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Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive jerusalem artichoke recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by March 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the May issue of NZ … View moreEvery month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive jerusalem artichoke recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by March 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the May issue of NZ Gardener.
We're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!
Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as … View moreWe're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!
Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as International Women's Day (this Wednesday) by sharing some of the lesser-known, inspiring women who've played a part in New Zealand's history.
Share your thoughts below for the We Say You Say column of the local paper - write NFP if you wish your comments to be excluded.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A Matariki observation deck will be installed next to a new toilet block at the Rakaia Gorge Campground.
The Ashburton District Council received funding from the government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) for the project, but not as much as … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A Matariki observation deck will be installed next to a new toilet block at the Rakaia Gorge Campground.
The Ashburton District Council received funding from the government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) for the project, but not as much as it had hoped for forcing a reduced design scope than was planned.
The new toilet block will replace the existing public toilets at the Rakaia Gorge Campground which were built in the 1970s and a new star observation deck constructed.
Council open spaces manager Ian Soper explained that round six of TIF funding had a directive from the minister to incorporate a focus on the Matariki public holiday which was why the toilet replacement included the star viewing deck.
The council’s TIF application had been for was for $554,000 and along with the council’s $189,000 earmarked in the long-term plan would have provided a $743,000 budget for the project.
The application was successful but for a revised figure of $262,000 for a total of $451,000.
Soper said the revised funding amount had resulted in a more basic toilet facility being installed and the deck size and height also being reduced.
The toilet block will be a dry vault system Soper said, “so we won’t be relying on water for this facility”.
The site will no longer be reliant on water supply for toilets from the Selwyn District and utilise dry hand-washing foams, he said.
The project is expected to be completed this year but unlikely to be completed by the Matariki public holiday on July 14.
Soper said parts of the project are pre-fabricated units and while they have slots held in the production line it is located in cyclone-hit Gisborne.
“They still hope to have us on track for later this year,” he said.
Join Emile Donovan and Imogen Wells for your daily dose of exclusives, analysis and fresh perspectives on news.
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It's time to make their day in return! There's been hundreds of incredible nominations in this year's Prospa Local Business Hero Awards already - but have we got yours?
Give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the … View moreIt's time to make their day in return! There's been hundreds of incredible nominations in this year's Prospa Local Business Hero Awards already - but have we got yours?
Give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero Awards including a incredible package worth $10,000. Just share a few words about why they make your community a better place to live.
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With universities starting up last week, so brings first-time flatters trying their hand at cooking for the first time. In 2020, 27% of a household’s weekly budget was spent on takeaways so it’s no wonder that cooking is becoming a bit of a lost art.
Alongside sewing and knitting, what other … View moreWith universities starting up last week, so brings first-time flatters trying their hand at cooking for the first time. In 2020, 27% of a household’s weekly budget was spent on takeaways so it’s no wonder that cooking is becoming a bit of a lost art.
Alongside sewing and knitting, what other vital skills do you think are at risk of being lost?
Share your thoughts below for the We Say You Say column in the local paper - write NFP if you want your comments excluded.
If you need more forms or accessibility formats,visit www. census.govt.nz, or call 0800 236 787 for help.
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A huge moment for student safety.
That’s how Ashburton Christian School principal Tim Kuipers reacted to the news his school is finally getting a footpath.
“Safety is the number one thing and because of a footpath more parents will be … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A huge moment for student safety.
That’s how Ashburton Christian School principal Tim Kuipers reacted to the news his school is finally getting a footpath.
“Safety is the number one thing and because of a footpath more parents will be confident to send their students walking and biking rather than drop them off,” Kuipers said.
Out of its $4.19 million of Three Waters Better-Off funding, the Ashburton District Council has $900,000 for additional new footpaths.
This will see an additional 2262m of footpath, and the associated kerb and channel, at seven locations as well as a footbridge on Allens Road in Ashburton.
One of the new footpaths is a 482m stretch along Albert St, from Trevors Rd to the Ashburton Christian School.
The school sits just outside the Ashburton town boundary and currently students walking to school have to use the grass verge or the risker road edge.
“In the last three years I’ve had about five calls of concern about incidents on the road, Kuipers said.
“It’s particularly difficult in the wet of winter for students.”
With a roll of 258 and growing, Kuipers said they had about 50 walking or biking to school but sees that number drastically increasing with a footpath improving access and safety.
“I don’t know by how much but it will certainly increase.”
An increase in leg-powered transport – walking, biking and scooters - will also reduce the number of cars heading to and from the school each day, he said.
Since the school opened in 2009 the footpath has been on the council’s radar and Kuipers said the school has put in three requests in the last five years for one to be installed.
