Ashburton District, Ashburton

Let's get familiar!

Let's get familiar!

Introduce yourself on the Know Thy Neighbour page.

Got something to swap or sell?

Got something to swap or sell?

Head to Market if you need to buy or list uniforms, books or bikes.

851 days ago

Are you obsessed with your houseplants? Enter our Houseplant Hero competition!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

The hunt is officially on for New Zealand's best collection of houseplants
. Which means you could be 2022 Houseplant Hero. There’s some great prizes to be won! To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) what potted plants you have, the time you put into caring for them, and what … View more
The hunt is officially on for New Zealand's best collection of houseplants
. Which means you could be 2022 Houseplant Hero. There’s some great prizes to be won! To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) what potted plants you have, the time you put into caring for them, and what you love about them. Send us up to five photos of your indoor plant displays. Email mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Meanwhile, here's last year's winner Alyce Read, from Nelson.

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853 days ago

Top Gun Maverick - pre-release screening - UPDATE

Frank from Ashburton District

Only 36 seats left - Showing 25th May at Ashburton Cinema.
Selling Fast.

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853 days ago

Work continues on Methven drinking water supply

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Methven residents are being asked to conserve water again on Monday (May 23) during more planned work on the Methven drinking water supply. The work will begin at 7am and should be complete by 3pm.

The Ashburton District Council said contractors would be cutting in a second underground pipe at the… View more
Methven residents are being asked to conserve water again on Monday (May 23) during more planned work on the Methven drinking water supply. The work will begin at 7am and should be complete by 3pm.

The Ashburton District Council said contractors would be cutting in a second underground pipe at the water treatment plant so no water would be flowing into the plant, however there would be enough water in the reservoir to service the town if people used it conservatively.

Infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said the work was being done in advance of a new treatment plant and while two new water reservoirs were under construction at the site.

“We cut in the first pipe on 13 May and the second pipe will be cut in on Monday. The work should be done in six hours, but we do ask people to conserve their water use where possible to avoid draining the reservoir. People can still have showers and flush toilets, but minimise activity on Monday morning that would use large amounts of water," he said.

”We appreciated the efforts Methven residents made last time to conserve water and we thank them in advance for doing the same on Monday.”

The work is being done by ACL and Reliant Solutions.

855 days ago

Candle creations

The Team from Resene ColorShop Ashburton

Who would have thought pine chair feet could make such an amazing addition to your home décor? Painting these with Resene testpots and stacking them to make contemporary candle holders is a breeze.

Find out how to create your own.

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855 days ago

Become a Web Developer with Vision!

Vision College

Thinking about a career in IT as a Web Developer? Our NZ Diploma in Web Development and Design (Level 5) will teach you how to develop great websites in just one year! This programme will give you the development and design skills you need to make your mark in an exciting industry.

No University… View more
Thinking about a career in IT as a Web Developer? Our NZ Diploma in Web Development and Design (Level 5) will teach you how to develop great websites in just one year! This programme will give you the development and design skills you need to make your mark in an exciting industry.

No University entrance required! All you need is NCEA Level 2 to |get yourself started| on this journey into the IT industry.

Enrol now for our July intake at vision.ac.nz
Find out more

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856 days ago

Longer limits, Govt exemptions cause drop in council parking revenue

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Parking infringements have significantly decreased thanks to longer parking in central Ashburton.

The central section of the West St car park, encompassing 83 parking spaces, was extended from 120 to 180 minutes at the end of February.

The Ashburton District Council reviewed the time-restricted … View more
Parking infringements have significantly decreased thanks to longer parking in central Ashburton.

The central section of the West St car park, encompassing 83 parking spaces, was extended from 120 to 180 minutes at the end of February.

The Ashburton District Council reviewed the time-restricted parking as part of the $15m revitalisation of the CBD.

The two end sections of the car park, 142 spaces, are free for all day parking.

Council strategy and compliance group manager Jane Donaldson said parking officers have received some positive verbal feedback when out on patrol.

Before the changes the council’s data showed there was high demand for the all day parking, with 97% peak occupancy, while the central spaces had a peak occupancy of about 60 per cent.

The change has seen a significant reduction in parking infringements.

