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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.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Twelve presentations, five community meetings, three sausage sizzles, and one long-term plan.
It sounds like a Christmas song but it’s a summary of a wide-ranging community engagement strategy the Ashburton District Council is taking.
The draft… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Twelve presentations, five community meetings, three sausage sizzles, and one long-term plan.
It sounds like a Christmas song but it’s a summary of a wide-ranging community engagement strategy the Ashburton District Council is taking.
The draft long-term plan was adopted this week and a 68-page consultation document of highlights and key decisions is planned to go live on 27 March.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said the council has the chance to set the direction for the next 10 years and the draft plan it has prepared is the opportunity for the community to say if they have got it right.
There is a focus on five big decisions but the whole plan is up for discussion, he said.
“We need to hear from the public.
“We welcome people’s submissions with comments on how we could do things differently.
“If someone wants to submit that they don’t like something, give us an alternative give us another suggestion and we can really have some meaningful discussion.”
To get that feedback, the council is taking a much more active approach with 25 engagement events over a month.
Councillor Russell Ellis was excited about the change in the consultation approach.
“We are doing it quite differently to any other way that I have done it before.
“This time we are going to the people. Instead of asking them to come to us.”
Councillor Phill Hooper wants the community to engage in the process rather than rely on online rants.
“I implore those people on social media who say council don’t listen to have their say officially.”
The consultation calendar opens with a community meeting in the Rakaia Community Centre on April 4 followed by a sausage sizzle at the Tinwald Pool on April 7 between 10am and 2pm.
Further community meetings will be held in Mount Somers (April 9), Ashburton (April 16) and Methven (April 17).
A meeting specifically focussed on stockwater will be held at the Hinds Community Centre on April 15.
Other sausage sizzles are planned for Baring Square East (April 13) and the Methven iHub (April 20), with five day-time pop-ups also planned – four in Ashburton and one in Methven.
Councillors will also visit 12 community groups at their monthly meetings.
The consultation closes on April 27.
The long-term plan is due to be adopted by June 26.
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