It was raised at the board meeting on Tuesday night and he was preparing another appeal only to learn of the council’s decision.
Councillor Russell Ellis said he was pleased to see the footpath to the school included with “the development that is going on now at the side of town”.
“The safety of those kids and not having to walk on the road when the grass is wet, I think this one is overdue,” Ellis said.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said the almost 700m footpath along Line Road in Methven would be well received by the Methven Community Board “because it’s something they had wanted to see for quite a few years”.
The footbridge on Allens Rd will provide a safe link between the existing footpath and a scheduled 520m extension in the 2023-24 work programme.
There are no footpaths for Rakaia or Hinds in Better-Off funding but roading manager Mark Chamberlain said there was plenty in the forward work programme.
In 2023-24 there are 208m of new footpath in Rakaia and 250m in Mt Somers, while there are about 760m of new footpath in Hinds and 419 in Rakaia earmarked for 2024-25.
Better-off new footpaths:
Wakanui Rd (Trevors Rd to end of Strowan Fields subdivision)
Trevors Rd (Albert St to Wakanui Rd)
Albert St (Trevors Rd to Ashburton Christian School)
Dolma St (end of existing to Line Rd)
Line ad (Methven Chertsey Rd to Dolma St)
Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Rd (Tarbottons Rd to Lagmhor Rd)
Lagmhor Rd (end of kerb to Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Rd)
Allens Rd footbridge at Mill Creek.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Councils will need approval from the government department handling the three waters reform before they can adopt the 2023-24 annual plan.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) involvement is a new step and not a layer of scrutiny previously … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Councils will need approval from the government department handling the three waters reform before they can adopt the 2023-24 annual plan.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) involvement is a new step and not a layer of scrutiny previously required, Ashburton District Council chief executive Hamish Riach said.
“It is based on the requirements of the recently passed Water Services Entities Act, and is aimed at DIA oversight of council’s decisions during the lead up to the new Water Services Entities becoming operational on July 1, 2024.
“So as I understand it, we need to seek DIA’s approval for the adoption of our annual plan, and DIA will presumably be looking at the manner in which we are treating our three waters assets to be appropriate.”
A DIA spokesperson said the oversight, under the Water Services Entities Act, is to ensure decisions by local authorities do not significantly impact the water services entities.
They will look to see if councils are delaying necessary projects or stockpiling debt for when the assets, work programmes, and debt transfer to the new entities next year.
The area the DIA will be focussed on is the Ashburton council’s decision to defer some renewals to allow for additional road funding and keep the rates increase as close to that forecast in the long-term plan as possible.
“Council has added $1m to unsubsidised roading because of concerns at the condition of our network," Riach said.
“Council has also agreed that, given the historic difficulties of completing all our annual capital work ambitions in the water area and an amount of work brought forward when we did the CBD upgrade, we should reduce the anticipated amount of budgeted work in the 2023-2024 year and reduce our funding of depreciation to match that reduced spend.”
The addition of the roading money and the reduction in three waters renewals “work in opposite directions for the overall rate increase but do impact different groups of ratepayers differently”.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Delays in processing consents is frustrating the start of the Fairfield Freight Hub and will likely push its completion into 2024.
Wareings Group director Mark Wareing said in November that they had hoped to start construction by February.
At … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Delays in processing consents is frustrating the start of the Fairfield Freight Hub and will likely push its completion into 2024.
Wareings Group director Mark Wareing said in November that they had hoped to start construction by February.
At the start of March, the $14 million project is still waiting for resource consent as Environment Canterbury (ECan) battles with a backlog in processing applications due to staffing challenges and the increasing complexity of them.
“It’s been three and a half months now but we know ECan is under the pump at the moment,” Wareing said.
As frustrating as the wait may be, Wareing said the process will take as long as it takes and that “the project will not start until we have all four consents granted”.
ECan consents planning manager Aurora Grant said staff were processing the four resource consent applications for the Fairfield Freight Hub.
“We need to take the time to fully understand the potential environmental effect of this resource consent application,” Grant said.
“We want the best outcome for the environment and the community.
“We will endeavour to process it as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
The delays with the resource consents will likely cause a delay in delivery of the project.
Once the consents are approved, constructing the rail hub is expected to take around 12 months to complete.
The project is a triparty commercial development led by the Wareing Group (which wholly owns Fairfield Freight Hub Ltd) with KiwiRail and the Ashburton District Council, and is being constructed on a Talley’s site - the former Fairton freezing works.
The council is contributing $2.3m to help fund the relocation of the rail freight yard from the town centre to the purpose-built facility at Fairton which will be covered by money from the Three Waters Reform “Better Off Funding” support package.
The Government is also chipping in with $2.5m from Waka Kotahi’s NZ Upgrade Programme.
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