“A small number of tickets for overstaying are issued each week, approximately three to four, but on the whole, shoppers welcome the additional allowance to get back to their cars on time.

“Previously, two to three tickets a day were issued for overstaying in this area.”

Up until March 31, the council has received only $132,000 from parking in the finical year which is $157,879 off the budgeted intake for the full year of $290,777.

The variance has been put down to the removal of the old coin operated stand-alone parking meters that were removed to make way for the yet to be installed parking sensors.

The council’s financial report also states that parking infringement income was affected by the Government’s introduction of a grace period for warrants of fitness and vehicle registration.

The town’s lone pay and display unit serving the Cass St car park is generating some parking revenue.

The council has also introduced an over 80s parking permit in April that allows a permit holder to park for twice the allotted time in any over 30 minute parks.

Donaldson said the council has so far issued 42 of the permits.

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856 days ago

Top Gun Maverick - pre-release screening

Frank from Ashburton District

The Aviation Museum Ashburton is holding a pre-release screening of Top Gun Maverick at the Ashburton Regent Cinema 25th May.
Less than 53 tickets left!
Tickets Selling Fast!
Call Stephen - 027 649-0650 or Dennis - 027 222-1281 to purchase.

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858 days ago

Six months on and still no parking sensors in sight

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

The disruption of the $15 million CBD revitalisation project is in the rear-view mirror but the project is not fully complete.

The overall project was completed in November except for the installation of the parking sensors.

Six months later they are still yet to even arrive in the country.

View more
The disruption of the $15 million CBD revitalisation project is in the rear-view mirror but the project is not fully complete.

The overall project was completed in November except for the installation of the parking sensors.

Six months later they are still yet to even arrive in the country.

“International supply-chain issues have meant they are yet to be delivered,” infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said.

“We checked with our supplier two weeks ago, and they indicated that they approximately three months from arriving in New Zealand.”

The in-ground parking sensors will electronically log when a vehicle parks in a space, then send an alert to a parking warden if the vehicle has overstayed the free time allowed.

The eventual installation of the sensors is expected to cause minimal disruption.

To install the 215-odd sensors, a hole the same size as the sensor is drilled into the road surface in which the sensor is placed, requiring no remediation of the road surface.

Aside from the sensors, and the snag list of minor repairs and outstanding items is being worked through, it has been delivered on time and on budget.

The total expenditure on the project to date is $17,494,993 and with about $97,000 outstanding for the parking sensors it will still come under the approved budget for the project of $17,639,620.

COST BREAKDOWN

Open Spaces $2,581,004

Parking $43,105

Roading:

- Drainage $416,827

- Footpaths $2,898,431

- Kerb and Channel $354,452

- Lighting $1,289,411

- Rain Gardens $1,059,842

- Rehabilitation $3,433,639

- Raised Intersections $441,955

- Roadmarking $108,676

- Street Furniture $102,585

- Signage $256,153

- Traffic Islands $50,821

- Traffic Signals $677,039

Sewer $846,857

Solid Waste $96,828

Stormwater $1,568,586

Water $1,147,972

Services $120,812

TOTAL: $17,494,993

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858 days ago

Mayor calls for action at Walnut Ave intersection

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

“We need to do something and it may save someone’s life.”

Ashburton mayor Neil Brown is calling for action around what he deems a serious accident waiting to happen at the Walnut Ave upgrades project.

The intersections of Walnut Ave and State … View more
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

“We need to do something and it may save someone’s life.”

Ashburton mayor Neil Brown is calling for action around what he deems a serious accident waiting to happen at the Walnut Ave upgrades project.

The intersections of Walnut Ave and State Highway 1, and Walnut Ave and East St have been upgraded, but the traffic lights won’t be switched on until the end of the year once they are linked up to an upgraded rail crossing between the two intersections - which KiwiRail is still designing.

In the interim, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has left the all-but completed intersections coned off into roundabouts until KiwiRail completes the rail crossing works.

Brown said he already had concerns before coming across another crash at the site last Wednesday morning.

Brown has suggested temporarily closing the rail crossing as one potential option.

“We could sit here and we can watch it and wait for a more dangerous accident to happen or we can do something.

“Waiting for the end of the year doesn’t seem to be the right thing to do with that intersection.”

