Ashburton District, Ashburton

Let's get familiar!

Let's get familiar!

Introduce yourself on the Know Thy Neighbour page.

420 days ago

Snow Chains $70 ONO

Beau from Oxford

Easy fit snow chains for large wheels. Don't need to move car to tension.

Bought from another seller for $70 that had put the wrong size.
Should fit 245/60R16

Brand was sold as Konig Zip Transport (possibly size 245).

Please come try on size.

Pick up in Oxford

Negotiable

Image
420 days ago

Chertsey conundrum to be considered

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Disc golf got the go ahead in the Tinwald Domain, but there is a conundrum in Chertsey that needs solving.

There are currently no public playground facilities in Chertsey, and the Ashburton District Council is at odds over how to rectify the situation.

Chertsey School is planning a new … View more
Disc golf got the go ahead in the Tinwald Domain, but there is a conundrum in Chertsey that needs solving.

There are currently no public playground facilities in Chertsey, and the Ashburton District Council is at odds over how to rectify the situation.

Chertsey School is planning a new playground and applied for a $75,000 grant from the council.

That request was declined this week “on the grounds we would be investing in an asset that isn’t on council property”, which has always been the council’s stance, democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham said.

Chertsey principal Claire Maria was disappointed by the council decision but already had positive news about their playground.

They scaled back the designs, and thanks to $120,000 in grants will be able to start on stage one of the playground development later this year, she said.

The school's playground will be available for public use, Maria said, but that didn’t solve the council’s issue of not providing for the community.

It’s a tricky situation, mayor Neil Brown said.

“[The school playground] is on Ministry of Education land so we are hamstrung there, but I do understand there is no playground in Chertsey.

“You could put it on the reserve, putting it there would have absolutely no value because it’s on the wrong side of the road.

“I wouldn’t like to see another playground built by council on the right side of the road because that would be a double up.

“We have a conundrum here and it is not easily solved."

In declining the school’s request, the council asked for a report into the feasibility of establishing a public playground ahead of the long-term plan.

Meanwhile, the council approved a Tinwald Reserve Board request for a $15,000 grant from reserve contributions to go towards establishing a disc golf course in the Tinwald Domain.

“We are trying to get this domain used more and I think it’s a good start for it,” councillor Lynette Lovett said.

The project has an estimated overall cost of $25,000.

The only concern around the request was around the process through which the Tinwald request came to council.

It was a flawed system that had the request come to council rather than going through “the normal process of reserve boards” councillor Richard Wilson said, with councillor Carolyn Cameron agreeing it was bizarre that given the project had been on the reserve board’s radar for some time, it missed the grants application deadline.

*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

Image
J
420 days ago

North Canterbury Wearable Arts

Jane from Oxford

Excited to announce tickets are now on sale and can be purchased through www.humanitix.co.nz....

This is going to be a great night - get in early, pay a little extra to get the best seats next to the stage/runway.
Wine/beer/food available on the night.

Image

WA23 AO Street Poster.pdf Download View

420 days ago

Colour your summer

The Team from Resene ColorShop Ashburton

Get creative with colour with these art projects using Resene paints.

Find out how to get creative with these easy ideas.

Image
425 days ago

Poll: Should we pay people for giving blood?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Blood Service says it needs 40,000​ new donors in the next 12 months to ensure it can meet demand of those needing plasma and blood. Suggestions have been made to pay people for donating, however there are concerns about the dangers of that. Do you think we should pay people for these … View moreThe Blood Service says it needs 40,000​ new donors in the next 12 months to ensure it can meet demand of those needing plasma and blood. Suggestions have been made to pay people for donating, however there are concerns about the dangers of that. Do you think we should pay people for these donations?

Image
Should we pay people for giving blood?
  • 31.8% Yes, it makes sense
    31.8% Complete
  • 50.7% No, that's too risky
    50.7% Complete
  • 17.6% I'd need more information
    17.6% Complete
2141 votes
423 days ago

Latest floods a ‘dodged bullet’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

"We just dodged another bullet.”

Ashburton mayor Neil Brown wasn’t mincing words when he renewed calls for Ashburton’s second bridge, hours after it had reopened following a second flood-related closure in two years.

The South Island was essentially cut in half for almost 12 hours … View more
"We just dodged another bullet.”

Ashburton mayor Neil Brown wasn’t mincing words when he renewed calls for Ashburton’s second bridge, hours after it had reopened following a second flood-related closure in two years.

