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In my garden I have not planted this..never seen it anywhere else on the property...
Is it a weed.? Should I get rid of it quickly?
No idea where it comes from BUT it's seeding HELP.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The extension of car parking facilities along West St in Ashburton has divided councillors.
The Ashburton District Council has approved progressing with plans for an extension of the West St car park to the north on land owned by KiwiRail.
The … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The extension of car parking facilities along West St in Ashburton has divided councillors.
The Ashburton District Council has approved progressing with plans for an extension of the West St car park to the north on land owned by KiwiRail.
The decision split the councillors, with five votes for and four against- wit the matter was discussed in public excluded in April and released publicly in May.
Councillors Carolyn Cameron and Russell Ellis had their votes against the new car park progressing recorded.
Cameron believes it isn’t necessary at the moment.
“I don’t believe we fully understand the parking demands in the CBD."
A parking review completed two years ago suggested there was ample parking available in the CBD, she said, so there was no reason to go and pave over another area unnecessarily.
The CBD is currently going through changes, with businesses coming and going and satellite retail centres on the CBD fringes expanding, she said.
“I think we could have waited to see how it pans out.”
There is also the push to increase the number of people walking and cycling, Cameron said.
The development of the car park is subject to agreeing lease terms with KiwiRail.
The council approved carrying over the unspent $1.5 million from the 2021-22 budget into the 2022-23 year to contribute towards the design and construction of the car park.
With the 2022-23 year almost at an end and no lease agreement in place, the project will get carried over again to the 2023-24 year.
Responding to speculation in the community that the new car park would serve as a council staff car park, to correspond with the move to the new library and civic centre later this year, chief executive Hamish Riach was adamant it is a public car park.
“It will be a public car park, just like the existing West St car park, and anyone can use it, including [council] staff.
“It will also increase the CBD’s parking stocks and include parks for longer vehicles like motorhomes.”
The provision of all day or time-restricted car parks would be finalised in the designs and be subject to obtaining resource consent and agreeing lease terms with KiwiRail, Riach said.
The new library Te Pātaka a kā Tuhituhi and civic centre Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka will have ample car parking for the council fleet, councillors and group managers he said, as well as some parking for the public.
The current West St car park has 144 all day spaces and 84 time restricted (3 hour) spaces.
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From the day you move into a village you’ll know how much you’re paying and what’s guaranteed to be paid back when you move out.
With several Peace of Mind … View moreRyman gives you peace of mind with certainty around your living costs, so you can focus on enjoying the things that matter.
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With several Peace of Mind Guarantees you can you feel confident and secure in your decision to move to a Ryman village.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A roading contractor has apologised for failing to notify businesses prior to starting roadworks on Allens Rd in Allenton in April.
Most business in the Allenton shopping centre were notified by the contractor in advance of starting the work. But,… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A roading contractor has apologised for failing to notify businesses prior to starting roadworks on Allens Rd in Allenton in April.
Most business in the Allenton shopping centre were notified by the contractor in advance of starting the work. But, ironically, they missed the pharmacy operated by Ashburton District councillor Carolyn Cameron.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said the contractor had visited many of the affected business in the area but had missed some and had apologised.
“They accepted it wasn’t good enough and that it was a mistake,” Riach said.
There is an expectation to communicate with affected parties and “most of the time it is done well, in this particular case it wasn’t”, he said.
Cameron was disappointed her business, and potentially others, had not been notified and hoped the incident will ensure the council “does better in future”.
Contractors are required to provide a letter to the affected property owners outlining the work and the potential impacts at least a week before work commences, infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said.
“This did not happen in Allenton and we are really disappointed with it.”
For the failure, McCann said the contractors had received a bad mark in its track record on the council books.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask;
A farmer inspired to stand after a roading tragedy will be sworn in as a new district councillor this week.
Rob Mackle was announced as the likely winner of the Western Ward by-election on Thursday.
The provisional result after voting closed at… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask;
A farmer inspired to stand after a roading tragedy will be sworn in as a new district councillor this week.
Rob Mackle was announced as the likely winner of the Western Ward by-election on Thursday.
The provisional result after voting closed at midday on Friday had Mackle out in front by a clear enough margin over the other candidates.
With 98% of ballots counted, Mackle was on 655 votes, well ahead of Hayden Tasker on 467, Dame Lynda Topp on 409, and Carol Johns on 126.
“I’m very humbled that the people have put their faith in me,” Mackle said.
