Should part of Victoria St be closed to vehicles?
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Developer Justin Skilling (pictured) and fellow developer Robert Grice
are proposing the Ashburton District Council considers closing part of Victoria St off to vehicles to make a laneway.
The pair have been restoring the old buildings along Victoria St - the Triangle precinct - and have big plans for continued major redevelopment.
Skilling formally presented his proposal at the first of four submission hearings for the council's long-term plan on Monday.
He presented his idea for the council to extend its CBD rejuvenation project into the Triangle Precinct and develop the streetscape from where Wills St and Victoria St divide by the Devon Hotel, all the way down to Baring Square East.
Looking at closing the section of Victoria St off now was “the perfect opportunity” given the conversations around the future of the Balmoral Hall site and the possibility of creating an arts and hospitality precinct, extending to the Events Centre, Skilling said.
There was also the opportunity to redevelop the old polytech land next to the Balmoral Hall into a car park that could cater to long-term parking, he said.
His submission was the last of the day. Earlier, DanceWorx dance studio teachers Charmaine Quaid and Jessie Thompson presented their case to councillors to retain Balmoral Hall.
They both want the council to consider a “modest upgrade” of the building to retain its affordability, both for ratepayers and potential users.
Quaid spoke of her grave concerns that the hall's fate would be decided by the $1.3m price tag to fix it up and she didn’t want to see the building “levelled down to a piece of tarmac”.
The future of stockwater was one of the main themes on Monday, with the hearing kicking off with submissions from Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd, Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Limited, and Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Ltd.
The hearings continue with a full day today, a half-day on Wednesday and the final day on Thursday.
Councillors will then make decisions on the long-term plan during deliberations on May 20-23.
The final plan is scheduled to be adopted in June.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.6% Yes
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13.2% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Railing planters
To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
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