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We have 7 adult Female Pekin Ducks that require a new home. We have just moved to the property and our dogs and the ducks do not get on very well. They are healthy and plump and we have ensured they have been well looked after since we moved here a month ago. Here is some more information about … View moreWe have 7 adult Female Pekin Ducks that require a new home. We have just moved to the property and our dogs and the ducks do not get on very well. They are healthy and plump and we have ensured they have been well looked after since we moved here a month ago. Here is some more information about the breed: chooks.co.nz....
Please contact Bronwen on 021 610 053. Pick up is in Hororata.
Many thanks! :-)
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
News that Ashburton could end up part-funding Environment Canterbury’s public bus transport fares is concerning the organisation’s Mid Canterbury councillor.
Ian Mackenzie thinks the possibility of contributing to the annual funding of ECan’s … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
News that Ashburton could end up part-funding Environment Canterbury’s public bus transport fares is concerning the organisation’s Mid Canterbury councillor.
Ian Mackenzie thinks the possibility of contributing to the annual funding of ECan’s generous public bus subsidies across Canterbury would result in zero benefits for the Ashburton District.
Ashburton has no public transport, other than an on-demand community connector bus run by volunteers to and from rural locations to the township.
ECan hopes to establish a Climate Change Action levy where all ratepayers would contribute.
One of ECan’s climate change action focuses is to get more people using public buses rather than their own vehicles.
Mackenzie is not convinced it is the right model and is concerned the climate change levy would be used to have the entire region subsidising public transport.
“That threat of charging for public transport, because of climate change across the whole region, sits within the climate change levy," Mackenzie said.
“That needs to be opposed, unless it’s specifically targeted for actions we can do, which will genuinely protect our community from climate change. That might be better flood protection.”
With the impacts of Covid still playing out, and many people still uncomfortable about using public transport while the virus was still rampant, Mackenzie said bus patronage was only about 70% of what it was pre-the pandemic.
“ECan has gone ahead and pumped several million dollars into buses, which I’m not sure is the right timing,” he said.
“We should have waited for Covid to finish, and it’s nowhere near finished yet, and then analyse what permanent changes are to the way people behave.”
He said there were a “whole lot of things we are yet to understand" but ECan was still insistent on “pouring money into buses as if it's business as usual".
ECan’s annual pricing plan would introduce a $2 flat fare across Greater Christchurch for metrocard holders, including areas like Lincoln in Selwyn or Rangiora in Waimakariri. The fare is $1 for tertiary students, under-25s, and total mobility and community service cardholders.
Mackenzie was also concerned that people in outlying towns were simply subsidising parents who opted to send their children into Christchurch for school.
“I’m not convinced that is something ratepayers should be asked to do,” he said.
As partners of the Elemental festival, Stuff Travel is giving away 2 amazing packages! For each you'll win 2 nights of luxury stay at Fable Auckland with a welcome dinner and daily breakfasts. You'll also get tickets to either the Takurua - Nafanua, The War Goddess or the Auckland Fried … View moreAs partners of the Elemental festival, Stuff Travel is giving away 2 amazing packages! For each you'll win 2 nights of luxury stay at Fable Auckland with a welcome dinner and daily breakfasts. You'll also get tickets to either the Takurua - Nafanua, The War Goddess or the Auckland Fried Chicken Festival.
Flights included for those out of Auckland.
Build a cosy bug hotel to hang in a quiet corner of your garden and paint it in your favourite Resene hues.
Find out how to create your own.
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for tamarillo recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before July 8, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Homegrown … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for tamarillo recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before July 8, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Homegrown Recipes.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Environment Canterbury’s annual plan carries a 16.2% average rates rise but the local councillor says that won’t be the case in Ashburton.
Councillor Ian Mackenzie said Ashburton urban ratepayers were looking at rise of about 4%, while the … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Environment Canterbury’s annual plan carries a 16.2% average rates rise but the local councillor says that won’t be the case in Ashburton.
Councillor Ian Mackenzie said Ashburton urban ratepayers were looking at rise of about 4%, while the majority of Ashburton rural would have a decrease.
Mackenzie said the rural decrease was a combination of a financial policy readjustment around the Hinds MAR project after ECan confirmed its project funding was a contribution not a loan, meaning it would be funded by the general rate, and borrowing the funds for the new land and water plans.
“That has made a reasonable difference in cost and the rate rise,” Mackenzie said.
“The MAR project and the land and water plan funding have probably made the biggest difference to rural Ashburton and rural Selwyn [rates].”
Funding flood recovery from the general rate, as opposed to targeted rates, would also have an impact, he said.
The May 2021 flood recovery work has been estimated to have cost about $20 million, with about $7.5m from the Government's National Emergency Management Agency.
