Ashburton police station upgrade still up in the air
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An upgrade of Ashburton’s police station has been ruled out - for now.
In 2019, then Minister of Police Stuart Nash said police planned a major refurbishment or replacement of the existing Havelock St police station "for approximately 2025-26”.
Police have now confirmed there are no plans to redevelop the Ashburton station and that “it remains serviceable”.
“The plans were in the very early stages, and have not progressed to an approved concept, option, or business case.
“Police has portfolio planning work under way and the Ashburton station’s future will be considered as part of that.”
The council is in the middle of vacating the Havelock Street site this month, to move into Te Whare Whakatere Ashburton Library and civic centre, and put it on the market next year.
The possibility of the Ashburton police shifting 400m up the road resurfaced, only to be deemed a non-option by police.
Ashburton station’s future will be considered as part of a wider portfolio of planning work, police said.
In 2019, Nash said an analysis of the existing building and potential future site or redevelopment options were in a preliminary stage.
He later confirmed that an initial inspection of the Ashburton District Council's headquarters had been undertaken by police's regional property manager.
During 2020, then-Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon was on Nash’s case for progress updates, and if the council building was being considered as a potential site for a new police station.
Nash responded to Falloon’s enquiries that the police were “assessing options in relation to the current Ashburton police station site and its ability to accommodate future policing services for this community”.
An assessment of the existing station building and site were due to be undertaken and completed by end of 2020, but the timing was subject to change, Nash said.
Falloon then resigned in July 2020 and the dialogue around the future of Ashburton’s police station went quiet.
Council chief executive Hamish Riach confirmed there had been discussions with police.
“We understand that any change or update to their existing premises is not scheduled until 2029.
“This effectively rules them out of any serious consideration for the existing administration building site."
It still begs the question, the same one repeatedly asked by Falloon back in 2020, if the soon to be vacated council site is a viable option for an upgraded justice precinct given its location next to the courthouse.
Under the Policing Act 2008, the operational and administrative decisions including decisions on the use of police resources are matters for the police commissioner, not the Ministry of Justice.
And the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero is...
A huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.
The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.
The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a local called Margaret and the nomination reads:
'On Feb 14, 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle flooded many of the rural areas. Puketapu Hotel went under perhaps half a meter of water. However, immediately Mary Danielson and her son, Sam Danielson, along with their loyal staff pulled it together to cook copious amounts of food that without electricity would have been wasted. Throughout the years many of us have been treated with a pub gathering where we can reconnect and a free meal. At Christmas there was Santa, games, gifts for kids, donated patchwork for adults, an ice cream truck and lots of camaraderie.
This February on the cyclone anniversary, they again pulled out the stops to give hundreds of us a special night. We are all tired of the cyclone cleanup and they understood that it was needed.'
Such a deserving business and team, well done Mary and Sam. And thank you to all those who voted!
How much green is going in Ashburton’s red bin?
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
How much green waste the Ashburton District sends to landfill will be investigated before introducing kerbside green waste collection.
It is estimated that green waste makes up around 40% of the district’s general wast.
The Ashburton District Council is planning to introduce green waste collection in 2026, to align with a new waste management contract.
It has to start collecting household food waste by 2027 under government legislation, but in the long-term plan, the council is proposing to expand that to a food and organic waste collection service.
Which service it lands on will be decided over the next few weeks as councillors deliberate on public feedback to the draft plan.
But councillor Richard Wilson wants work done to get a clearer picture of how much green waste is being sent to the landfill at Kate Valley.
“So we don’t wake up on the first day of green waste and go 'whoops we were wrong' by what could be three of four thousand tonnes quite easily”.
Infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said it was something the council could look into.
“We could do an occasional audit over the next few months just to get an idea or feel towards how much green waste is in the red bins.
“It would be a good idea to get a rough estimate.”
Between June 2023 and March, the Ashburton District sent 11,426 tonnes of waste to the regional landfill at Kate Valley.
That puts the district on track to surpass the 14,800 tonnes in the previous financial year.
The introduction of green waste bins aims to dramatically reduce those figures, with a 2001 study showing between 32-40% of the waste going to landfill was organic.
The introduction of green waste bins will also present a cost saving by reducing the amount of waste being transported to Kate Valley.
For both green bin options the collected waste would be taken to the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park, and then sent to a plant in Canterbury for composting.
But there is a setup cost and additional cost of collection.
The council expect to receive a waste minimisation fund subsidy to help offset the introduction costs.
The 240-litre organic and food waste bin would cost ratepayers $72 while the 23-litre food waste bins would cost $35 per year.
Poll: What is the smallest size hearing device Triton Hearing offer?
Some kiwis think hearing devices are big and ugly.
What if we told you technology has advanced substantially and they’re available in all shapes, colours, and sizes?
Go in the draw to win* a $40 MTA voucher when you share your answer to the
question below. Give it a go!
*T&C’s apply – must be over 18.
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87% a) The size of a pea
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5.2% b) The size of a AAA battery
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7.7% c) The size of a $2 coin
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