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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A proposed $200m equestrian centre in Canterbury is working through the consent process, after its first attempt was handed back.
Southern Parallel Equine Centre plans to establish a farming business encompassing a world-class equine centre on 65ha … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A proposed $200m equestrian centre in Canterbury is working through the consent process, after its first attempt was handed back.
Southern Parallel Equine Centre plans to establish a farming business encompassing a world-class equine centre on 65ha of land next to Lake Hood, near Ashburton.
The proposed centre would include stables, training arenas and a veterinary clinic.
Resource consent applications were submitted to the Ashburton District Council and Environment Canterbury (ECan) in November.
An independent commissioner was appointed to consider the Ashburton District Council application and deemed the consent would have limited notification on January 11.
That meant only those identified as being adversely affected - seven properties - could lodge a submission.
The site’s land owners, Graeme and Elizabeth Small, have already submitted written approval as part of the application.
The submissions close on February 9 and any submissions received will be reviewed and, if required, a hearing will be arranged.
Southern Equine project director Catherine Stuart has declined to comment on the active consent process.
The consents lodged with ECan were considered insufficient and returned on December 8, with a new application lodged on December 27.
ECan consent planning manager Aurora Grant said the application had been accepted for processing last week.
“We are currently auditing the proposal and undertaking technical reviews of the documentation provided.
“These assessments will inform whether the proposal will be publicly notified or only affected persons notified, or whether we can make a decision on a non-notified basis.”
Consent is being sought to establish an equine stud with associated facilities, including a selling centre, veterinary clinic, stabling (six stable blocks of 100 stables per block), grazing pasture, training arenas and parking.
It was hoped the consent process could be completed in early 2024 to allow construction to start later in the year, for a planned opening in the second half of 2025.
Stage two is to develop the SPC Life Skills and Education Centre for physically disabled veterans, service personnel, and para-athletes.
The foundation of the project is planned to be completed on a separate site by mid-2026 and will be subject to a separate consent process.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Police are urging the parents of school children to talk to their kids about the dangers of going to and from school.
Ashburton Senior Sergeant Janine Bowden says locals can expect an increased focus on road safety as school reopen this week.
… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Police are urging the parents of school children to talk to their kids about the dangers of going to and from school.
Ashburton Senior Sergeant Janine Bowden says locals can expect an increased focus on road safety as school reopen this week.
“It is often a good idea for parents to walk the route to and from school with their children and ensure they know safe places to cross the road and hazards to look out for.
“If parents are taking their children to school, please be mindful of the school drop off and pick up points and adhere to the road rules and signage.”
While parents and caregivers are being encouraged to pass on the road safety tips to students, road safety around schools is a two-way street and motorists also need to be aware, Bowden said.
“Our advice for motorists is to be alert, as children can sometimes be hard to see in and around cars and be mindful that new entrants and younger children can be unpredictable in and around our roads.”
In Mid Canterbury there are 30kph speed limits outside all schools during pick up and drop off times.
At most rural schools it is enforced by an electronic variable sign but around the urban schools, and two rural schools, there are permanent 30kph zones.
“Keep to the 30kph speed limit when passing schools, and 20kph speed limit when passing a stationary school bus,” Bowden said.
“Where appropriate, police will take enforcement action in the form of infringement notices.”
There has been plenty of community discussion around the introduction of the 30kph urban school speed zones.
Councillors raised concerns that the felt they were not being adhered to outside of school hours.
The 30kph limits, introduced in July last year, are set to be reviewed by the council in February after Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said he believed they were not working after just two months.
The council had wanted time-specific school speed zones but the legislation required a permanent speed or electronic variable signs – that cost an estimated $10,000 per sign.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced in December the Government is amending the speed limit rules, including allowing variable speed limits on roads approaching schools during pick-up and drop-off times, rather than permanent reductions.
*
Under 1% of speeding tickets issued in the Ashburton District in between July and December were for drivers breaching the 30kph urban school speed zones. Only 13 (0.7%) of the 1744 speeding infringement notices were for drivers exceeding the school speed limits, and all 13 were issued on Walnut Ave.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
As it nears its tenth anniversary, the public is once again being asked for its views on the EA Networks Centre.
The stadium and aquatic centre was built with a view to becoming a sports hub for the district, but that is yet to eventuate.
A … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
As it nears its tenth anniversary, the public is once again being asked for its views on the EA Networks Centre.
The stadium and aquatic centre was built with a view to becoming a sports hub for the district, but that is yet to eventuate.
A draft masterplan is being finalised and will be ready for public consultation in March, Ashburton District Council people and facilities group manager Sarah Mosley said.
It’s not the first iteration of a masterplan for the site, with the most recent one produced in 2017. That was consulted on through the 2018 long-term plan process, but never actioned.
