Think tank for former Tinwald pool site
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The contents of a little brown envelope could hold the future of the old Tinwald Pool site.
The Tinwald Reserve Board asked the community for creative and innovative ideas about what the site could be used for in the future.
About 40 ideas have been delivered inside an envelope to the board chairperson, district councillor Leen Braam.
Those ideas will be discussed at the next board meeting, he said.
Braam doesn't expect any decision on what ideas to consider or progress to be a hasty one.
“We might end up discussing this for a while before deciding.”
The Ashburton District Council decided to permanently close the Tinwald Pool in May because it needed an estimated $3m of repair and upgrade work in addition to the $400,000 annual operating costs.
The decision in the long-term plan was not to invest $3m on any water-based project, which also included hydroslides or a new outdoor pool at EA Networks Centre as options.
The site has been handed back to the Tinwald Reserve Board to consider its future and the board sought suggestions from the public to begin coming up with a concept plan.
Then it will need to go to the council to seek funding, likely at the next long-term plan, as the council has no money budgeted in the current long-term plan for any redevelopment of the site, Braam said.
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.
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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85.5% Yes
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13.3% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
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