The Ashburton District Council is inviting residents to give feedback on three documents to help shape and protect the district’s shared spaces.

The Open Spaces Strategy, Open Spaces Bylaw and Brothel Location Bylaw are all being reviewed as part of the council’s scheduled review programme.

Mayor Liz McMillan says that it will be this council’s first round of consultations since they were elected last October.

“We look forward to hearing ratepayers’ views on the future of our Open Spaces and whether the two amended bylaws get the rules right.”

“The Open Spaces Strategy from 2016 has achieved a lot, from the Ashburton Domain becoming a Four-Star Garden of Significance, to the completion of the Ng King Brothers Market Garden Settlement.

“But it’s a decade old, and times have changed, so we’d like to know what the community wants to see now and in another 10 years’ time.”

The Open Spaces Bylaw review is proposing to ban the lighting of fires and allow controlled public fireworks displays with the right permissions.

It also proposes to make rules clearer for organising events and drone flying, aligning them with current rules and practice.

The Brothel Location Bylaw sets out where brothels are permitted to operate within the district, and the review recommends minor updates to reflect current legislation.

Residents can view the draft documents and make submissions online at itsourplace.nz or at Te Whare Whakatere, Ashburton Library and Civic Centre.

The three consultations are open from 4 March until 7 April and people are invited to speak to their submission at hearings scheduled from 28-29 April.