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We know the spots in summer for beaching, camping and warm nights. But which NZ town really comes into its own during winter? Whether it's based on the activities, the beauty of the town or places to wine and dine, share your thoughts and reasons below!
Type 'Not For Print' if you… View moreWe know the spots in summer for beaching, camping and warm nights. But which NZ town really comes into its own during winter? Whether it's based on the activities, the beauty of the town or places to wine and dine, share your thoughts and reasons below!
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The Fairfield Freight Hub will, all going to plan, be operational by April next year.
The $18m project had been scheduled to start groundworks in February but delays in processing the resource consents pushed back the timeline.
Groundworks … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The Fairfield Freight Hub will, all going to plan, be operational by April next year.
The $18m project had been scheduled to start groundworks in February but delays in processing the resource consents pushed back the timeline.
Groundworks finally began in June, and it has been steady progress since.
Wareing Group director Mark Wareing held a quick site visit on Wednesday with Ashburton District councillor Rob Mackle, Talley’s Aaron Chudleigh and Rangitata MP Jo Luxton who was instrumental in getting the project going after it was initially turned down.
Wareing is hopeful it will be on track for an early 2024 opening.
“If things go wrong, mainly the weather and Fulton Hogan can’t put the hot mix down until it warms up it will start pushing things back.
“For me, that’s a disaster.”
Luxton was pleased to see the progress.
“It’s taking a bit of time to get to this point but really pleased that we have been able to get this happening and under way.”
KiwiRail is on-site working on upgrading the existing siding and is set for a block of line work at the end of the month, where they will put the new line in, Wareing said.
If the progress falls behind by December, Wareing said they will consider staging the construction to ensure it still becomes operational in April.
“If need be, we may just seal the part next to the line just to get it going but that will add cost as it means sealing it in two stages.
“If we are behind by Christmas, we’ll have that discussion.
“At this stage, everything is on track.”
That means the historic shunting yards in central Ashburton will shift north in early 2024 to the freight hub, which is being constructed on the Talley’s-owned site of the former Fairton freezing works.
Since works began, Wareing has noticed an increase in traffic past the site due to “a lot of community interest in the project". He said the benefits to the community from it would be long term.
The project is a tri-party commercial development led by the Wareing Group (which wholly owns Fairfield Freight Hub Ltd) with KiwiRail and the Ashburton District Council.
The project received $2.5m from the Government’s NZ Upgrade fund.
The council’s $2.3m contribution ended up being part of its $4.19 million in the Three Waters 'better off' funding.
Dear neighbours, every month, NZ Gardener runs 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.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An impasse remains over a contentious stockwater race that has divided a small corner of Mid Canterbury.
An application to close a section of stockwater in the Anama area, near Mayfield, was declined by the Ashburton District Council in December … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An impasse remains over a contentious stockwater race that has divided a small corner of Mid Canterbury.
An application to close a section of stockwater in the Anama area, near Mayfield, was declined by the Ashburton District Council in December with a focus group formed to try to find a solution.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown chaired the focus group, which was working on possible alternative supplies for properties that had opposed the closure due to still needing access to stockwater.
The group held a second meeting in May.
Progress to find a suitable alternative solution that suits all parties had proved challenging, Brown said.
“We have met a couple of times and we have reached the conclusion that we can’t get agreement with all the parties to close the race.”
There are varying views and it has reached a stalemate, Brown said.
A recommendation will be coming to the council to recommend the race remains open, he said.
The proposed closure affects 20 properties and had been an even split between those supporting and opposing the closure.
When the council made its decision in December to decline the closure, it was seen as a compromise that didn’t leave properties without access to a stock water supply but at the same time issued notice that those property owners need to start to consider alternative options, as the council’s long-term direction is closing stockwater races.
The focus group’s stalemate was discussed at the council’s recent activity briefing, as was about 13km of Ealing Main (east of SH1) race recently closed and a further 30km of local races in the same area currently going through the closure process.
If those closures are completed, the report stated there “will be an opportunity to then initiate the closure of 23km of main race which currently supplies these local races”.
This July we have your chance to win a share of over $5,000 in New World gift vouchers! Simply grab your local newspaper, throw on your thinking cap, and complete the daily puzzle to be in to win.
