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By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Food truck operators are unfazed about no longer being able to regularly trade at Baring Square East.
That’s because of proposed alternative options, or the fact they have already abandoned trading in the CBD.
The Ashburton District Council’s draft… View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Food truck operators are unfazed about no longer being able to regularly trade at Baring Square East.
That’s because of proposed alternative options, or the fact they have already abandoned trading in the CBD.
The Ashburton District Council’s draft trading in public places bylaw is proposing that mobile businesses can stay open later and in more places, but scrubbed Baring Square East as a permitted site because of the cafe in the new Library and Civic Centre.
Strategy and compliance group manager Jane Donaldson said part of the bylaw restricts mobile food vendors from operating at least 100 metres away from any premises selling a similar type of food.
While sites around Baring Square East are proposed to be off limits, a new site is being proposed just up East St across from the old post office.
Tu Meke BBQ’s Andrew Poswillo has been operating in the Ashburton CBD since February and said while Havelock St is an ideal site, given the council was providing new alternatives, it wasn’t such a big deal as they are a destination site utilising social media channels.
“We just need somewhere with access to power,” Poswillo said.
He also has plans on finding a suitable permanent site in the future.
Some other food truck operators have already abandoned the Baring Square East site.
Kebizza permanently relocated its food truck to Methven at the start of Ashburton’s CBD revitalisation project and has no plans to return.
Nigendy’s has also abandoned operating in the CBD at the same time.
Nigendy’s Wendy Ranson said due to rising costs and low foot traffic, they now operated a delivery-only service from home. But with a second mobile truck in the works, she welcomed the addition of new sites across the district.
Under the bylaw, mobile traders need a permit from council to operate at specified sites, or they can apply for discretionary sites for one off events.
Charities and community groups are exempt from site restrictions under council discretion.
Mayor Neil Brown said if any of the food trucks or other mobile vendors were unhappy with the proposed changes, or wanted to suggest other possible locations, they should put in a submission to be considered.
The Salmon Site in Rakaia is also being added as a discretionary site and several other sites are being added to the permitted list.
Another key proposed change is in the operating hours.
Currently the mobile businesses are expected to close half an hour after sunset, but that timing is now proposed to be set at 10pm.
The draft bylaw is out for public consultation until June 23.
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 moreThe 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.
Only 36 seats left - Showing 25th May at Ashburton Cinema.
Selling Fast.
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 moreMethven 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.
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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 moreParking 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.
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.
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 moreThe 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
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 moreFrom 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.
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 moreFrom 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.
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.
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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.
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!
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 moreWe 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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