Ashburton carpark do-up U-turn
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Tinwald businesses which have only just seen the end of a sea of road cones have told Ashburton's council they don't want to see the orange markers return.
The shops along State Highway 1 had road cones from July until last month while traffic signals were installed for the Tinwald corridor improvement project.
The Ashburton District Council had then planned to come in and resurface the main Tinwald car park.
Infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said work has been deferred following some objections.
“We reached out to shop owners in the Tinwald shopping centre, and they said they would like a breather after the disruption caused by NZTA’s Tinwald traffic light installation and corridor improvements.
“We will check in with shop owners again to determine an appropriate time to commence the upgrade.”
Roading manager Mark Chamberlain said the resurfacing will wait “until there is a bit less going on, and maybe look at when it really needs the work”.
“I think it needs it now, but they are happy with just pothole patching and things like that.”
With the Tinwald carpark project being deferred, the $100,000 assigned to it will be used for another project on the council's list.
“We’ve brought forward the installation of around 200m of new footpath, and kerb and channel on Tinwald Westerfield Rd, from Lagmhor Rd to Tarbottons Rd,” McCann said.
“This section was in the original list approved but was left out of the contract because the estimated cost was more than the available budget.”
Another key project on the list is replacing the kerb and channel at the Ashburton Domain along Walnut Ave between SH1 and Oak Grove.
The only issue is the timing.
Councillors had previously raised concerns about the height and depth of the existing kerb and channel but mayor Neil Brown had noted the height was a deterrent to people being able to drive into the domain.
The current kerb height, about 50mm higher than the standard, WAs similar to the proposed replacement but has a dish channel rather than the proposed flat channel, which made it less accessible, McCann said.
But there is a potential timing issue, as the work could clash with the council’s major event in the domain.
The Glow in the Park light festival will be held in the domain at Kings Birthday weekend this year with thousands expected to attend over the three days.
The work did not have a scheduled start time yet, McCann said,
“It will be programmed and managed so that access and parking for Glow in the Park will not be adversely affected.”
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And the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero is...
A huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.
The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.
The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a local called Margaret and the nomination reads:
'On Feb 14, 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle flooded many of the rural areas. Puketapu Hotel went under perhaps half a meter of water. However, immediately Mary Danielson and her son, Sam Danielson, along with their loyal staff pulled it together to cook copious amounts of food that without electricity would have been wasted. Throughout the years many of us have been treated with a pub gathering where we can reconnect and a free meal. At Christmas there was Santa, games, gifts for kids, donated patchwork for adults, an ice cream truck and lots of camaraderie.
This February on the cyclone anniversary, they again pulled out the stops to give hundreds of us a special night. We are all tired of the cyclone cleanup and they understood that it was needed.'
Such a deserving business and team, well done Mary and Sam. And thank you to all those who voted!
Availability at Mary Potter Community Centre, St Albans
The Mary Potter Community Centre has had some cancellations recently. There is availability for hiring the centre on weekends 1st and 2nd June, and 8th and 9th June. Also Sunday 23 June 2024 is available. Phone Nicola on ph: 03 372 9224 for details.
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