Ashburton Courier: September 19, 2019

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Page 2, Ashburton’s The Courier, Thursday 19 September 2019 Local news at www.starnews.co.nz BUSINESS OWNERS Build customers, sales and profits with us ... Over 15,750 copies delivered to EVERYhome,farm, RD and lifestyle blocks in MidCanterbury news John Keast Managing Editor 027 628 7679 john.keast@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Reporters Mick Jensen mick.jensen@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Toni Williams toni.williams@alliedpress.co.nz advertising Jann Thompson Sales Manager 308 7664 027 587 6351 jann.thompson@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Roselle Fuaso Sales Account Manager 308 7664 021 197 8297 roselle@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Karen Gane Sales Account Manager 308 7664 021 510 804 karen.gane@ashburtoncourier.co.nz get in touch Editorial john.keast@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Advertising info@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Production murray.thompson@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Accounts accounts@alliedpress.co.nz Distribution/Deliveries leonie.marsden@ashburtoncourier.co.nz Office office@ashburtoncourier.co.nz 03 308 7664 199 Burnett Street,Ashburton www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz 2185391 Urgent report proposed Ashburton council is preparing an urgent submission to the Government’s Essential Freshwater proposals and is worried by the tight deadline for submissions October 17 (now extended to October 31). Chief executive officer Hamish Riach said responding within the timeframe was going to be difficult, and even extending the deadline to the end of October would be of little value. Local body elections are on October 12, further complicating the situation. Mayor Donna Favel, who was at a Ministry for the Environment meeting in Ashburton attended by 350 farmers many from other areas said the proposals announced by Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor concerned many. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum was also concerned at the tight deadline and Local Government New Zealand was ‘‘rallying the troops’’. She had contacted Members of Parliament Ashburton couple milk sheep to make cheese From Page 1 ‘‘There is a real art to keeping sheep calm and trained for milking. It’s not really something that someone who struggles with traditional cow dairy farming would enjoy,’’ Jacy says. ‘‘The cost of feed is not cheap, we feed about a cup of maize per sheep per day which makes them easier to handle.’’ But she admits working with the sheep is fun, even if ‘‘perfecting our cheese is becoming an obsession’’. The milking plant, which takes six at atime, has the same basic features as a1960s cow Hamish Riach Donna Favel Dr Tim Mackle on the proposals. The regional council, Environment Canterbury, was also preparing a report which the Ashburton council was likely to back. Mrs Favel said the only report she could find onhow the Essential Freshwater reform might impact the district was a report prepared for the Selwyn Te Waihora zone on the implications of meeting the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. It said that to meet those requirements, operating surplus returns (for that area) would be cut 80 per cent, from $348m to $45m ayear. shed with some 2019 features, such as a vacuum pump and modern pulsators, Allan jokes. Milking takes around half an hour, averaging around 30litres of milk, followed by intense hygiene cleaning time. Then the milk is pasteurised ready for cheesemaking. ‘‘We think this is the best way to capture the freshness from the pasture the sheep are eating. ‘‘When our sheep have a change in pasture it’s reflected in the cheese, the changes can be from different herbs in the pasture or season and growth stage,’’ she said. ‘‘We process every day in what we think is the smallest cheese processing room in NZ.’’ It then goes into the ‘‘cheese cave’’ for maturation for four to 24 months getting turned regularly. The hard cheese is then sold at Farmers’ Markets in Ashburton, Geraldine and Oxford or through Facebook. ‘‘Our cheese production islimited tohard cheese as it is accepted this is the safest cheese to produce for sale,’’ Jacy says. ‘‘Getting everything up to risk management programme standard for The land use change analysis projected a substantial change in land use, with virtually no intensive land uses and the catchment dominated by dryland beef and sheep grazing and by forestry and other extensive land uses. Mrs Favel said she supported Ashburton council producing its own submission. At the council’s final meeting this term of its Finance and Business Support Committee, Cr Stuart Wilson said it was idiotic and the Government was trying to ‘‘ram it through’’. Mr Riach said the council did not have the time orability to question the science in the proposals and would focus on the potential economic impacts of the proposal and ‘‘express our concern’’. Committee chairman Russell Ellis said the submission had ‘‘high level importance’’. Mr Riach said the council understood the importance and urgency. Meanwhile, Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon said the reform Ministry for Primary Industries is a big challenge and a big investment. The process is really robust and when you go through the process you start to realise that it is so important that we produce safe food.’’ It would cost too much to consider expanding their operation to all cheese types or raw milk. They have only started selling this year at the Ashburton Farmers Market, but can sell five times more in Geraldine, due to the tourist markets. ‘‘Having a chat with our customers is apart we really enjoy. They come from all walks of life and could fundamentally change farming and our economy, but incredibly, the Government was refusing to release the full economic modelling of the impacts ofthe reforms until after the consultation process. The primary sector accounted for more than half of exports and employed thousands of people in Mid Canterbury. ‘‘Auckland has the most polluted waterways in New Zealand, but is only mentioned three times in the 103page report; farmers are mentioned more than 250 times. ‘‘In recentyears we’ve seen dairy farmers achieve 98 per cent of waterways fenced from stock, and more than $1b environmental investment in things like riparian planting.’’ Meanwhile, DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said farmers needed time to consider the Government’s proposal and to carefully weigh up the impact it may have on their farms, families and communities. “Spring isabusy time for farmers with calving, lambing and mating. They have alot on their plate at the moment and this isadding toit. “We are seeing public meetings where the Ministry for the Environment has set up 200 chairs and had more than double that number show up.’’ can see that our producing animals have a good life style,’’ Jacy says. European travellers were particularly fond of the sheep product but Kiwi’s have been a bit reserved to try it, but those who have were pleasantly surprised. The Ramsays have perfected their cheese product, and are now hopeful Mid Cantabrians will jump atthe chance to lay claim to having their own ‘‘artisan style cheese maker’’ in the district. ‘‘We need to make work of this, make it work at this level for our animals,’’ Allan says. 28-32 MooreSt, Ashburton l Phone 03 550 7000 2206121
