Ashburton council seeks Three Waters money, retains opposition
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Take the money while resisting the source.
The Ashburton District Council plans to seek $4.2 million in the first tranche of the government’s Three Waters Better Off funding but it remains committed to its opposition to the planned reform.
It’s a conflicting situation and councillors asked for clarification that accepting the funding was not Three Waters support.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said accepting the money didn’t detract from the council’s opposition to the reforms but the council will be required to continue to cooperate.
The council is proposing a clause in its application, ensuring any opposition to the reforms was not a cause for termination of the funding, but Riach was not confident the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) would accept it.
It’s not what the council plans to spend the money on but the terms of the agreement will likely require further negotiation he said.
What the council planned to spend the money on was questioned by councillor Stuart Wilson, who suggested it was a prime opportunity to solve some roading issues rather than a slush fund for “something extra that is not that important”.
He asked if a further $200,000 for the new library was “the most pressing need for $200,000 on the approval rating we have got for roads and footpaths”.
Riach said the council had to comply with the conditions set out by the DIA in which the council can only seek funding for projects there are not in its long-term plan and it can’t be used for three waters projects.
The timing of the Fairfield Freight Hub meant it is not part of the LTP providing the opportunity to seek the council’s $2.3m loan funding contribution towards the $14m project- which is being led by the Wareing Group.
There are seven projects in total, including $150,000 to assist in the potential relocation of the South African War Memorial from Baring square East over to Baring Square West.
The council is eligible for a total of $16.8m of Better Off funding, with $4.2m available now and the second payment of $12.6m earmarked for 2024 - after next year's central government elections.
The council will also receive $437,000 of transition support funding to assist with the three waters transition work it is required to do.
Better off Funding projects
- Fairfield Freight Hub $2.3m
- Additional footpaths $900,000
- District playgrounds $200,000
- Ashburton Library & Civic Centre (equipment in specialist spaces) $200,000
- Water treatment & changing rooms at district swimming pools $200,000
- Digby Park Toilets $250,000
- South African War Memorial relocation $150,000
Here's Friday's Fizzler!
I can be written, I can be spoken, I can be exposed, I can be broken. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
48.2% Yes
-
49.8% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Loading…