“The site analysis work contained within the 2017 plan remains current and valuable, but the new plan will be a fresh look as it is based on recent utilisation study findings,” Mosley said.
The masterplan was a flow on from the utilisation study released last year, which looked at how sports groups use the district’s sporting facilities and fields to assist in planning future development projects.
The council owns a large tract of land, around 15 hectares, to the west of the sports centre, which aimed to future proof the site by providing room for the stadium to be extended and space for a variety of outdoor sports.
A $21m stadium extension is being proposed in the long term plan, a potential three court extension that includes a mezzanine, to be built in 2028--31).
A separate project is making some internal layout modifications to provide a studio space that could be used for dance and other activities.
An estimated $22m extension of the EA Network aquatic centre was removed from the plan due to budget constraints.
The 2012 concept plan had the stadium surrounded by a velodrome, hockey turf and the green fields development included a rugby field, cricket oval and bowling green.
The 2017 green fields concept plan had a central stand and changing room surrounded by rugby fields and a softball diamond.
The utilisation study confirmed that during peak hours, after 5pm and during the weekends, demand for indoor courts exceeded the four the centre has.
The facility is deemed too small to hold large scale tournaments and minority sports are finding it difficult to grow their sports due to lack of court space.
The study also highlighted a need for a second hockey turf - due to a need to eventually replace the existing turf and to meet demand.
The report also suggested Argyle Park could be redeveloped to become the
Meanwhile, a campaign to fund a world class velodrome next to the EA Networks Centre never materialised.
One of the project leaders, Donald Sutton, said there was “no appetite” from the council to help fund it and the Tinwald Velodrome Trust was now looking to use its funds to invest in the Tinwald Cycling Cub's existing facilities in the future.
“It’s a real shame because Christchurch doesn’t have one and the region is lacking one, and cycling is so strong in Mid-South Canterbury.
“It’s an opportunity missed."
The velodrome plan was hatched in 2008 and gained momentum in 2010 when it was one of the 11 locations that applied to be the home of the Government-funded National Cycling Centre of Excellence.
Sport & Recreation NZ decided in 2011 to put the $7m towards the velodrome being built at Cambridge.
The Tinwald Velodrome Trust kept fundraising and there was momentum for the estimated $7m project to be built next to the EA Networks Centre.
A 2012 concept plan layout even shows the velodrome next the stadium as part of sports hub concept.
When the centre opened in 2015, the velodrome was still being planned as a complementary project and money was still being raised.
It is now unlikely it will ever go ahead, but the trust still has money tucked away to invest in the future, Sutton said.
“Not to say it will be a velodrome. It could just be upgrading what we have got in Tinwald.”
Hello everyone hope you are doing great. The January issue of NZFarmer is now out so make sure you grab your copy today. You can also sign up to our fortnightly newsletter: www.stuff.co.nz...
Hope you enjoy reading it.
Sonita
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
When councils around the country were shedding their nurseries, Ashburton held onto its asset.
Tucked in the Ashburton Domain, it is a hive of activity that produces most of the plants and trees adorning the parks and reserves around the district.
… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
When councils around the country were shedding their nurseries, Ashburton held onto its asset.
Tucked in the Ashburton Domain, it is a hive of activity that produces most of the plants and trees adorning the parks and reserves around the district.
The exact origins of the nursery are unknown, but Ashburton District Council infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said he suspected the nursery has been in operation since the domain was first formed about160 years ago.
Many council-run nurseries around the country were closed during privatisation in the 1990s, which saw many parks go out to contractors for nursery supplies, McCann said.
Not Ashburton, which held onto its home-grown plant production.
Some councils are looking at going back to council-run service delivery operations including nurseries to gain efficiencies, he said, citing Christchurch as an example.
“Having an in-house operation and nursery means staff can respond quickly to meet the needs of the council and community.”
The homegrown approach is much more cost-effective for the council than purchasing mature plants and it provides a learning environment for staff, including apprentices, he said.
“Their growing knowledge base allows the council further capacity in the open spaces area.”
The site uses three glasshouses, that according to Canterbury historic maps predate 1925, and one larger greenhouse to grow all manner of plants that end up all around the district, McCann said.
“Annuals are generally planted in flower beds and trees go out to streets and parks where needed.”
Most of the seeds are sourced from an import wholesaler but some are sourced locally.
“Some seedlings are sourced from the Harris Scientific reserve, mainly kānuka, or other natural areas with specific species present. Other seedlings are divided from previously used plants.”
The nursery mainly produces annuals and a mix of exotic and native trees, as well as some perennials and revegetation species.
In a busy growing year, the nursery can produce around 36,000 annual and two cycles per year, up to 3000 natives and between 1000 and 2000 perennials.
Annuals (one growing season) include alyssums, marigolds, gazanias, primula species, calibrachoa, lobelias, geranium and petunias. Native tree species include olearias, coprosmas, cortaderia, kānuka, Phormium, and pittosporum, and exotic shrubs include azaleas, fuchsia, lavender, and rosemary.