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton’s The Courier, Thursday 19 September 2019, Page 3 Candidates put their case Sixteen local body election candidates put their case for the community’s vote at a meeting organised by Greypower Ashburton. Around 70 seniors turned out for the meeting. Speakers included mayoral candidates Donna Favel, Neil Brown and Leen Braam. The fourth candidate, retired Ashburton businessman Tony Todd, was overseas. All nine Ashburton Ward candidates attended, two of the four Eastern Ward candidates and two of the three Western Ward candidates, as did Environmental Canterbury (ECan) candidate Sarah Walters. Each candidate was introduced by Greypower Ashburton vicepresident Colin Cameron in alphabetical order and given three minutes to talk about why they should be voted in. Current Ashburton Ward councillor Thelma Bell said she was passionate about advocating for Ashburton and was a‘‘mother, wife, community leader’’ and trained school teacher. She believed in the value of volunteering and, if elected, would build on her experience from the current term. Leen Braam, who is standing for mayor and in the Ashburton Ward, said Colin Cameron introduces candidates he believed the council had made progress in areas such as planning for the rejuvenation of the CBD, the civic project and library and with the Chinese village heritage project. He said he had the skills and vision to serve the community and would listen, communicate and think strategically in decision making. Fellow mayoral candidate Neil Brown said he had 15 years experience on council and was an ‘‘Ashburton man through and through’’. He wanted to make the district a good place for future generations and to secure its economic future. Rates needed to be kept as low as possible and the focus should be on essential services. Roading was akey issue, he said. Carolyn Cameron said she was concerned with the CBD. It was full of weeds, empty shops and ‘‘needed fixing’’. The Ashburton Ward candidate said she supported an information centre, wanted pot holes prioritised, wanted a tidy town and urged the seniors to vote for change if they weren’t happy with the work of the current council. Rochelle CastleWilson said she was ‘‘the rookie’’ in the election and new to the region. This was her chance to give something back to the community. She had ‘‘no fancy slogans’’, but believed in common sense and fiscal prudence and would use her experience and skills to contribute. Ashburton accountant John Falloon said he would use his experience to ensure council spent wisely if elected in the Ashburton Ward. He believed in ‘‘getting the basics right’’. Current mayor Donna Favel said she wanted to continue to advocate for the district and to make it an even better place to live and work. She saw her role as an ‘‘enabler’’ and was proud of the achievements ticked off by council this term. Fourth generation Mid Cantabrian Rodger Letham said there was ‘‘no magic wand and no easy answers’’ in local government. Getting the infrastructure of the district right was key, said the Western Ward candidate. Former Ashburton mayor Angus McKay said he had a‘‘deep love and passion’’ for the district that had been reignited recently. He said there needed to be tangible change and council needed to listen to the community first ‘‘before debating, discussing and deciding’’ on issues. Rates needed to be kept low, people needed to be attracted to the district and there needed to be sensible budgeting and lower debt. Liz McMillan, who standing in the Western Ward, said she was the youngest of the current crop on council and had ‘‘a lot to offer’’. She was active in the community, had taken on more responsibilities this term and was ‘‘all about common sense’’. Ashburton Ward candidate Selwyn Price said he wanted open and transparent decision making to continue around the council table. The council ‘‘had tidied up the messes’’ of previous councils to some extent and he had spoken out when he did not agree with decisions. His stand on the proposed relocation of the East Street fountain and the right of way access for St John had resulted in both decisions being revoked. Councillor Diane Rawlinson said she had enjoyed her three years on council and wanted to return. Roads and water were important to her and she was referred to by some as ‘‘the pot hole lady’’ because of her road and pavement vigilance. There were exciting times ahead with the CBD redevelopment and she saw her role as a ‘‘connector’ between the community and council. Eastern Ward candidate Philip Rushton said he wanted to drive costs down and bring back the saleyards to the district. Ash Shah said he was fed up with rate rises and wanted to apply his accountancy skills in the councillor role. Eastern Ward candidate Stuart Wilson said he believed councillors should serve everyone in the district, regardless of their ward. He was the ‘‘grandfather’’ of the council, but had the experience and knowledge ‘‘to keep up with things’’. Roads were not up to scratch, he said, but progress had been made. The final presenter was ECan candidate Sarah Walters, who said the declared climate emergency and water concerns were big issues ahead. She promised to work hard to help end the divisions between urban and rural communities, because ‘‘both sides needed to do better’’. Voter packs will begin arriving in the mail from September 20 and voting will officially open. Books and stalls Ashburton’s Boulevard Day, and the start of the weeklong secondhand book fundraiser, Bookarama, are both on Monday. On Boulevard Day shoppers take over the main street. Organising team Sue Cooper and Bob McDonald have many returning stallholders keen totake part each year, but this year are excited by the range of new stallholders. Mrs Cooper says the rare British fire engine would be on show as a static display this year. There will also bea tractor competition, and members of the F45 Ashburton will run a training session on the chessboard. Bookarama, organised byRotary Club of Ashburton members, offers a variety of second hand books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, jigsaws and games for sale from the Sports Hall, on Tancred Street. BE 2019 READY 65’’ oled 4k television 55’’ oled 4k television only $5595 $36.96 weekly 8million pixels,abillion colours True black, shows true colour. Panasonic OLED TVs have a self-illuminating system that individually regulates 8 million pixels. It controls the intensity of the illumination based on the amount of electrical current flowing. 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Ashburton Courier: September 19, 2019

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