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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The new Fairfield Freight Hub has been described as a "game changer" for Mid Canterbury, which will help shift trucks off the busy highway and keep Ashburton moving.
Minister of Transport Simeon Brown attended the official opening of the … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The new Fairfield Freight Hub has been described as a "game changer" for Mid Canterbury, which will help shift trucks off the busy highway and keep Ashburton moving.
Minister of Transport Simeon Brown attended the official opening of the hub on Friday, although it has been operational since April 8.
Wareing Group director Mark Wareing said the hub will streamline freight volumes in and out of Mid Canterbury and reduce the impact of trucks on roads.
“It’s setting the region up for a lower carbon future and the location near the Northpark Industrial Park is ideally located to take advantage of this new hub.
“Helping exporters and freight partners move more freight by rail makes sense both from a business and sustainability perspective and will help stabilise the supply chain issues our clients and their customers are facing.”
Wareing worked with Talley’s to secure the existing rail siding site at the former freezing works site for the hub, but he has always credited former Rangitata MP Jo Luxton for her assistance in getting the project across the line.
The hub development cost $18 million, with a $2.5m contribution from the Government’s NZ Upgrade Programme and $2.3m from the Ashburton District Council.
It’s a project Ashburton mayor Neil Brown has been looking forward to for a long time.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for over six years, right from when I got the first phone call from Mark asking for assistance in getting the rail yard moved from the centre of Ashburton.
“Mark had the vision to get trucks off our congested state highway and put the containers that transport the goods onto rail.”
The hub will have several benefits for Mid Canterbury, Brown said.
“Significantly reducing shunting in the centre of town means locals aren’t stuck at level crossings anymore while wagons are connected or disconnected.
“It’s been a great collaboration and will be an asset for our district.”
Quigley feeds director Andrew Quigley described the hub as a “game changer for exporters in Mid Canterbury” who will be able to get direct access to ports via rail.
Since the project planning began, the Wareing Group took over running the shunting yard in central Ashburton and increased the volume from 2,000 containers per year to almost 6000.
KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy said working with the Wareing Group to move operations to Fairfield will increase the amount of local freight carried by rail from 6,000 to 20,000 containers a year.
“That’s half a million tonnes of freight off the region’s roads – the equivalent of 40,000 truck movements – which helps manage road maintenance costs.
“And given rail offers 70% fewer emissions compared to heavy road freight, it’s a substantial reduction in transport emissions.
“Inter-modal hubs like the Fairfield Freight Hub make use of both road and rail transport – enabling trucks to complete the first and last mile of collection and delivery, and for rail to do the heavy longer-distance movements.”
While it was built to get more trucks off-road, the hub has been called into action to help put more trucks on the road due to the flood-damaged rail bridge over the Rangitata River.
With all train movements over the bridge being suspended, the hub has been utilised to keep rail freight moving between Invercargill and Christchurch.
Winners of the $100 Farmers vouchers in this week's Neighbourly prize draw are:
Gustavo Silva from Auckland Central
Mary Halliday from Port Waikato
Emily Taylor from Rolleston
… View moreWinners of the $100 Farmers vouchers in this week's Neighbourly prize draw are:
Gustavo Silva from Auckland Central
Mary Halliday from Port Waikato
Emily Taylor from Rolleston
Neil Morrison from Invercargill
Get in touch with our Neighbourly Helpdesk team before the 30th of April to claim your prize by heading here.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Plans for another supermarket in Ashburton remain shelved after more than 10 years.
Foodstuffs purchased the property at 407 West St/State Highway 1 in October 2012 and planned to develop the site into a Pak’nSave.
When the Ashburton District … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Plans for another supermarket in Ashburton remain shelved after more than 10 years.
Foodstuffs purchased the property at 407 West St/State Highway 1 in October 2012 and planned to develop the site into a Pak’nSave.
When the Ashburton District Council consulted on plan change 4 in 2020, which aimed to strengthen the role of the CBD as the primary commercial, retail, recreation, cultural and entertainment centre for the district, Foodstuffs submitted, citing it would impact its plans to establish the supermarket outside the CBD boundary.
Plan change 4 became operative in July 2021, with the West St site zoned business C which ‘provides for limited commercial activities, service and community activities, as well as a range of light industrial activities’.
A provision was included to allow for the supermarket on the specific site.
Three years later there is still no indication when the plans will progress.
A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company “don’t have any updates to share about the site at this stage”.
The closest alternative Pak’nSave stores are Hornby (Christchurch), and Timaru, with a new store under construction in Rolleston.
The West St site was the former historic Canterbury Flour Mill that was the scene of a major fire in February 2011.
The building, built in 1872, was gutted by the fire.
As well as the two Woolworths and a New World the town has some smaller grocery stores such as SuperValue in Tinwald, and Four Square Netherby, while The Warehouse has recently added produce to its supermarket offerings.
While Foodstuff’s plans for Pak’nSave in Ashburton remain shelved, Savemore has announced it is set to open a new grocery clearance store in the town in May.