Beginning on July 3, we will be placing a puzzle in your newspaper each day for a month. Complete … View moreThis July we have your chance to win a share of over $5,000 in New World gift vouchers! Simply grab your local newspaper, throw on your thinking cap, and complete the daily puzzle to be in to win.
Beginning on July 3, we will be placing a puzzle in your newspaper each day for a month. Complete all 28 puzzles for a higher chance to WIN. Once you’ve figured it out, head over to stuff.co.nz/puzzletime to enter the solution and be in to win.
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We've had such an amazing response to Bright Spots that we've decided to extend it for another week!
Now that it's the school holidays, why not get the kids or grandkids involved!
Celebrate the most colourful, quirky and joyful places in your community by snapping a photo or … View moreWe've had such an amazing response to Bright Spots that we've decided to extend it for another week!
Now that it's the school holidays, why not get the kids or grandkids involved!
Celebrate the most colourful, quirky and joyful places in your community by snapping a photo or two of a Bright Spot and sharing it here. There are 10 prizes of $250 Resene ColorShop vouchers and $250 Prezzy® cards up for grabs so you can create your own Bright Spot!
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
People will "have to stick to their knitting" until the Ashburton Public Library shifts into its new building.
At a recent council activity briefing, deputy mayor Liz McMillan was impressed to learn of the turn out to a knitting group … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
People will "have to stick to their knitting" until the Ashburton Public Library shifts into its new building.
At a recent council activity briefing, deputy mayor Liz McMillan was impressed to learn of the turn out to a knitting group held at the library, and councillors were interested to know what more the library can offer once it moves to the new library, Te Pātaka o kā Tuhituhi, later this year.
Library membership numbers are in decline, which council chief executive Hamish Riach put down to “a consequence of Covid”.
But he said it was only one measure of library usage, which is now much more than just books.
In her report at the briefing, library manager Jill Watson outlined an increase in usage by a variety of groups, something councillors saw as a growth opportunity with the increased space and opportunities in the new facility.
“More and more people are going to the library not just to get a book out, they are doing other activities,” McMillan said.
One that stuck out to councillors was 112 people attending nine sessions of a knitting circle held at the library.
With some groups and events proving more popular than others, the library is “reassessing as we go” before the move, Watson said.
“E-Sports is another thing that has a lot of youth interest but it’s probably something we can’t do until we get into the new building.”
What more can be offered at the library was being considered, but any review of the operating hours will wait until after the move.
Having attended two of the Tuesday councillor chat sessions in the library, councillor Tony Todd said few people seemed to enter the library after 6pm.
But he didn’t think a review of opening hours was necessary until the library is in its new space.
As it will feature more, and larger meeting rooms, there may be more demand for groups to hold meetings in the evenings, Watson said.
“Until we get to the new building we won’t know exactly what shape that takes.”
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
National says it will have the money, but stopped short of confirming where it will build a second Ashburton/Hakatere River bridge.
Ashburton deputy mayor Liz McMillan, standing in for mayor Neil Brown, met with National party representatives … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
National says it will have the money, but stopped short of confirming where it will build a second Ashburton/Hakatere River bridge.
Ashburton deputy mayor Liz McMillan, standing in for mayor Neil Brown, met with National party representatives on-site to discuss the plans for the second bridge on Friday.
National leader Christopher Luxon announced in April that, if elected in October, the party would build a second Ashburton/Hakatere River Bridge.
Following the announcement, Brown said it still didn’t solve the $113.6m question of where the funding would come from.
National’s transport spokesperson, Simeon Brown, on Friday provided an answer of sorts.
“It’s in our transport plan which we will be announcing before the election. This project is one of the top priorities”
There were “strong arguments in favour” of the new bridge off Chalmers Ave, but the lifespan of the SH1 bridge is “the critical part piece of information that needs to be confirmed”, Brown said.
“We have got a really proactive council and they have worked really hard to put together what is important for the region around resilience and that’s I think the number one issue for this project.
“They are also looking at those wider benefits around housing and economic growth.
“Ultimately, the existing bridge also has a lifespan that needs to be considered.”
Having them on site to see first-hand the locations was key to demonstrating the council's prefferred option, McMillan said.
