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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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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.
What to do for a warm home when the frost of winter and the cost of living are both on the rise? Click on over or come see us at The Warehouse.
You don’t need to spend big to create a healthy home, and you can start with good curtains. Open them during the day to let the warmth in, then close … View moreWhat to do for a warm home when the frost of winter and the cost of living are both on the rise? Click on over or come see us at The Warehouse.
You don’t need to spend big to create a healthy home, and you can start with good curtains. Open them during the day to let the warmth in, then close them at night to keep cold air out. A low-cost heater will keep your air warm at night while you snuggle under blankets and flannelette sheets.
Keep your whānau cosy this winter with us.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Some things have been changed around but rates are still set to rise by an average of 9.4%.
The Ashburton District Council ran through the final draft of its annual plan on Wednesday before it goes before the council next week for adoption.
… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Some things have been changed around but rates are still set to rise by an average of 9.4%.
The Ashburton District Council ran through the final draft of its annual plan on Wednesday before it goes before the council next week for adoption.
Councillors have left no stone unturned for savings or deferrals but haven’t been able to budge on the 9.4% average rates rise.
The council had asked in its consultation if it should reduce services to reduce costs, and therefore rates, but the majority of the 131 submissions received were against any reduction.
Mayor Neil Brown said the council had consulted the community and through the submissions process made changes.
“We listened and made changes around the projects such as new footpaths, [public] toilets, and assessments of disability inclusive playgrounds.
“Small things, moving things around but the community felt it was important. We listened and we changed.
“Some people thought some things were more important than we did and we listened and took that on board, and changed things around.
“It didn’t affect the overall rates as well we just moved things around a bit.”
The council shuffled some funding around to reintroduce new footpaths to the annual plan, sass well as including public toilet facilities and rectifying the safety hazards at the EA Networks entrance - none of which affects the rates.
What is affecting the 9.4% average rise is inflation, flood recovery, new drinking water regulation compliance.
“We are spending a reasonable amount of money on [water regulation compliance] in this coming year and at the end of that year all our water supplies will be compliant.”
The council had been advised in October to factor in an inflation rate of 2.9% but Brown said the council were able to forecast that the figure was too low and went with a rate of 5%.
The councillors reviewed the 173-page document and made several corrections and clarifications for the final draft that will be ready to go for adoption next week.
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We are at multiple venues each day throughout Christchurch Region.
Monday 20 June to Sunday 25 June. Please check the dates and times carefully on our website … View moreWanted Wanted Wanted:
Gold • Coins • Watches • Banknotes • Antiques • Paintings • Collectables
We are at multiple venues each day throughout Christchurch Region.
Monday 20 June to Sunday 25 June. Please check the dates and times carefully on our website https://www.goldco.co.nz/.
The market for antiques, collectables, scrap gold, vintage watches, rare coins and art has been buoyant over the past 2 years. Prices have never been higher and demand never stronger. Have you considered selling your collection? or simply wish to cash in unwanted items? Whether a single item of broken jewellery or a large collection of Art or Antiques.
See us at a venue near you or call Hamish on 0800 105 228 or 021 461 727.
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This June help the New Zealand Trees That Count programme! Simply visit your local Resene ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60mL testpots (excludes … View moreThis June help the New Zealand Trees That Count programme! Simply visit your local Resene ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60mL testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers between 1-30 June 2022 at Resene owned ColorShops.
Trees That Count runs the country’s only marketplace which provides a place for anyone to fund or gift native trees. For more information on Trees That Count, visit www.treesthatcount.co.nz...
Do you ever walk past a business affected by Covid and wonder what you could do to help? We created Short Notice to link community members with spare time on their hands to surrounding businesses in need.
Whether you have a week, a day or an hour to volunteer, head to the … View moreDo you ever walk past a business affected by Covid and wonder what you could do to help? We created Short Notice to link community members with spare time on their hands to surrounding businesses in need.
Whether you have a week, a day or an hour to volunteer, head to the Short Notice community hub to introduce yourself and share how you can lend a hand.
