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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It is going to be an important 60 days for Rakaia, the local rugby club president says.
After receiving Ashburton District Council backing Rakaia rugby president Mark Hanrahan says “the rubber's hit the road” for its planned Rakaia Recreation… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It is going to be an important 60 days for Rakaia, the local rugby club president says.
After receiving Ashburton District Council backing Rakaia rugby president Mark Hanrahan says “the rubber's hit the road” for its planned Rakaia Recreation Centre.
The plans to build a new facility at the Rakaia Domain were only locked in once the council committed to supporting the project in its annual plan last week, but Hanrahan said most of the work had already gone in.
“The next 60 days are us securing our final tranche of funding while signing off the designs and going out for tender to be able to make some final decisions in spring."
The clubs will tear down the out-of-date changing room facility and replace it with a fit-for-purpose building with clubrooms, changing sheds and public toilets.
Hanrahan said while the rugby club was driving the project, it would be a community facility.
Now the council had come on board, funding the public toilets and offering an up to $200,000 commercial loan, Hanrahan said the club had some final processes to go through before construction could hopefully start this year.
“We have the architect going through the final detailed design so we can go out to tender.”
They hoped to have the project designs ready to go out for tender in August and a decision made in September, he said.
The build timeline remained a “bit of an unknown” but they hoped to have things under way by the end of the year.
“We think it will take six months of building so we're still hopeful for completion by the second quarter of next year.”
The club had funds as it had been saving for a new facility for 10 years and recently sold its cross-town clubrooms, Hanrahan said.
After the club asked for a hand up not a hand out, Hanrahan said the fact of the council loan would open other funding options.
“We have a budget but the tender process will decide the final project cost.”
Hanrahan said the building would have clubrooms, with a commercial kitchen and bar that could fit up to 200 people, and it would be elevated so spectators could view games from the wrap-around, covered deck.
It would have six changing sheds and six individual public toilets.
To cater for the much bigger building, Hanrahan said the main field on the domain would shift over slightly.
Have you read our June Seniors newsletter? In this issue we discuss the Older Workers Employment Action Plan, Budget 2022 and hear from Equal Employment Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo. Read it here now: bit.ly...
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Nominations for the local government elections open soon and a salary increase may get new faces putting their hands up in the Ashburton District.
The Remuneration Authority has confirmed the increased pool for councillor salaries which will see a … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Nominations for the local government elections open soon and a salary increase may get new faces putting their hands up in the Ashburton District.
The Remuneration Authority has confirmed the increased pool for councillor salaries which will see a jump from $41,214 closer to $50,000 for the next term.
The authority is the independent body that dictates the elected councillor’s salaries.
The council only has a say in how it is distributed.
The current Ashburton District Council opted to have the eight councillors on the same salary, which as of July 1 rose slightly to $41,214, and the deputy mayor on a higher salary, $59,182, due to the extra responsibilities.
The remuneration pool doesn’t apply to the mayor.
Councillor Angus McKay, who is yet to confirm his intentions for the upcoming election, said he hoped the next council would take a similar approach to allocating the pool.
“In my opinion this council has worked very well and one of the reasons I put that down to is the people sitting around the room and the other is that this council did away with the hierarchy of committees.
“I’m hopeful the new council will do the same.
“We have all been on equal pay, equal footing, and I think that’s what made this council work very, very well.”
Following the elections in October, the remuneration pool will increase $61,302 from $388,893 to $450,195.
The newly elected council decide what structure the division of the pool takes, with options to pay positions of extra responsibility more, such as the deputy mayor.
The Remuneration Authority has also confirmed the mayor’s salary of $123,201 will increase to $132,690 after the election.
There is no change to the Methven Community Board remuneration, with the chair still set to receive $5,544 and $2,777 to each of the other four members.
Carpet been in home for 60 years in good nick. No memory marks. Must be gone by 17th July. 65 meters square. Made of pure wool. Created in the Riccarton Mill when operated there, Was made in 690mm (27") runs known as Panel Persian. View by appointment only. Open to Offers
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s historic railway footbridge could be in for a makeover.