ECan would fund the remainder by borrowing up to $12.2m to be repaid by general rates over 10 years.
Mackenzie said ECan was also still hoping the Government would answer its request to co-fund flood management in the future.
“When we do the budgets on what we need to do along the Ashburton River, we probably need to collect at least half as much if not twice as much more to manage it properly, and we are hoping the Government comes to the party.”
If the Government did not agree to the proposed co-funding of flood management, Mackenzie said ECan would likely be forced to start increasing the take from the river rating district, which had been reclassified.
The Ashburton River/Hakatere rating district has gone from 13 rating classes to six classes and an extended boundary to ensure “those who are benefiting are paying their fair share”.
“It’s the same amount of money from more places.”
Mckenzie said the Selwyn District Council has approached ECan to work on a similar river rating system for the Selwyn River so that “everybody pays and we can do a better job managing the river and its tributaries”.
He hoped that work could be done in time for next year’s annual plan process or for the long-term plan the following year.
BY THE NUMBERS
ECan provided some sample properties that showed an Ashburton urban property that was worth $330,000 in 2021-22 is now worth $430,000 in 2022/23 so its rates will rise from $201.55 to $296.30 – a $94.75 rise.
An Ashburton rural property that had been worth $4,960,000 and paying $2,293.05 is now worth $4,760,000 and will pay $1,941.68 – a $351.36 decrease.
Are you overdue a getaway? You could win a 13-day Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer South Island Rail & Coach tour by participating in Neighbourly’s 8th birthday celebration.
To enter the competition, just tell us what you love about your neighbourhood. It could be your favourite spot, a … View moreAre you overdue a getaway? You could win a 13-day Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer South Island Rail & Coach tour by participating in Neighbourly’s 8th birthday celebration.
To enter the competition, just tell us what you love about your neighbourhood. It could be your favourite spot, a beautiful view, or something that makes you smile. You could be in for a once-in-a-lifetime getaway!
Dear neighbours,
You have just a few more days to send your entries for our Houseplant Hero competition. You could win some great prizes and of course, more houseplanst!
Have a selection of lovely hyacinths available
1) Aqua $4 /2bulbs
2) Fairy White $4 / 2 bulbs
3) Delfts Blue $4 / 2 bulbs
4) Yellowstone $4/2 bulbs
5) Mixed . ( $5 /4bulbs .
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A council manager says it’s “difficult to quantify" how much water’s been lost because of infrastructure leaks in Methven until the meter implementation plan hits full noise.
Ashburton District Council's infrastructure services group … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A council manager says it’s “difficult to quantify" how much water’s been lost because of infrastructure leaks in Methven until the meter implementation plan hits full noise.
Ashburton District Council's infrastructure services group manager, Neil McCann, said 160 of 1200 meters have been installed in a trial the council hopes will solve massive water losses in Methven.
McCann said to get the maximum value from any metering programme, it needed water meters on all connections.
“Only then can we determine where the water is actually going," he said.
“Universal metering will also allow council to calculate how much of the leakage is on the public network and how much is on private property."
The council believed there was an unaccounted water loss of 65% in Methven between 2019-20. It also reported that acoustic detection technology, where water leakages in burst or faulty pipes are heard and found without disrupting the service or breaking the ground, identified 51 leaks on public and private properties during one-off investigations in July 2020.
In its long-term plan, the council agreed to a $1 million trial of water meters in Methven, believing there were significant leaks in the region’s infrastructure.
Once the meters were installed and used to identify leaks, the information would also eventually be used to prioritise acoustic leak detection activities on the public network, McCann said.
“We have identified some leaks after installing meters and notified the property owners, who have attended to the leaks, so leakage will be gradually decreasing.
“It is difficult to quantify the amount at this stage.”
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Concrete mixer, plastic barrel with lid and seal wanted. "Odjob" or something similar that rolls to mix. New or used.
Are you interested in working with infants, toddlers, or young children?
Our Level 3 Certificate in Early Childhood will help you to develop a strong foundational grounding in the essential knowledge involved in the education and care of infants, toddlers, and young children.
This programme … View moreAre you interested in working with infants, toddlers, or young children?
Our Level 3 Certificate in Early Childhood will help you to develop a strong foundational grounding in the essential knowledge involved in the education and care of infants, toddlers, and young children.
This programme is taught in a practical learning environment and includes placements within early childhood centres, providing a real hands-on experience to prepare you for a career in early childhood.
We are enrolling now for July! Visit our website to enrol or find out more.
We have 8 piglets needing new homes
4 boys and 4 girls
We need them to find their new forever homes asap.
They make amazing pets and are very trainable.
All parents are purebred Kunekune.
Located in Leeston
Upcycle pallets into stylish pieces for your deck or patio with Resene Pitch Black.
Find out how to create your own.
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