory towers.”
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said that with the district contributing a significant amount of money to ECan, “we want to see some action now”.
Brown was critical of ECan’s consultation summary document, which he said “doesn’t give me good guidance on what ECan want to do, especially for the Ashburton District”.
With a proposed 24% average rate rise, he “can’t see where that money is being spent” in the district, but admitted he had yet to read the full 300-plus page document.
However, he said if he was struggling to understand - as someone “a bit more educated" than the general public reading the documents - he wasn’t sure if the community would see where the money would go.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said she wanted better reporting of the work being done.
“They need to have some accountability for that money in my view.”
The council submission is pushing for ECan to lift its use of the uniform annual general charge, which has every property pay the same amount from 8% to at least 12% of total rates or higher, ‘to better reflect the benefits of its programmes across the region and to alter the spread of the rates burden’.
The council has raised it before and hasn’t had a response, Brown said.
“We need a response back to our submission that is [respective] of our submission, not the general letter that gets sent out.”
He will put that to regional councillors when he presents the submission.
Brown also wanted to send a clear message that the council wants a review into how river catchments are rated for and funded.
The submission also calls for an immediate review of the recent Ashburton River consent review process that imposed new Ashburton River minimum flow conditions on consent holders.
It supports the proposed work on Carters Creek but requests the work be brought forward.
The council is also asking for the consideration of a public transport pilot in Ashburton, and a daily Ashburton-Timaru and Ashburton-Christchurch service.
The consultation on ECan’s draft long-term plan closes on April 14.
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The Ashburton District Council’s submission uses example properties to show the average rate increase for Ashburton rural properties is 24% and for urban properties, the average increase is 31%.
A rural property in Wakanui worth $4,760,000 will pay $2,681.20, an increase of $523.99, while a rural Rakaia valued at $13,510,000 will pay $15,633.84 – a jump of $3728.56.
An Ashburton urban property worth $430,000 will pay $409.66, a $98.03 hike.
Come and join us at the Vintage Fair this Sunday 14 April 2024 - you won't be disappointed!
Canadian clinical neuroscientist and researcher Professor Vladimir Hachinski has been announced the winner of the 2024 Ryman Prize - an annual $250,000 grant for the world’s best discovery, development, advancement or achievement that enhances the quality of life for older people.
The prize … View moreCanadian clinical neuroscientist and researcher Professor Vladimir Hachinski has been announced the winner of the 2024 Ryman Prize - an annual $250,000 grant for the world’s best discovery, development, advancement or achievement that enhances the quality of life for older people.
The prize was presented by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at a ceremony at Logan Campbell Village in Auckland today, celebrating the major contribution Professor Hachinski has made to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and the links between ‘the terrible three’ - stroke, dementia and coronary heart disease.
Click read more for the full article.
Get the best protection you can before winter. The flu vaccine is free if you’re over 65. It’s also free for pregnant people and for many others with certain underlying health conditions, including diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and mental health conditions.
To book your flu vaccine … View moreGet the best protection you can before winter. The flu vaccine is free if you’re over 65. It’s also free for pregnant people and for many others with certain underlying health conditions, including diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and mental health conditions.
To book your flu vaccine contact your doctor, pharmacy or healthcare provider, or visit
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Dear neighbours, does anyone know of a furniture removal person or company to move contents of a 1 bedroom unit in Ashburton to Christchurch this month. Many thanks.
We are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly with the wonderful, Sam McDonald - a second-term Christchurch city councillor representing the Waimairi Ward. We invite you to share a question for him!
A little bit about Sam:
A chartered accountant by profession, Sam has experience in both… View moreWe are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly with the wonderful, Sam McDonald - a second-term Christchurch city councillor representing the Waimairi Ward. We invite you to share a question for him!
A little bit about Sam:
A chartered accountant by profession, Sam has experience in both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as a director of Civic Building Limited (a Ngai Tahu property Joint Venture) and is an Independent Trustee of Development West Coast. Sam is a Chartered Director of the Institute of Directors and has experience in Audit and Risk, Health and Safety and Infrastructure projects.
Sam shares that within Council he is focused on 'financial oversight, particularly of the capital programme and the day-to-day operational expenditure, and how this provides impact investment into Christchurch communities.'
Leave a comment below and Councillor Sam McDonald will answer your questions on all things council, whether it's the budget, rate rises or even about the new stadium.
↓ Share your question now! ↓
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
All trains are now set to zoom through Ashburton at 80kph – but KiwiRail says it has no plans to upgrade any crossings.
The Fairfield Freight Hub will open next month, shifting the shunting out of the centre of town.
KiwiRail future state … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
All trains are now set to zoom through Ashburton at 80kph – but KiwiRail says it has no plans to upgrade any crossings.
The Fairfield Freight Hub will open next month, shifting the shunting out of the centre of town.
KiwiRail future state freight general manager Mark Heissenbuttel said it meant people won’t need to wait for trains shunting across level crossings, but they would need to recognise that most trains would now be travelling at normal speed through town.
“Trains already go through Ashburton at 80kph, the normal line speed, and there are currently no plans to upgrade any level crossings in the town,” he said.
“The level crossings in central Ashburton are compliant with safety standards.”
While the normal line speed is 80kph, when trains had to slow or stop in town they travelled more slowly while they got back up to full speed.
