Latest News
Latest news

CE Hamish Riach: New Season, New Faces
There’s something about the cherry blossoms, the longerevenings, and the warmth returning – that lifts the mood across the district. Spring is a season that brings people out and brings people together.
More news

Severe weather: 17 September
Wednesday 17 September, 9pm. Severe weather warnings and watches have been lifted. The weather caused disruptions across Canterbury today.

Noodle Festival serves up flavour and connection
A crowd of noodle lovers descended on Baring Square East on Saturday for the Hakatere Noodle Festival, a celebration of the district’s multicultural community and Welcoming Week.

Safety first: Surface upgrades and staff training for EANC
Remediation work on the splashdeck at EA Networks Centre has been programmed after the school holidays, for the two weeks beginning Monday 6 October.

MAYOR: Do you want fries with that?
It’s a throwaway comment I hear sometimes, or read on social media: We get nothing for our rates.

Local faces help promote local voting
As voting papers for the Local Elections have begun arriving in letterboxes, local faces are once again fronting a campaign in the Ashburton district encouraging people to vote.

Diseased oak trees to be removed
Two diseased oak trees on Walnut Avenue, one outside Ashburton College, will be removed during the September school holidays.

Lake Hood water update: Monitoring buoy to be deployed
A monitoring buoy is about to be deployed in Lake Hood next week and several rounds of trials of products to mitigate cyanobacteria blooms are planned in the lake this summer.

What's On: Your spring school holidays activity guide
Spring into the school holidays at the end of the month, with loads of fun and activities – from searching for treasure to racing remote controlled cars and planting delphiniums in the domain!

New roading maintenance contract awarded
Fulton Hogan Ashburton has been awarded a five-year, $40.7 million operations and maintenance contract to look after the roading network in the Ashburton District.
Council Brief
A weekly roundup of our top news and important notices. Council Brief is published every Thursday in the Ashburton Courier, Ashburton Guardian and on this website.
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Public Notices
Latest Public Notice
From the Mayor & CE
CE Hamish Riach: New Season, New Faces
There’s something about the cherry blossoms, the longerevenings, and the warmth returning – that lifts the mood across the district. Spring is a season that brings people out and brings people together.
MAYOR: Do you want fries with that?
It’s a throwaway comment I hear sometimes, or read on social media: We get nothing for our rates.
Upcoming meetings
Stockwater Transition Working Group
18 September 2025, 1.00 pm
BOARD: Methven Community
22 September 2025, 9.00 am
Council - Activity Briefings
24 September 2025, 9.30 am
Council - Agency Presentations
24 September 2025, 1.30 pm
Council
1 October 2025, 1.00 pm
Road Closures
TAVERNERS ROAD
from 23 Sep 6:00 to 26 Sep 19:00
DROMORE STATION ROAD
from 22 Sep 6:00 to 22 Sep 19:00
WITHELLS ROAD - EALING ROAD
from 29 Sep 6:00 to 31 Oct 18:00
PHILIP STREET
from 18 Aug 7:00 to 19 Sep 18:00
LINE ROAD
from 16 Sep 6:00 to 3 Oct 18:00
View all Road Closures | Live map
Ashburton District Council Events

Friendship Bracelets
Ashburton Library
Create two friendship bracelets, one to keep and one to give away.Children aged 5-12Booking required

Zen Garden Diorama
Ashburton Library
Chill out while you create your own mini Zen garden diorama using some fun craft materials.Children aged 5-12Booking required

Pom Pom Key Ring Creatures
Ashburton Library
Come along to the allocated Maker Space time to create a pom pom creature. The room will be set up for you with staff popping...

Remote Control Car Racing
Ashburton Library
Book your spot to have a go on our track with our remote-control cars. Face off against others to gain bragging rights.Mon 22nd September, 3pm-5pmTues...
Facilities News

Safety first: Surface upgrades and staff training for EANC
EA Networks Centre
Remediation work on the splashdeck at EA Networks Centre has been programmed after the school holidays, for the two weeks beginning Monday 6 October.

What's On: Your spring school holidays activity guide
EA Networks Centre
Spring into the school holidays at the end of the month, with loads of fun and activities – from searching for treasure to racing remote controlled cars and planting delphiniums in the domain!

Join the crew of lifelong learners
Library
Departing Mayor Neil Brown will talk about his time leading the Ashburton District, when he opens the Lifelong Learning Festival in the Ashburton Library next month.

Ashcoll, Council sport centre friendship celebrated
EA Networks Centre
Ashburton College and EA Networks Centre reinforced their special relationship this week with the unveiling of a new plaque at the base of a commemorative tree.
Project News

Key milestone for new Ashburton Bridge
2025 News
The long-awaited second Ashburton Bridge is a step closer with the signing of a key agreement, Minister for the South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced.

MAYOR: Early moves on second bridge
2025 News
If you tuned in to this week's council meeting, you would have heard an update from the NZTA team in charge of building our second urban bridge and connecting road.

Stockwater Exit: Brothers and Alford Forest intakes
2025 News
Community members interested in the future of the Brothers stockwater intake are being invited to a public meeting at Mayfield on 2 September and encouraged to have their say via an online survey.
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Recently Closed
Alerts & advisories

Short water shutdown in north-east on Sunday night
Households and businesses in a large part of north-east Ashburton, including all of Fairton, will have a short water shutdown on Sunday night to allow important work on the Bridge Street water treatment plant.

Short water shutdown for Philip and Walker Streets
Properties on Philip Street and Walker Street will have a short water shutdown on Monday 18 August as part of work by Council contractors to renew water pipes in the area.

Water pipe renewals under way from 7 July
Work to renew water pipes on Tancred Street and Philip Street in Ashburton will begin on 7 July, with road closures in the affected areas.

Short shutdown for Rakaia water supply
Rakaia residents are being asked to conserve water on Monday 7 July when new UV disinfection equipment at the town’s water treatment plant is being commissioned.