Latest News

Latest news

Wastewater pipes construction zone

C4LD: Mayors promise fresh ideas for better water

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown is looking forward to new three waters reforms, with community involvement, once the new Government repeals the previous reform legislation.

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Road narrowing treatment

SH1 Tinwald project: Focus moves to Melcombe Street

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency contractors have begun work on road-narrowing bulges (known as cyclist separators) on Melcombe Street, designed to lower speed and deter “rat runners”.

People in group discussion

Birdsong Initiative aims to bring chorus back to Methven

The Methven Community Board has been asked to support a biodiversity initiative aimed at bringing birdsong back to Methven.

New playground

Proctor Park primed for play days

The new playground in Tinwald’s Ashbury Grove subdivision will open for business on Friday 1 December, just in time for the school holidays.

Community board leader

Kelvin Holmes: Happy holidays in Methven

The Methven Community Board held its final meeting for 2023 this week, so it’s timely to look forward to the festive season and say Happy Holidays everyone.

Christmas street party

Festive fun as East Street sparkles

Ashburton’s big Christmas tree is putting a sparkle on the town’s CBD at night, following a street party to officially kick off the festive season.

Visitor promotion banners

New summer campaign to woo visitors to Ashburton District

Council’s tourism promotion team has just launched a fresh campaign to encourage visitors to Mid Canterbury over the summer, and is using iconic images and videos inviting people to indulge, be active or explore our spaces.

Ashburton River bridge

Second Ashburton bridge tops regional transport priority projects

A second bridge over the Ashburton River is the top transport priority for Canterbury and Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown is pleased the project has the backing of mayors in the region.

Happy holidays card

Council services over Christmas-New Year 2023-24

Here’s a summary of Council services over the Christmas and New Year public holidays 2023-24 – there are a few temporary changes to operating hours at some facilities.

Coastal area by beach

Proposed motorcycle park shelved by DOC decision

Council will not progress a motorcycle park near Ashton Beach after the Department of Conservation declined a wildlife permit due to rare skinks in the proposed park area.

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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

Current public notices can be found here.

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From the Mayor & CE

CE Hamish Riach: Road cones mean more core work in progress

When you drive around Ashburton at the moment, you may well have noticed the many work zones that are marked out by orange safety cones.


MAYOR: New Govt, but new bridge still top priority

The big news of this week is that there will be a change of Government – so what does that mean for Council?


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Upcoming meetings

Council

6 December 2023, 1.00 pm


Council

20 December 2023, 1.00 pm


Road Closures

ALLENS ROAD

from 4 Dec 7:00 to 7 Dec 17:00


WILLOW STREET

from 4 Dec 7:00 to 21 Dec 17:00


WILLIAMS STREET - MOORE STREET INTERSECTION

from 25 Sep 7:00 to 21 Dec 17:00


ELIZABETH STREET - GRIGG STREET

from 10 Oct 7:00 to 20 Dec 17:00


WALNUT AVENUE - CREEK ROAD

from 2 Dec 10:00 to 2 Dec 14:00


View all Road Closures | Live map

Library On the Move

We’re about to move into our new civic centre and library building, Te Whare Whakatere. Here’s a few things you need to know!


Ashburton District Council Events

Nurture Nature | Iain Cheesman

Ashburton Art Gallery

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland-Based Iain Cheesman is primarily a maker of objects that link sculpture with painting, poetry and the concept of drawing. There...

eating stars together at dusk | Saskia Bunce Rath

Ashburton Art Gallery

In Saskia Bunce-Rath’s work, thread is deployed, as she says, in ‘a painterly way’ to create images that evoke myth, fantasy, wonder and...

The Great Haulage Feat 1905-06: The Removal of the Wakanui Mill

Ashburton Museum

At nearly 16.5 metres tall and weighing 260 tonnes, the huge wooden Wakanui Flour Mill was hauled 10.5km from its original site at Wakanui to...

Embroidery workshop with Saskia Bunce-Rath

Ashburton Art Gallery

Join us on Saturday 02 December for a very special embroidery workshop with Ōtautahi-based artist Saskia Bunce-Rath!Saskia graduated with a Masters in painting from the...

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Alerts & advisories

Further Notice of By-election for the Western Ward

The nomination period to fill the extraordinary vacancy for the Western Ward has now closed, with four candidates standing in the upcoming election.

Notice of 2022 Triennial Local Authority Elections

Official notice of the 2022 Triennial Local Authority Elections

Website Maintenance Ahead!

Some of our online EServices will be down for scheduled maintenance Saturday 26 March 2022 from 7am till 5pm. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Kettle boiling water

UPDATE: Precautionary boil water notice lifted for Methven

UPDATE 18 February: Methven’s boil water notice has been lifted.

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Project News

Wastewater project sign

NW Ashburton wastewater extension project moves to final stage

North West Ashburton Waste Water Servicing

Contractors will return to Allens Road at the end of May to begin the final stage of the North West Ashburton wastewater extension project.

Wastewater holding pipe

Last pipes laid in NW Ashburton wastewater extension

North West Ashburton Waste Water Servicing

The final pieces of pipe in the North West Ashburton wastewater extension were laid underground on Allens Road recently, but not before attracting a bit of attention because of their unusual shape.

Detour sign for road works

Wastewater project starts final phase in Allenton

North West Ashburton Waste Water Servicing

A 500m stretch of Allens Road will be closed to traffic for 10 days, weather permitting, from Monday 23 January when contractors begin the final phase of the North West Ashburton wastewater extension project.

Ashburton civic square and garden

Contract awarded for Baring Square East refresh

Baring Square East Upgrade

A $2.45 million contract to redevelop Baring Square East has been awarded to Tru-Line Civil, the same contractor who worked on the revitalisation of Ashburton’s CBD.

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Tenders

Portal used for advertising tenders and other commissioning requirements to the market. All processes through to contract award stage are manage in Tenderlink.

Facilities News

Civic building under construction

Construction delays push back library relocation

Library

Construction delays have pushed back the Ashburton Public Library’s move to the new library and civic centre, though about 120 non-library Council staff will still relocate as planned by the end of the year.

Preparing art gallery for exhibition

Gallery prepares for ASA annual exhibition and visitors

Museum

The Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum is preparing for one of its busiest times of the year, when it hosts the Ashburton Society of Arts' annual exhibition.

person reading a book by a fire

Winter reading challenge for Ashburton library users

Library

Winter, with its cooler days and long nights, is the perfect time to cosy up with a good book. So why not tackle that want-to-read list, step out of your genre comfort zone or try a new author?

Origami peace cranes

Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum: Help us make 1000 origami peace cranes

Museum

Everyone who visits the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum over the next few weeks will be invited to make an origami crane for peace.

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Open for Feedback

House drawn on Post-it Note

Resource Management Notifications

From December 1, 2031 to December 1 2031

Vocal about Local

From November 22, 2023 to December 17 2023

Recently Closed

Draft Biodiversity Strategy

From October 25, 2023 to November 26 2023

Take 10 for our Future - Long Term Plan

From July 17, 2023 to August 13 2023

Draft Local Alcohol Policy 2023

From September 27, 2023 to October 25 2023

Love Your Parks

From June 6, 2023 to July 7 2023

Draft Economic Development Strategy

From May 22, 2023 to June 18 2023

View all consultations