“I’m looking forward to doing what I can for the area and hoping I can prove my worth.”
There will be little time for the farmer come first-time councillor to settle into the role as he will be sworn in at next week’s meeting.
“Obviously because I’m a bit green I’ve got a fair bit to learn, so it will be taking it all in for a start but keen to get stuck into it.
“No doubt I’ll get a lot of support from the council to get me up to speed so it doesn’t faze me at all.”
Mackle was inspired to pursue a council seat after being first on the scene of a fatal crash near Ashburton in 2019, where he performed CPR on an 8-month-old baby who later died in hospital.
“It rattled me quite a bit and I just thought I should be something a little bit more around the district.”
He said a core personal focus is to “see a lot more maintenance and repairs going on around the district”.
He is well aware the issue around funding increased roading improvements is a trickle-down effect from Wellington but is keen to “make enough noise to make it happen”.
As the success of his campaign sunk in yesterday, he offered commiserations to the other candidates after a “fair old battle”, and expects to see them all back on the nominations list in the next local body elections in 2025.
The by-election followed the sudden death of second-term councillor Rodger Letham in December.
Mackle will also sit on the Methven Community Board alongside fellow Western Ward councillor and deputy mayor Liz McMillan.
The voter turnout in the Western Ward, the vast majority of the area west of State Highway 1 to the southern alps incorporating Methven, Mayfield and Mt Somers, was lower than in last year’s election.
There were 1668 votes cast (excluding special votes and votes delivered after the ballot boxes closed at midday) equating to 38.89% of the eligible voters, down on the 53.47% turnout (2,316 votes) in October.
Ethan's life was surrounded by drugs and alcohol due to gang-affiliated friends and family. But after losing loved ones, he joined a Graeme Dingle Foundation programme. Initially hesitant and shy, he gradually gained confidence, showed his humour and found his voice.
The programme helped … View moreEthan's life was surrounded by drugs and alcohol due to gang-affiliated friends and family. But after losing loved ones, he joined a Graeme Dingle Foundation programme. Initially hesitant and shy, he gradually gained confidence, showed his humour and found his voice.
The programme helped him explore different career paths and Ethan became one of the top graduates from his cohort. The Foundation took the opportunity to hire him and he now helps other young people involved in the programme on their career journeys.
Find out more about how the Graeme Dingle Foundation helps young people realise potential.
To all the strong, inspiring, devoted mums, the mums who are no longer with us, the mums who work hard everyday to make the house warm and put food on the table, the mums to be and who could forget the family members who take on the mums role too!
We hope you have a wonderful day, filled with … View moreTo all the strong, inspiring, devoted mums, the mums who are no longer with us, the mums who work hard everyday to make the house warm and put food on the table, the mums to be and who could forget the family members who take on the mums role too!
We hope you have a wonderful day, filled with smiles, appreciation and love. Happy Mother's Day.
Want to give something back to your community? How about volunteering with Victim Support? We’re recruiting new volunteers in your neighbourhood now.
Volunteer Support Workers come from all walks of life, just like those who need our help. They make an incredible difference by providing … View moreWant to give something back to your community? How about volunteering with Victim Support? We’re recruiting new volunteers in your neighbourhood now.
Volunteer Support Workers come from all walks of life, just like those who need our help. They make an incredible difference by providing support and information for people affected by crime and trauma. Volunteers receive comprehensive training and support from our locally based staff.
Check out our website or call 0800 volunteer (0800 86 58 68) for more information.
Plenty of time for creativity - see the categories for this year's North Canterbury Wearable Arts show in September, in Rangiora
Bring a bit of nature inside with a simple tree mural in Resene colours.
Find out how to add colour to you child's room with this handy advice.
Talk to your provider and give them a chance to sort it. If it remains unresolved, you can talk to TDR – your free and independent complaint service.
TDR helps over 3,000 Kiwis every year with their telco troubles. Whether it’s a broadband, mobile or home phone billing issue, it’s free … View moreTalk to your provider and give them a chance to sort it. If it remains unresolved, you can talk to TDR – your free and independent complaint service.
TDR helps over 3,000 Kiwis every year with their telco troubles. Whether it’s a broadband, mobile or home phone billing issue, it’s free to resolve your complaint with TDR. It’s easy too – you can contact us online or by phoning 0508 98 98 98 – and we’ll start working with you and your provider.