He said Kiwirail “seem to have let us down” - or the delivery of its section had been miscalculated.

“The timing just doesn’t seem to be right. We need to do something and it may save someone’s life.”

Waka Kotahi principal project manager transport services Colin McKay said contractors were reviewing safety of the whole work site and had identified a few changes that would help contribute to the safe running of the roundabout.

He said the staging of the project and the KiwiRail work always had completion of the major works by the end of the year.

Waka Kotahi’s intersection works were completed in April but KiwiRail was not ready to start on its section, however South Island general manager operations, Mark Heissenbuttel said the project was running to schedule.

“The level crossing design is progressing well and we will begin physical work later this year.

“We expect the crossing work will be completed and operational in December, and we are working hard to meet this goal.

“We appreciate people’s frustration but ask them to bear with us.”

The level crossing improvements were complex to design, he said, as it included “integrating modern traffic lights, warning bells and the like with much older rail signals in the area and resolving the signals implications of removing the third rail line at the crossing – which takes time".

“It is because of this, and some general supply chain delays with some components, due to Covid, that we could not start physical works earlier," Heissenbuttel said.

Brown has contacted Waka Kotahi and Kiwirail and invited them to appear at a council meeting to discuss the project.

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858 days ago

Methven water bore plans stall over setback concerns

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Plans to drill for a potential new Methven water supply have hit an impasse.

An exploratory drill site for a potential new water supply had been found but the landowner has pulled the pin.

Council assets manager Andrew Guthrie said the landowner … View more
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Plans to drill for a potential new Methven water supply have hit an impasse.

An exploratory drill site for a potential new water supply had been found but the landowner has pulled the pin.

Council assets manager Andrew Guthrie said the landowner indicated this week they wish to walk away from the arrangement.

He said the advice the landowner received raised concerns around the impact of regulations for a potential water source, being too restrictive on the property's farming operations and a possible impact on neighbouring land as well.

“They didn’t feel like they were comfortable proceeding with that arrangement.

“At the moment we don’t have an alternative site,” Guthrie said.

Councillor Angus McKay said the regulators have put in setbacks distances that do not take into account the depth the water is sourced and any consideration to natural process of cleaning water.

“To me this is a national disgrace that we are asked by regulators and regional council plans to have setback around drinking water standards, yet when we do our best to find the best cleanest water, we are stymied because of their plans.”

Chief executive Hamish Riach said it was an opportunity to express concerns at the regulations “but I put our chances of amending those regulations at zero”.

“We can make our point but in terms of improving the water supply in Methven we will have to go to the alternate proposal which we are working on in parallel to the bore because we won’t, in my opinion, have any luck in getting the regulation changed."

The exploratory bore project was running in parallel with the membrane treatment plant upgrade project to improve Methven’s water supply.

“Being unable to progress the exploratory bore has no impact, either in scope or cost, on the membrane project,” infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said.

“The membrane project is a comprehensive standalone solution, so a plan B is not required.”

The bore site was chosen by Aquifer Locations Limited, McCann said, at a site where it was believed there was suitable groundwater but also in consideration of council’s desire for it to be close to the existing Methven treatment plant.

“The exploratory bore drilling was to be funded by Aquifer Locations Limited. Council would only incur cost if the bore was successful,” McCann said.

Meanwhile, the $9.4 million upgrade of Methven’s water supply is progressing through the first stage.

The upgrade includes two new reservoirs and a membrane treatment plant.

Concrete foundations for the two large reservoirs have been laid and the steel panels are expected to arrive this month to then be assembled.

Underground pipes linking the new reservoirs to the existing plant and a new future membrane treatment plant to be built nearby are currently being laid.

After the new reservoirs with a combined capacity of 1128 cubic metres are completed, the old concrete reservoir will be drained to allow a comprehensive structural inspection to determine its future viability.

A contract for the supply of the new membrane treatment equipment has been awarded and consultants are finalising designs for how the plant will look.

Construction of the membrane plant is planned to start later this year and could take nine months.

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859 days ago

Trust a farmer to give us their opinion.

