Big retailers like Kmart had ‘little impact’ on Ashburton CBD
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Large retailers popping up outside Ashburton’s CBD have had little impact on spending in the town centre, according to a new report.
Infometrics was commissioned to analyse how major retailers operating outside the CBD zone were impacting central economic activity, and the wider Ashburton economy.
The report was in response to the Ashburton District Council recognising the potential impact of new retail developments on the CBD.
The developments include the River Crossing precinct, which opened at the end of 2022 with Kmart as the anchor tenant.
On the other side of SH1, Briscoes shifted out of the CBD to set up next to a new Rebel Sport in April, with a Chemist Warehouse opening next door.
Infometrics analysis found that, to date, the value of electronic card spending in Ashburton's CBD has been relatively consistent since October 2021.
“Given inflation over this period, this suggests a slight pullback in real spend per transaction, however, there is no clear effect associated with the opening of Kmart,” the report said.
Total spending, excluding fuel, grocery and alcohol, in Ashburton’s CBD rose 5.6% between the first half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, ahead of the national increase of 3.2%.
Infometrics also found there was little evidence that the introduction of new retailers outside of the CBD hurt overall retail employment.
As of February 2023, there were 1570 people employed in retail in central Ashburton (the CBD area and the fringe retail centres), up 60 people from February 2022.
The report suggested the rise was likely driven by Kmart's opening and associated hiring activity.
Kmart is understood to have added 100 jobs between February 2022 and February 2023, but the net growth being less, a net 55 jobs, “could suggest that other department stores and leisure retailers have either been unable to replace staff lost to Kmart or have otherwise reduced their staffing”.
The report concluded that spending had been similar to before big box retailers moved in.
“Overall the retail sector is under a degree of stress nationally, reflecting the cost of living pressures being borne by households, and the flow on effect to their spending.
“With spending eroded by still-high inflation, modest nominal growth in sales could translate to a decline in real sales.”
The report cost $4000, with data costing $2325.
A report on the impact on the wider Ashburton economy has not yet been received.
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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86.9% a) The size of a pea
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5.5% b) The size of a AAA battery
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7.7% c) The size of a $2 coin
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