“We have done the hard yards to get it to here, they have done a site visit and had a look so we’ll have to see what happens moving forward.
“The community just wants a bridge.”
Community and council consultation has already occurred, with a business case for a proposed $113.6m second bridge and associated roading infrastructure already under consideration by Waka Kotahi.
Any reconsideration of the location could put pressure on National to deliver in three years, considering it’s taken well over a decade to reach the point of a completed business case at Chalmers Ave, McMillan said.
The council had wanted to see a funding commitment from the Labour Government in this year’s Budget, but has been left to hope it will be included somewhere in the forecast $71b investment in infrastructure over the next five years or the $6b announced to support a National Resilience Plan.
Rangitata MP Jo Luxton said the detailed business case has been submitted to Waka Kotahi for inclusion in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) which is currently being considered.
Former Transport Minister Michael Wood supported the project, but previously suggested there would be significant pressure on the NLTP following Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused significant damage to bridges and roads in the upper North Island.
He had left it to the council and Waka Kotahi “to explore potential alternative sources, which could support the council to fund a second bridge”.
Create a dramatic entrance using a red door in your favourite Resene red.
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A helpful tool created by Aucklander, Tony Lu, allows users to find out the possible salary for jobs they are considering applying for, saving time for possible applicants and the employer too. But do you think that all salaries should be visible to the public?
Share your vote and comment below … View moreA helpful tool created by Aucklander, Tony Lu, allows users to find out the possible salary for jobs they are considering applying for, saving time for possible applicants and the employer too. But do you think that all salaries should be visible to the public?
Share your vote and comment below - type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
For only $15 a ticket, you could win this fully furnished home in South Island’s stunning Wānaka!
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An annual plan featuring an extra $1 million for roading and carrying a 5.9% average rate rise has been adopted in Ashburton.
The district council added $1m for extra roading rehabilitation to respond to community demands when it signed off the … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An annual plan featuring an extra $1 million for roading and carrying a 5.9% average rate rise has been adopted in Ashburton.
The district council added $1m for extra roading rehabilitation to respond to community demands when it signed off the plan at Wednesday’s council meeting.
To include the additional road funding and keep the rates rise down, the council had a budget reshuffle that delayed about $1.3m of water main and wastewater renewals that were now unlikely to be completed by June 2024.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron described it as a reasonable plan and said councillors “have thought about things very carefully”.
In an economic climate of high inflation, Councillor Tony Todd said to “strike an average of 5.9% is a good outcome”.
The rates for next year “reaches a good balance recognising the services and benefits the people of our district receive”, councillor Richard Wilson said.
“It includes the $1m extra for roading which is trying to bring our roads up to the standard the people of the district desire.”
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown was away when the plan was signed off, but in the annual plan document said “roads are one of our most important assets – and the community has made it clear to us they want them to be a focus”.
With an eye on the Government’s three waters reform and the impending takeover, the council is set to install UV water treatment ($2.9m) along with the completion of the Methven/Methven-Springfield and the Mt Somers membrane treatment plants.
Hello – have you got a blood test coming up? We’re letting you know that your local laboratory, Canterbury SCL, and the lovely people that take your blood test, will soon be under a new name – Awanui Labs.
We’re at the same place, providing the same service, with the same smile, but … View moreHello – have you got a blood test coming up? We’re letting you know that your local laboratory, Canterbury SCL, and the lovely people that take your blood test, will soon be under a new name – Awanui Labs.
We’re at the same place, providing the same service, with the same smile, but under a new name.
The new name brings together our eight brands from across Aotearoa – from Northland to Southland. You can learn about what our new name means or find your nearest centre.
The internet is a wonderful thing. It’s how many of us work, study and play. It’s a
big part of how we do what we do every day.
So, when we have issues with our broadband, it can be frustrating. Without it, we
can feel lost.
Tried trouble shooting? Tried talking to your provider? Still … View moreThe internet is a wonderful thing. It’s how many of us work, study and play. It’s a
big part of how we do what we do every day.
So, when we have issues with our broadband, it can be frustrating. Without it, we
can feel lost.
Tried trouble shooting? Tried talking to your provider? Still stuck?
TDR can help you find your way. Visit www.tdr.org.nz to find out more.
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