PGG Wrightson

The new range of Line7 performance workwear has been designed, developed and tested by you – New Zealand farmers. We asked, listened, and collaborated directly with farmers in the making of this gear. We tested and re-tested in on-farm environments. We re-engineered what farming workwear can be … View moreThe new range of Line7 performance workwear has been designed, developed and tested by you – New Zealand farmers. We asked, listened, and collaborated directly with farmers in the making of this gear. We tested and re-tested in on-farm environments. We re-engineered what farming workwear can be with your needs front of mind.

We brought our decades of experience creating world-class performance gear. Add to that a legacy of Kiwi innovation, a challenger spirit and a practical attitude that’s been part of Line 7 since we started back in 1963.

Every detail has been reviewed and refined – without overlooking the obvious. Breathable, flexible, functional and comfortable, while still being supremely durable and waterproof. Made to fit farmers of all shapes and sizes, with a dedicated range for women. Built to last, and last a bit longer still, with an included repair kit that means you can fix it up quickly yourself.

Now take it out there, try it on and put it to the test. Wear it out and wear it again. We’re pretty damn confident you won’t be disappointed
Find out more

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860 days ago

School Seconds

Jacki from Ashburton District

Good morning all. I am investigating the need for a second hand school uniform "shop". I understand uniforms are very pricy and am putting my feelers out to see what the response in regards to this will be. I dont know if this is already available in our area so please comment below if… View moreGood morning all. I am investigating the need for a second hand school uniform "shop". I understand uniforms are very pricy and am putting my feelers out to see what the response in regards to this will be. I dont know if this is already available in our area so please comment below if you feel this will be a viable shop and do you think this will be taken advantage of? This "shop" will include uniforms from all schools in our area. (hopefully). Any comments will be welcome. You will be welcome do donate items once your child is finished with them, these will be paid forward to those in need. In this regard, do any of you moms / dads /careres have uniforms laying around wanting to or willing to donate or offer at a small price (to start this venture off). Please PM me in regards to this. Once I am off the floor (so to speak), I will perhaps open a f/b page and also create flyers and hopefully the schools will be able to distribute to you all.

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861 days ago

WM Scouts Garage Sale

Helen from West Melton

Sunday 19th June - 9am - 1pm
Gold Coin Entry
Our Garage Sale is finally here!
Bouncy Castle, sausage sizzle, baking, bacon butties
Kitchenware, electrical, sports, books, clothing, antiques, furniture, babyware, tools & more!

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862 days ago

Life Drawing at Oxford Gallery

Areta Wilkinson from Oxford Gallery toi o Waimakariri

We are taking bookings for our next LIFE DRAWING course this May-June 2022. Begins Thursday 19 May for five consecutive weeks.

Oxford Gallery will host our popular Life Drawing sessions again this May and June. Spaces are limited so early booking is advised!

Life Drawing is the practice of … View more
We are taking bookings for our next LIFE DRAWING course this May-June 2022. Begins Thursday 19 May for five consecutive weeks.

Oxford Gallery will host our popular Life Drawing sessions again this May and June. Spaces are limited so early booking is advised!

Life Drawing is the practice of drawing the human figure from a live model and teaches observation and drawing skills. This course is open to beginners and experienced artists. You don’t have to know ‘how to draw’ to draw the human figure. You will not be judged on your drawing here; even the most experienced artists are learning, so if you feel like challenging yourself creatively and learning a new skill, you are welcome!

Artist and tutor Casey will suggest exercises to try or you can be self-directed.

✅ Drawing boards, easels, newsprint and sugar paper provided.

✅ Bring your own drawing materials (for beginners we recommend a soft pencil – 2B or softer – or charcoal). Experienced artists may bring their preferred materials.

✅ Tea and coffee provided

✅ Thursdays 7-9pm (please arrive at 6.45 for prompt 7pm start)

📆 19, 26 May and 2,9,16 June

🎫 Ticket options:

$120 for a block of 5 sessions

OR

Buy individual sessions at $30 per session.

Buy Tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz...

Ticketing will close when the course is fully booked.

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862 days ago

Triple-bay compost bin

The Team from Resene ColorShop Ashburton

Create your own triple compost bin and stain in Resene Waterborne Woodsman. Use the handy compartments for fresh scraps, decomposing material and usable compost.
Find out how to create your own.

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