The store will be in the Ashburton Central retail centre off Tancred St.
Savemore is New Zealand-owned and operated and offers ‘clearance groceries at bargain prices’.
It opened two stores in Christchurch in the last six months, with Ashburton being its third location.
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Downsizing can open the door to a new stage of your life that is rich in opportunity. However, it can be a daunting prospect. If you are embarking on a new chapter of life, the thought of shedding familiar possessions can feel even more stressful. This can be true even if the life changes are a … View moreDownsizing can open the door to a new stage of your life that is rich in opportunity. However, it can be a daunting prospect. If you are embarking on a new chapter of life, the thought of shedding familiar possessions can feel even more stressful. This can be true even if the life changes are a good thing, such as a move to somewhere you will love to live.
Once you understand why you have this feeling, you can reframe it as creating a new environment that will support your present life while reminding you of your best experiences.
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Ryman’s Charles Upham Retirement Village resident Di is a former fashion designer, artist and self-confessed shoe hoarder who travels, still paints and has stamped her eclectic minimalist style on her apartment.
She gives us her top 3 design tips on how she’s turned her space into a … View moreRyman’s Charles Upham Retirement Village resident Di is a former fashion designer, artist and self-confessed shoe hoarder who travels, still paints and has stamped her eclectic minimalist style on her apartment.
She gives us her top 3 design tips on how she’s turned her space into a beautiful home.
Many public rubbish bins are being removed by councils due to the large costs of regularly emptying them. Do you think we can adapt and live without them?
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There’s a big roof shout on the cards in Rakaia this week.
Project manager Mark Boag said the roof was set to go on this week for the $1.7 million-odd community-led recreation centre in the Rakaia Domain.
Construction began in January and was … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There’s a big roof shout on the cards in Rakaia this week.
Project manager Mark Boag said the roof was set to go on this week for the $1.7 million-odd community-led recreation centre in the Rakaia Domain.
Construction began in January and was tracking along nicely with all the framework and roof trusses in place, Boag said.
“The roof goes on this week and then I imagine things will look like they are slowing down as they start on the inside.”
The Rakaia Recreation Centre is on target to be completed in July.
“We won’t be in it for the rugby season but it might be ready for the end-of-season function.”
The old Rakaia Rugby Club changing rooms and public toilets facility were demolished to make way for the modern fit-for-purpose community facility.
The new single-story building will have clubrooms, with a commercial kitchen and bar that can fit up to 150 people, and it is elevated so spectators can view games from the wrap-around, covered deck.
“Being raised up like that will be ideal for watching rugby or anything that’s going on.”
It also had six changing rooms and two separate shower blocks so they could easily accommodate men’s and women’s rugby, Boag said.
The building would be available for the local sports club to use, and for the wider community to hire, he said.
The council funded the $351,000 replacement public toilets, a prefabricated toilet block incorporated into the end of the centre, near the car park.
The project has been led by the Rakaia Rugby Club and a community that has been raising funds for a new facility in the Rakaia Domain for a decade.
With the building under construction, the club uses the neighbouring Rakai Bowls Club for its aftermatch functions and has some containers set up as temporary changing rooms and showers.
“They seem to work well although things might be different in the middle of winter, but it’s only for one season.”
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Tinwald businesses which have only just seen the end of a sea of road cones have told Ashburton's council they don't want to see the orange markers return.
The shops along State Highway 1 had road cones from July until last month while … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Tinwald businesses which have only just seen the end of a sea of road cones have told Ashburton's council they don't want to see the orange markers return.
The shops along State Highway 1 had road cones from July until last month while traffic signals were installed for the Tinwald corridor improvement project.
The Ashburton District Council had then planned to come in and resurface the main Tinwald car park.
Infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said work has been deferred following some objections.
“We reached out to shop owners in the Tinwald shopping centre, and they said they would like a breather after the disruption caused by NZTA’s Tinwald traffic light installation and corridor improvements.
“We will check in with shop owners again to determine an appropriate time to commence the upgrade.”
Roading manager Mark Chamberlain said the resurfacing will wait “until there is a bit less going on, and maybe look at when it really needs the work”.
“I think it needs it now, but they are happy with just pothole patching and things like that.”
With the Tinwald carpark project being deferred, the $100,000 assigned to it will be used for another project on the council's list.
“We’ve brought forward the installation of around 200m of new footpath, and kerb and channel on Tinwald Westerfield Rd, from Lagmhor Rd to Tarbottons Rd,” McCann said.
“This section was in the original list approved but was left out of the contract because the estimated cost was more than the available budget.”
Another key project on the list is replacing the kerb and channel at the Ashburton Domain along Walnut Ave between SH1 and Oak Grove.
The only issue is the timing.
Councillors had previously raised concerns about the height and depth of the existing kerb and channel but mayor Neil Brown had noted the height was a deterrent to people being able to drive into the domain.