Perennials, such as rudbeckia, delphinium, perennial lobelia, various daisies, astilbe and helleborus, are propagated by division, a process of separating the plant into several pieces, each of which is potted up and grown on as a new plant, McCann said.
“Where we can procure seed, we germinate this on a heated seed raising bed then grow the seedlings on until we have a suitable sizes plant that can be planted out in the gardens.”
From the heated sand-based seed-raising beds with overhead automated mist irrigation in the glasshouse some seedlings move to the bigger greenhouse while others are placed in the open air, and once matured enough are then planted.
“We also use the glasshouses for drying off bulbs and dahlias when lifted before division and replanting.”
There are also some specific plants being grown for specific native planting areas, such as Wakanui and Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes as part of the council’s biodiversity work.
“These are often species where the seed is eco-sourced or sourced within the same geographical/ ecological location and they are specific to their inland, lowland, or coastal environments.”
The nursery is an all-year-round operation but the work programme is seasonal, with six-monthly cycles for annual bedding plants.
“Natives are seasonal, trees are year-round as are perennial divisions.”
It is run by one full-time staff member with additional support from the council’s other horticultural staff that maintain the parks and reserves.
The nursery operates on the same site it always has and while the number of parks and reserves is increasing with urban development, there are no plans at this stage to increase its capacity, McCann said.
“Any plans to upgrade or further develop operations would need to be budgeted, and we are currently at capacity on this site – which is fine for what our requirements are.”
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It has been a busy start to life for Ashburton’s new library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere.
In its opening week the new Ashburton Library, Te Kete Tuhinga, had 7335 people walk through the front doors, almost four times the foot traffic in … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It has been a busy start to life for Ashburton’s new library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere.
In its opening week the new Ashburton Library, Te Kete Tuhinga, had 7335 people walk through the front doors, almost four times the foot traffic in comparison with the same week in 2023 (1891) at the old library.
Those numbers are only likely to increase after the rest of the building's tenants moved in on Monday
That included local café One Ninety Nine which has relocated to Te Whare Whakatere.
Owners Gareth and Jamie Cadogan (pictured) have been running their café business in an alleyway off Burnett St for the past three and a half years, but started serving on the ground floor of the new building on Monday.
It was a simple decision moving the 100m across the CBD for what the foot traffic figures from the opening week show will be one of the most prominent places in town.
“It’s a great space,” Gareth Cadogan said.
Ashburton District Council chief executive Hamish Riach said One Ninety Nine was offered the spot in the building after a robust process to find the right business.
“We shortlisted a few cafes who were interested, and we believe Gareth and Jamie have the right business to complement the new library.
“We were mindful that we didn’t want to introduce more competition for existing coffee businesses in the area, so having One Ninety Nine already established in this part of the CBD is a win.”
The café owners weren’t the only ones celebrating their first day in the new building with the council’s staff also now operating from Te Whare Whakatere.
Staff were excited to finally be in the building for their induction last week and then open for business on Monday, Riach said.
“After the thick end of two months working remotely, it was great for staff to be able to all get together last Friday and reconnect with each other face to face.
“It’s been a long and winding journey at times to get here, but just great to be finally in and under way.”
With everyone moved in, there are still a few things left to complete the building.
The most notable is the metal mesh shroud on the front of the building.
After being installed it was found to be faulty and is being reworked by the manufacturers, Riach said.
An official opening date for the building is still to be confirmed, Riach said, with the council coordinating with the prime minister’s office over dates.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There is growing community interest to develop a tract of unused land in Methven.
The Methven Community Board held a public meeting this week to gauge community interest in the council reserve land behind the Garden of Harmony.
Board chairperson… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There is growing community interest to develop a tract of unused land in Methven.
The Methven Community Board held a public meeting this week to gauge community interest in the council reserve land behind the Garden of Harmony.
Board chairperson Kelvin Holmes said there was no plan for the site other than it being home to the historic RDR pipeshed.
The community board were after some community direction to see if there was a desire to develop it, and what that could entail.
The Methven Lions have already proposed to turn the site into a native bird sanctuary, launching the Methven Birdsong Initiative.
Spokesperson Mac McElwain said the vision is to create a new native habitat on the vacant council-owned land behind the Garden of Harmony – an area of council land already turned into a planted area with walkways.
They have set about gauging public interest and had 340 responses to a survey with 95% support, he said.
“Unless the community is onside and participating, we shouldn’t do it.
“We need to be certain the community will be on board as it has to be community run and maintained.”
The Methven Community Board will discuss it further and how to progress at its meeting on Monday.
There was also a pest control workshop held in Methven on Thursday as part of the process of establishing a trap library ahead of establishing the native sanctuary, McElwain said.
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