Latest News
Latest news

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.
More news

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.
View previous issues
Public Notices
Current public notices can be found here.
View all notices
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?
Upcoming meetings
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
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...
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.

UPDATE: Precautionary boil water notice lifted for Methven
UPDATE 18 February: Methven’s boil water notice has been lifted.
Project News

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.

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.

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.

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.
Facilities News

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.

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.

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?

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.