The South Island was essentially cut in half for almost 12 hours after Waka Kotahi closed the State Highway 1 Ashburton/Hakatere River Bridge due to a build-up of debris on Sunday night.

It was an ‘I told you so’ moment and Brown didn’t hesitate.

“We need to do something.

“We had almost a third of our annual rainfall in 24 hours. The river got to half the flow it was two years ago and we got away lightly this time, but it may not happen next time.

“We need to build some resilience into this river to keep the South Island connected.”

During the 2021 floods, the river raged at 1500 cumecs and the bridge was closed for days after a pier slumped and needed to be repaired.

The river flow peaked at 723 cumecs at the Ashburton/Hakatere SH1 bridge at 4pm on Sunday, with Waka Kotahi officially closing the 90-year-old bridge at 7pm. It reopened at 6am on Monday.

The closure was warranted, Brown said.

“It was a precautionary measure.

“They had to monitor that debris that is building up in front of the piers of the bridge and they could not do that in the dark.”

It also highlighted the need for a second river crossing in Ashburton.

The council has done all the work on the second bridge project, with its $113.6m business case sitting with Waka Kotahi.

Former Minister of Transport Michael Wood had asked the council and Waka Kotahi to discuss ‘innovative funding options’ for the project.

“We were about to present those to him but he resigned.

“We have a new minister of transport and we will be working with him to push this case further ahead.”

Government MPs, including Rangitata MP Jo Luxton and Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty, are aware of the situation, Brown said.

“They just haven’t come out and said how they are proposing to solve the problem."

Luxton was on annual leave on Monday and deferred to McAnulty's office, as did Minister of Transport David Parker.

McAnulty said a decision on the potential funding of a second Ashburton Bridge is a work in progress.

Decisions would be made as part of the development of 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), he said.

"Waka Kotahi is continuing to work with the Ashburton District Council to explore potential funding options and to progress the business case for a second Ashburton bridge."

National has already pledged to build a second bridge in Ashburton in its first term if elected, but has stopped short of locking in the proposed Chalmers Avenue option.

*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

426 days ago

Spark a little hope this Christmas

Christmas Box

Meeting an ever increasing need in our communities, Christmas Box provides more than just food, it brings a reminder that people care. By alleviating some of the pressure families feel, especially in the time of inflation and cost-of-living, a Christmas Box sparks hope that goes beyond Christmas.
View more
Meeting an ever increasing need in our communities, Christmas Box provides more than just food, it brings a reminder that people care. By alleviating some of the pressure families feel, especially in the time of inflation and cost-of-living, a Christmas Box sparks hope that goes beyond Christmas.

Don’t wait for December, it’s time to start thinking about how you can help today!

For just $40 a box, you can give the gift of hope and 100% of your donation will go to families who are doing it tough this year. Your generosity makes a difference.
Find out more

Image
426 days ago

Learn These Power Terms and SAVE MONEY!

The Team from NZ Compare

Have you ever tried to look for a new power plan to end up stuck, super confused by all the specific lingo that’s used? Things like kWh, standard vs. low users, or free hours of power? Don’t get us started on controlled and anytime meters!

If you’re unsure of some of these terms, it … View more
Have you ever tried to look for a new power plan to end up stuck, super confused by all the specific lingo that’s used? Things like kWh, standard vs. low users, or free hours of power? Don’t get us started on controlled and anytime meters!

If you’re unsure of some of these terms, it really won’t help you feel confident in comparing different plans. We don’t want to see our Neighbours get tripped up and stuck with a big bill this chilly season!

So to help you, we’ve put together a list of all the power terminology that you need to know!
Learn the terms

Image
427 days ago

Shiny and new

The Team from Resene ColorShop Ashburton

Combine paint and a vinyl adhesive to great effect.

Find out how with these easy step by step instructions.

Image
432 days ago

Poll: Is 30kph the new 50kph?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The government's Road to Zero project seeks to set speed limits at 30kph in suburban streets across New Zealand. Do you think this is a good idea?

Image
Is 30kph the new 50kph?
  • 20.8% Yes
    20.8% Complete
  • 76.6% No
    76.6% Complete
  • 2.6% I don't know
    2.6% Complete
5192 votes
428 days ago

Step forward for Rakaia rec centre

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Finishing touches are being made to the designs for the new Rakaia Recreation Centre before the project goes out for tender next month.