The King's coronation took place over the weekend which saw our Prime Minister pledging allegiance to King Charles III. Do you think Aotearoa should say goodbye to the royal family?
Share your thoughts and reasons below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be … View moreThe King's coronation took place over the weekend which saw our Prime Minister pledging allegiance to King Charles III. Do you think Aotearoa should say goodbye to the royal family?
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:
A council bungle has left ratepayers to foot a $70,000 bill.
The Ashburton District Council is retrospectively getting consent for upgrade work carried out in 2020 at the Scarness weir located in Mt Harding Stream near Methven.
It follows an … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A council bungle has left ratepayers to foot a $70,000 bill.
The Ashburton District Council is retrospectively getting consent for upgrade work carried out in 2020 at the Scarness weir located in Mt Harding Stream near Methven.
It follows an abatement notice from Environment Canterbury, issued last year, for the non-consented work.
The initial work was carried out following a health and safety audit of the district stockwater network. To remedy a health and safety issue the structure was altered, but ECan wasn't consulted.
Council staff had a meeting on site with ECan earlier this year to understand the full extent of the issues.
The council has since engaged Beca to assist with the retrospective consenting of the structure.
The consultants have completed a topographical survey upstream and downstream of the site and are developing a consent strategy, concept design, assessment of environmental effects, and consent application.
The application will be lodged by mid-June with the total cost of the work estimated to be around $70,000.
ECan formally advised the council that the compliance date of the abatement notice requires the matter to be addressed by November 20.
The weir is in an area of the stockwater network that forms part of the Pudding Hill Intake, which is currently being investigated for closure by the council, making it potentially redundant in the future.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It’s hoped banning booze from more of Ashburton will help reduce alcohol fuelled crime.
The Ashburton District Council is set to adopt an updated alcohol control bylaw, which extends existing liquor ban areas in Ashburton and Methven.
The … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It’s hoped banning booze from more of Ashburton will help reduce alcohol fuelled crime.
The Ashburton District Council is set to adopt an updated alcohol control bylaw, which extends existing liquor ban areas in Ashburton and Methven.
The intention of the bylaw is to stop people drinking in specific public areas, to reduce the potential for alcohol-related offensive behaviour and harm, damage, disorder, and crime.
Police are backing the move, saying “side loading”, aka leaving a licensed premises to drink alcohol somewhere in public nearby, is a big issue.
Acting Senior Sergeant Janine Bowden told councillors at the recent submission hearing it was a regular occurrence and she had seen evidence of both pre-and side loading through alcohol containers and bottles discarded outside and around licensed premises and in areas like car parks.
“Duty managers in licensed premises have obligations in relation to intoxication and managing that.
“When people go outside, they can also consume alcohol in an uncontrolled way and then go back into licensed premises.”
In response to feedback suggesting police were not enforcing the bans, Bowden said police were actively patrolling areas in “high risk times” in relation to intoxication and harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
The proposed liquor ban extension was a good fit with the police prevention model, she said.
“Obviously there is that enforcement arm of the police but it’s better to prevent something than enforce it.”
Bowden holds the role of alcohol harm reduction officer in Ashburton and said the bylaw provides police with a prevention tool.
“I don’t think anyone wants young people under 18 years of age in and around the public areas consuming alcohol.”
Meanwhile, councillor Richard Wilson raised concerns that there was too much room for interpretation in the bylaw and it could see people caught out with “booze in the boot”, such as when they had bought alcohol and were taking it home.
At the hearing he asked Bowden how police would enforce the bylaw when it came to the “extreme” of transporting cough medicine, defined as alcohol in the bylaw, through a liquor ban area.
Police will take a “sensible, pragmatic view” to enforcing the bylaw, she replied.
Under the Local Government Act there are a number of exemptions for the transportation of unopened bottles or containers of alcohol through alcohol ban areas, which include carrying alcohol bought from an off-license, and carrying alcohol to or from private residences.
The bylaw consultation had 28 submissions and the council deliberated on the feedback last week, with a final draft of the bylaw to come before council on May 17.
Three new sections added in Ashburton are:
1: River crossing retail precinct up to Kermode St, SH1 across to Cass St.
2: Ashburton Central Retail area, bordered by Cass St, Moore St, William St and Tancred St.
3: Countdown down to the Regent Cinema, the block of East St, Wills St, Peter St and Cass St.
In Methven the only addition is incorporating the full length of Mackie St and extending along Methven Chertsey Rd to make the boundary clearer to residents.
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