The Ashburton District Council is investigating what can be done to the 105-year-old structure and how to fund it.
The council is in the process of obtaining a conservation … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s historic railway footbridge could be in for a makeover.
The Ashburton District Council is investigating what can be done to the 105-year-old structure and how to fund it.
The council is in the process of obtaining a conservation management plan (CMP) for the heritage overbridge, which infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann says will include what condition the bridge should be maintained to and if any changes or additions, such as lights, can be made.
Work had started on the CMP and should be completed as early as the end of July, he said.
A detailed inspection in August 2018 identified an estimated $290,450 worth of maintenance and repairs, which McCann said included painting the iron work and replacing some decayed timber.
An inspection of the bridge in November 2021 confirmed the work required, he said.
Once a CMP is completed the work will then be programmed once funding is secured.
Council roading manager Mark Chamberlain said funding was the big issue – like it was for any project.
“We have $100,000 to do maintenance on all our structures including that bridge,” Chamberlain said.
“If I had to choose to spend that on one bridge or another, I think I would choose one with the traffic on it.
“But it is a heritage listed bridge so we do need to look after it.”
McCann said once the CMP was received “we will make enquiries to determine what funding opportunities are available”.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga has the bridge listed as a category 2 heritage place, but the Rail Heritage Trust had the former railway station and footbridge listed together on its historic register so had designated the bridge as being demolished along with the station.
The council is contacting the trust to ensure its register is updated to list the footbridge as still existing as a stand-alone item and also plans to enquire about possible funding assistance.
History of the footbridge
The Railway Footbridge was constructed in 1917 and is the key surviving feature from the Ashburton Railway Station complex following the demolition of the main station building in 2013.
The Railway Footbridge, with its bowstring truss, is one of a few such railway footbridges that remain in situ.
Initially the east end of the bridge had ramps descending at right angles both towards the town centre and to the station building, but the northeast ramp was removed in 1983.
The Ashburton Railway Station, opened in 1917, remained a busy thoroughfare until the 1980s, when the number of passenger trains was steadily reduced.
In 2002, the passenger train service stopped altogether and the station building was demolished in 2013.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Rakaia’s rugby club president says it’s an exciting time after receiving council backing for a new community facility in the Rakaia Domain.
The rugby club is leading a project to demolish the existing outdated facility at the Rakaia Domain and … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Rakaia’s rugby club president says it’s an exciting time after receiving council backing for a new community facility in the Rakaia Domain.
The rugby club is leading a project to demolish the existing outdated facility at the Rakaia Domain and build a new one that will serve as a community recreation centre.
The council, in the annual plan, resolved to fund public toilets in the new facility and to offer an up to $200,000 commercial loan to support the club’s fundraising efforts, none of which impacts rates.
“It’s an exciting time for us to now have the council on board with the public amenities and also the financial backing,” club president Mark Hanrahan said.
“The contribution from the council is a significant step towards the total package.
“It’s exciting for the club and the community.”
The rugby club completed its design and cost estimates in March 2021 and is making progress to secure funds, and Hanrahan said the timeline was still focused on completion by the second quarter of 2023.
Back in 2015, the Rakaia Stadium Trust had pitched to the council to back a new sports complex at the Rakaia Domain. But as the EA Networks Centre was readying to open the council balked at the $1.5 million funding request towards the estimated $5m facility.
Hanrahan, who was part of the project team for the stadium, said the current plan is fit for purpose.
The project first went before the council in December when the club was advised to submit its requests for financial support to the annual plan.
In the annual plan the council committed to $351,000, loan funded, for new public toilets in the facility, as the current ones are part of the existing facility that will be demolished.
The rugby club has sold its clubrooms that were on the other side of town and is currently utilising the neighbouring bowling club as a temporary clubrooms.
The Rakaia Reserve Board’s Bruce Perry told the council in December that the board supported the project as the existing facilities were past their use-by and most likely did not meet earthquake building standards. An assessment had not been undertaken.
