Winter has definitely arrived and while the snow last weekend was great for Mt Hutt, the freezing temperatures did present challenges for some road users around the district.

Council maintains one of the largest roading networks in the country, and so when the temperature plummets our roading maintenance contractor is out early in the morning laying grit on patches of road we know turn treacherous and icy.

We can’t grit everywhere, and we still expect drivers to drive to the conditions. Warm your car up on freezing mornings, make sure your windscreen is clear and take it slower than usual; put your headlights on and increase your following distance.

While NZ Transport Agency closed the highways that were the worst affected by snow last weekend, Council also closed Ashburton Gorge Road beyond Mount Somers. Despite the closure, which was advised on a large, permanent road sign, we heard reports that vehicles ignored the signage and drove to the snow.

That’s a problem because it’s illegal to drive through a closed road and it puts you and other people at risk. Hazards are not obvious when they’re coated in a layer of snow, or under water and that is why the road closed signs go up.

Winter driving means being prepared for all conditions, from rain and fog through to frost, ice and snow, and conditions can change quickly.

Winter is also the theme of a new What’s On Guide being prepared for the July school holidays.

Teams from the Ashburton Library, the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum and EA Networks Centre are planning a huge range of activities for the holidays, and they are mostly inside and not affected by the cold.

One activity I’ve been told about is a piece of family theatre called The Snow, which will happen in the library’s Event Space on Sunday 6 July at 1.45pm. A Matariki-themed escape room is also happening.

The guide is off to the printers soon, and will be online too – make sure you get a copy to help survive the holidays.

The Event Space will host an evening next week for adults, and it’s an opportunity for those interested in standing in the local elections to come along and learn about the election process and what would be required of them as a candidate.

Local democracy is important, so come along on Wednesday 18 June and see what it takes.