If you're a business owner sign up for a FREE Premium Business listing to get access to Short Notice and let your community know what help you need.
Together, let's help keep our small businesses thriving!
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There’s disappointment at a councillor’s suggestion that Ashburton’s public consultation process is a waste of time because decisions have already been made.
Councillor John Fallon is understood to have said, while suffering from a medical … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There’s disappointment at a councillor’s suggestion that Ashburton’s public consultation process is a waste of time because decisions have already been made.
Councillor John Fallon is understood to have said, while suffering from a medical condition at a public meeting in April, that there was no point in public submissions because the council had already decided on the budget .
When approached about his comments, Falloon said the incident was a personal matter and he didn’t want to comment further.
His comments, which resurfaced during the recent annual plan hearings, have not impressed two former Ashburton councillors – who were not present at the meeting where the comments were made.
Selwyn Price, a councillor from 2016 to 2019, referenced Falloon’s comments while speaking to an annual plan submission on behalf of the Hakatere Multi Cultural Council, but said as he was not present he was unaware of the context of the comments.
Price said most people in the district did not believe there was any point taking part in public consultation with the council.
“When you have that kind of comment made in public, it does beg the question whether the annual plan has actually been set and whether this [consultation process] is just a PR exercise,” Price said.
Public consultation is a standard regulatory process where the community’s input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparency, and public involvement in large-scale projects or council policies.
Former mayor Donna Favel said Falloon’s comments suggested the council was already set in its plans and consultation wouldn’t change that.
Favel voiced her concern to the council on behalf of the Ashburton Citizen's Association (ACA) submission.
ACA chairwoman Greer Rickett who was also not at the meeting where Falloon made the controversial comments, wrote in the submission it was disappointing to hear Falloon was alleged to have stated that "budgets are a waste of time and I don’t know why we do them" and "there is no point submitting as we’ve already decided on the budget".
Favel said she believed Falloon was reprimanded at the time by fellow former councillor John Leadley, before mayor Neil Brown addressed the comments as not being accurate.
Brown then doubled down on that position during the hearings, which he said were demonstrating the robust process.
Earlier this month, Falloon earned praise for his innovative approach, asking the council to consider dipping into cash reserves to slash a huge rates rise by 2%. His idea was technically not able to be implemented.
Ever wondered where the sweetest places to live in Aotearoa are?
Stuff’s Homed team has done some serious data crunching to crown the seven best spots for 2022.
Congratulations to Berhampore, Wellington which took out the overall sweetest spot! You can check out the full list of winning … View moreEver wondered where the sweetest places to live in Aotearoa are?
Stuff’s Homed team has done some serious data crunching to crown the seven best spots for 2022.
Congratulations to Berhampore, Wellington which took out the overall sweetest spot! You can check out the full list of winning suburbs in the Sweet Spots section on Stuff.
There’s also an interactive tool that you can tinker with to find your perfect place, based on the criteria that matter to you. Who knows, you might be inspired to make a change.
Canterbury's regional leaders remain guarded and non-committal about whether they will help pay the rising costs of a central Christchurch stadium, with many saying such a decision would require public consultation.
Building the 30,000-seat covered stadium will now cost up to $683 million –… View moreCanterbury's regional leaders remain guarded and non-committal about whether they will help pay the rising costs of a central Christchurch stadium, with many saying such a decision would require public consultation.
Building the 30,000-seat covered stadium will now cost up to $683 million – $150m more than the $533m budget.
If Christchurch city councillors push on with the current design, they will have to underwrite an extra $150m, taking their total contribution to $453m.
Some city councillors say it is time for neighbouring councils to offer a helping hand.
The stadium would be a regional facility and its economic benefits would go beyond Christchurch, a council spokesperson said.
Other Canterbury councils have been contacted about the latest cost blowout and the city council intends to hold further discussions before making a formal proposal, the spokesperson said.
One mooted method is a regional targeted rate, which could be administered by Environment Canterbury.
Read more here and tell us what you think in the comments below.
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