Hanrahan said as well as the reserve board they had the support of other sporting codes and now the annual plan has been adopted it has council support.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An Ashburton councillor is furious at the intention of spending more money on “tourist roads”.
Councillor Stuart Wilson slammed the proposed direction of the Ashburton District Council’s $1.7 million of additional roading funding, saying it was… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
An Ashburton councillor is furious at the intention of spending more money on “tourist roads”.
Councillor Stuart Wilson slammed the proposed direction of the Ashburton District Council’s $1.7 million of additional roading funding, saying it was all going on just two roads.
“I’m very disappointed with where you are spending the money,” Wilson told the council's roading manager Mark Chamberlain.
“You are spreading $1.7m on [Arundel Rakaia Gorge Rd], which is a damn tourist road.
“I know it’s a busy road but I thought we put $1.7m in to be spread across the district.
“The majority of our maintenance is going into those two roads.”
In the council’s subsidised road rehabilitation funding, Arundel Rakaia Gorge Rd, part of the Inland Scenic Route 72, has $1.75m of works across five sections and Thompsons Track has $730,400.
That equates to 67% of the total $3.68m budget.
From the additional $1.7m taken from the forestry reserve for unsubsidised road funding, Arundel Rakaia Gorge Rd ($492,200) and Thompsons Track ($424,200) combine for 53% of the spend.
Wilson said he knew the decisions were based on traffic volume but “there are roads just as important” to the district.
Chamberlain said that the two roads had the most work scheduled because they had most of the potholes and failures on the network.
“If we look 10 years down the track we shouldn’t have to be spending money there.”
He said they were the roads that, from a safety aspect, needed the work done.
In his report to the council, Chamberlain said the rehabilitation work would eliminate anything other than minor routine maintenance, second coat seals and reseals for at least 25 years. It would also avoid using resources for ongoing patching to hold the older failed sections of pavement.
But Wilson disagreed, suggesting the funding should be spread further across the district and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency should be stumping up more money for the two busy roads.
“Those [two] roads are semi-tourist roads and I think if NZTA don’t want to help us spend more money on those roads, I say stiff luck,” Wilson said.
“People can growl and you can say to NZTA, ‘you are not giving us enough money to maintain those roads’.”
Chamberlain said the proposed list of rehabilitation work would go to the council for final approval.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The adoption of one of the Ashburton District’s biggest rate increases in over a decade is a “realistic budget”.
The near 10% average rates increase was approved by the Ashburton District Council on Wednesday when it adopted its 2022-23 annual … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The adoption of one of the Ashburton District’s biggest rate increases in over a decade is a “realistic budget”.
The near 10% average rates increase was approved by the Ashburton District Council on Wednesday when it adopted its 2022-23 annual plan.
“We have done a very realistic budget,” councillor John Falloon said.
“It will be interesting to see where other territorial authorities are in 15 months’ time when they report on their actual results to the end of June 2023 and where we will be because I don’t think we will have to dip into reserves or anything like that to get through because we have done a realistic budget.”
Mayor Neil Brown highlighted that the external pressures from inflation, Covid-19, and supply chain issues were “not our friend in this year’s budget”.
“It is going to be an interesting year ahead," Brown said. “This is our best estimate and I think it is a pretty accurate estimate.
“We will be doing everything we can to stick to it and deliver the work programme.”
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said the council had left no stone unturned during the process.
“The 9.4% seems very high but we have put the work in. We have looked at everything,” she said.
Behind the 9.4% average rise is inflation factored in at 5%, flood recovery, new drinking water regulation compliance and the completion of the new library and civic centre.
Any projects carried over from the 2021-22 financial year will go before the council in a report for deliberation over the future of those projects.
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Unleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go … View moreUnleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go all out! Check out some of the previous entires here.
Take part in the 2022 Resene Upcycling Awards. There are four great prizes worth $500 up for grabs: a $200 Resene voucher and a $300 Prezzy® card!
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