Recent intersection improvements on State Highway 1, at Walnut Ave and in Tinwald, included upgraded rail level crossings, but the others will remain as they are.
Most crossings have active protections such as barrier arms, lights and bells.
The two pedestrian-only crossings that extended from Burnett St and Tancred St to the West St car park had safety signs, Heissenbuttel said.
“We are putting additional signage at each crossing and are also launching a rail safety campaign to raise local awareness about train movements in the wider Ashburton area.
“People may have become used to trains moving slowly through town and they may have crossed the tracks in front of stationary trains.
“We urge people in the area to be extra vigilant at all level crossings, pay close attention to and obey the warning systems and signage and always look both ways for trains before crossing the tracks.”
Ashburton District Council infrastructure and open spaces general manager Neil McCann said the council was working with KiwiRail and the Tracksafe Foundation Charitable Trust on a range of communication methods to minimise the risk from increased train speeds, with a focus on the pedestrian crossings in the CBD.
“Council is discussing improved safety measures at the crossings with KiwiRail.”
Meanwhile, a delay in upgrading the level crossings at Fairton meant locomotives would have to shunt wagons across the Fairfield Rd level crossing for about seven months, as part of daily work putting together freight trains for the hub, Heissenbuttel said.
“KiwiRail is redesigning how the signals in the area work, which will resolve the issue, but it is expected to take until October for the new system to be operational.
“To avoid having to wait at the crossing, until then we recommend people avoid using Fairfield Rd at specific times.”
From April 8, the shunting will affect Fairfield Rd with freight trains moving wagons across the road between 9.30am and 10.30am, 8.45pm and 9.30pm, and 1.30am and 2.15am each day.
At these times the level crossing on Fairfield Rd will be blocked for up to 10 minutes as wagons are positioned to be loaded at the new Fairfield Freight Hub.
The Fairfield Rd level crossing is equipped with flashing lights and bells and barrier arms.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton's mayor worries more businesses face closure as tough economic times hit the district.
The Speight’s Ale House closed last week, while restaurant Armdadillo's, which is across the road, closed earlier this year.
New … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton's mayor worries more businesses face closure as tough economic times hit the district.
The Speight’s Ale House closed last week, while restaurant Armdadillo's, which is across the road, closed earlier this year.
New eateries opening in the area and rising costs of running the business were cited as reasons for the ale house closure.
Owner Tony Potts believed there were too many eateries in the town competing against each other, and he would not be surprised to see more closures.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown agreed.
“A business shutting down is always a concern,” Brown said.
“People in Ashburton have a great variety of choices and possibly there are too many eateries in Ashburton, which is detrimental to the people running those businesses – the same number of people spread across a greater number of businesses can’t be sustained forever. People will go where they like.
“I’m not sure what else council can do apart from supporting them through our economic development agency, and attracting more tourists.”
The cost of living crisis was biting, and with two quarters of negative growth leading to a recession, it was tough economic times, Brown said.
The library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere, opened earlier this year in the CBD and contains an espresso bar.
The council was cautious of making sure it didn’t compete with existing businesses and had local café One Ninety Nine relocate from within the CBD, Brown said.
The council spent $15 million on the re-vitalisation of the town centre just two years ago.
In the meantime, the number of vacant shops scattered around the CBD – the area bordered by Havelock, Cass, Moore, and East streets, is increasing.
The council’s plan change 4 in 2021 aimed to strengthen the role and function of the CBD as the primary commercial, retail, recreation, cultural and entertainment centre for the district.
It hasn’t stopped big box retailers setting up on the fringe of the CBD.
The River Crossing precinct opened at the end of 2022, with Kmart and several eateries, while on the other side of SH1 Briscoes shifted out of the CBD to set up next to a new Rebel Sport, with a Chemist Warehouse also opening next door in 2023.
Business Canterbury’s Mid Canterbury business adviser, Jason MacRae, said the arrival of big box stores and national brand eateries was a sign that Ashburton was growing and was seen by the rest of the country as a great place to do business.
“Unfortunately, the timing of this increased competition has aligned with local businesses facing the cumulative impacts of rising costs, dwindling consumer demand as household budgets also feel the bite of inflation, and the lingering effects of labour shortages.”
A report by Infometrics in December found that the value of electronic card spending in Ashburton's CBD had been relatively consistent since October 2021.
Figures released to the council last week showed tourism spend was on the increase.
Brown was sceptical about the reliability of the numbers, but chief executive Hamish Riach said the focus should be on the trend, which was an increase in tourism.
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Seven-term Mayor of Masterton, Bob Francis CNZM QSO MBE JP, has been named the 2024 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
Affectionately dubbed ‘Mr Wairarapa’, Bob has served his community in multiple areas, including health services, commercial … View moreSeven-term Mayor of Masterton, Bob Francis CNZM QSO MBE JP, has been named the 2024 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
Affectionately dubbed ‘Mr Wairarapa’, Bob has served his community in multiple areas, including health services, commercial development, the arts, aviation, homelessness, conservation and sports.
Bob’s award signifies the sixth time Ryman Healthcare has supported this category of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, which provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Kiwi seniors who continue to make positive contributions towards the future of Aotearoa.
Click read more for the full article.
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