Rakaia rugby club's past president Mark Hanrahan says things are finally set to go from concept to concrete,… View more
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Finishing touches are being made to the designs for the new Rakaia Recreation Centre before the project goes out for tender next month.

Rakaia rugby club's past president Mark Hanrahan says things are finally set to go from concept to concrete, to community centre.

“Next year will be a big year for our club and the Rakaia community,” Hanrahan said.

The club is preparing to tear down the out-of-date changing room facility in the Rakaia Domain and replace it with a fit-for-purpose building with clubrooms, changing sheds, and public toilets.

The club has been fundraising for 10 years towards the project and is close to reaching an initial target for a ballpark figure for the build, “but we won’t know the total cost of the project until we find out the final price”.

The construction timeline is also unknown, he said.

“In an ideal world, it would be ready for the next rugby season, but it’s a maybe, and it really won’t matter.”

The club already sold the clubrooms that were on the other side of town and has been utilising the neighbouring Rakaia Bowling Club as temporary clubrooms for the last two seasons, Hanrahan said. That arrangement can continue until the new facility is completed.

As part of the project, the Ashburton District Council is funding the replacement public toilets in the new facility, as the current public toilets are part of the existing facility that will be demolished.

It committed $351,000 towards the toilets in the 2022-23 annual plan, and will likely carry that forward to the 2023-24 budgets to cover its portion of the build.

Acting chief executive Jane Donaldson said the council has already procured the prefabricated toilet block which is to be incorporated into the facility.

The council committed to funding the toilets in June last year and at that point in time the rugby club had initially hoped to have the project completed by now.

Things didn’t quite pan out that way but the silver lining was another 12 months to fundraise, Hanrahan said.

With the project now set to go out for tender, the Rakaia Domain is set to finally have its new facility.

Back in 2015, the Rakaia Stadium Trust had pitched to the council the idea of backing a new sports complex at the Rakaia Domain, but as the EA Networks Centre was readying to open, the council balked at the $1.5m funding request towards the estimated $5m proposed facility.

The new Rakaia Recreation Centre is a rugby club-led project but will be a community facility, Hanrahan said.

*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

430 days ago

The Coromandel Good for your soul

Destination Hauraki Coromandel

Reconnect with the simple things, slow down and discover the quiet beauty of our nature in the cooler months. Be refreshed and reinvigorated by walking the trails in our green hills, indulge in some boutique retail therapy and be warmed by the welcome from our locals, sharing their homegrown … View moreReconnect with the simple things, slow down and discover the quiet beauty of our nature in the cooler months. Be refreshed and reinvigorated by walking the trails in our green hills, indulge in some boutique retail therapy and be warmed by the welcome from our locals, sharing their homegrown creativity and hospitality.

Soak in our thermal springs, be inspired by our artists and artisans, breathe in the scent of our great outdoors or savour our homegrown flavours. However you do it, come and winter our way.
Find out more

Image
430 days ago

Paint it red with Resene for Red Nose Day!

Resene

Hello neighbours! Want to help put a big smile on little faces? Buy any red testpot (60 mL) from your local Resene owned ColorShop between 13-31 July 2023 and Resene will donate $1 to Cure Kids.

The more red testpots you buy, the more will be donated!
Paint it red now!

Image
430 days ago

Product recall - Nationwide

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Countdown is recalling certain batches of its Woolworths brand Pickled Onions as the product may contain foreign matter (glass).

What you need to know:
- The product is sold at Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice stores throughout New Zealand.
- The affected product has the Best Before date … View more
Countdown is recalling certain batches of its Woolworths brand Pickled Onions as the product may contain foreign matter (glass).

What you need to know:
- The product is sold at Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice stores throughout New Zealand.
- The affected product has the Best Before date of 23/11/2024, 24/11/2024 and 25/11/2024
- If you have purchased this product, do not consume. You can return the product to this store for a full refund.

You can see past product recalls here.

Image
430 days ago

What's your favourite spring salad? Share your recipe

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

There's still time to submit your recipe to win the September issue of NZ Gardener! Every month, we run a series of reader recipes using a seasonal crop. This month, we're on the hunt for spring salad recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by July 23, 2023. Every … View moreThere's still time to submit your recipe to win the September issue of NZ Gardener! Every month, we run a series of reader recipes using a seasonal crop. This month, we're on the hunt for spring salad recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by July 23, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the September issue of NZ Gardener.

Image
Top