The current kerb height, about 50mm higher than the standard, WAs similar to the proposed replacement but has a dish channel rather than the proposed flat channel, which made it less accessible, McCann said.
But there is a potential timing issue, as the work could clash with the council’s major event in the domain.
The Glow in the Park light festival will be held in the domain at Kings Birthday weekend this year with thousands expected to attend over the three days.
The work did not have a scheduled start time yet, McCann said,
“It will be programmed and managed so that access and parking for Glow in the Park will not be adversely affected.”
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By local democracy reporter Jonathans Leask:
Dancers stood tall, and in big numbers, in their battle to save Ashburton's Balmoral Hall.
Dance teacher Charmaine Quaid put out the call for past and present students of her Dance Worx studio to assemble last Friday (April 5) in a show of … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathans Leask:
Dancers stood tall, and in big numbers, in their battle to save Ashburton's Balmoral Hall.
Dance teacher Charmaine Quaid put out the call for past and present students of her Dance Worx studio to assemble last Friday (April 5) in a show of support for retaining the Balmoral Hall.
She was blown away by the response with about 300 people turning up to show their support.
“It was overwhelming,” Quaid said.
“It was quite emotional to see some people from way back, and people coming from out of town and long distances especially to support us.”
Quaid has run her dance school from the hall for almost 50 years but it is now in limbo.
The hall requires an estimated $1.3m of repairs to be brought up to standard.
In its draft long-term plan, the Ashburton District Council is proposing to sell the hall and land as the costs to maintain and operate both sites are expensive, and the income received doesn’t currently cover the costs.
Quaid wants the hall retained but is conscious of not overspending on it.
“We don’t need a million, we just need the maintenance,” she said.
If ratepayers were to stump up and fund the repairs, they would also have to continue topping up the hall to subsidise the users – who may also face higher fees to use the building.
The Dance Worx gathering was used to collect statements of support for a long-term plan submission to retain the hall.
“We had quite a few lend their support to our submission and plenty say that they would also be doing their own.
“If you don’t have your say you can’t complain.”
As part of its consultation engagement the council is hosting a BBQ at Baring Square East on Saturday (April 13) from 10am to 2pm, and has decided to open the Balmoral Hall to the public.
The council’s democracy and engagement group manager, Toni Durham, said on the back of requests from the community to look inside Balmoral Hall, it made sense to align it with the event at Baring Square.
“It's primarily a chance for those who are not familiar with Balmoral Hall to be able to get a better idea of what the building looks like from inside,” Durham said.
In a similar event last weekend, an estimated 150 people turned up at the Tinwald Domain on Saturday to get a close-up look at the state of the Tinwald Pool and discuss its future, with the council proposing to spend $3m on a new outdoor pool at EA Networks Centre.
Mayor Neil Brown was pleased with the turnout to the event to discuss the options.
“The Tinwald Pool needs major repairs and some definitely want it to stay, but others see that money better spent elsewhere.”
Submissions on the long-term plan close on April 28.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor is celebrating NZTA abandoning plans to install median barriers on State Highway 1 between Ashburton and Rakaia.
Median barriers have been proposed along SH1 from Ashburton to Rolleston since 2021.
An NZTA spokesperson said … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor is celebrating NZTA abandoning plans to install median barriers on State Highway 1 between Ashburton and Rakaia.
Median barriers have been proposed along SH1 from Ashburton to Rolleston since 2021.
An NZTA spokesperson said the change was in response to government priorities outlined in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport.
It’s a decision that has pleased Ashburton mayor Neil Brown, who has long voiced his opposition to the “wire ropes down the middle of the road”.
Brown met with NZTA representatives earlier this week and was informed that the median barriers won’t be happening now.
“They’ll be looking at putting in the wider median strips instead.
“It’s a good common sense approach to it and I’m happy they are going to do that.
“They have some in already at Hinds following a recent upgrade and it looks good.”
In August last year, NZTA’s relationship manager James Caygill had discussed with the Ashburton District Council how the SH1 improvement plan was focusing on widening the existing road corridor as the first step, and then adding median barriers if required.
A change of government has caused a change in direction.
Rangitata MP James Meager and Waitaki MP Miles Anderson had written to Transport Minister Simeon Brown on March 23 regarding the median barriers.
Minister Brown responded on Monday informing them that, following a review, it had been determined that the Rakaia to Ashburton and the Timaru to St Andrews sections will no longer progress.
“These safety improvements projects will now progress with lower cost safety interventions, including wide centre lines, road widening and resurfacing,” Brown said.
Meager said the wire median barriers were “unnecessarily costly and didn’t address what the local community saw as the main safety improvements needed on our roads”.
“Widening roads and introducing painted medians seem like sensible approaches, giving separation of the traffic without blocking agricultural equipment, emergency services or requiring long, and unproductive detours.”
NZTA is planning to widen SH1 where possible from the Rakaia River Bridge to Ashburton, with the aim of 11.5 metres side to side, increased from the existing 7.5-9.5m.
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