Ashburton Courier: July 02, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, July 2, 2020
7
Questions over agricultural advisor role
LINDA.CLARKE
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
The Ashburton District Council
is employing an agricultural
portfolio advisor butthere was
confusion among councillors
recently about what the new
recruit will do.
The 18­monthfixed­term job
has been advertised and
applications closed June 24. It
is being funded with $125,000 by
the Provincial Growth Fund.
The job description saysthe
advisor willbetasked with
“identifying and contributing to
initiatives which reduce
emissions and increase
environmentallysustainable
rural sector practices”.
Several Ashburton
councillors have asked for
more details and asked why
council would need its own
advisor. Cr Angus McKay said
MidCanterbury already had
world­leading farmers and
employing someone fromthe
council to advise them wouldbe
an insult.
He thought the job wasa
duplication of the work already
done by industry­good bodies
likeDairyNZ andthe
Foundation for Arable
Research (FAR).
“Why is thiscouncil entering
into that field that is so well
covered by peopleand
advisors?”
Mayor Neil Brown said he
thought the position was about
employing aperson who would
keep councillorsinformed
about developments in the
agricultural industry. The role
was about sharing information.
Elected councillors already
include members with direct or
close contactsinthe farming
sector.
Cr Lynette Lovett said if
councillors needed advice, they
could ask for it from industry
bodies.
Chief executive Hamish
Riach said the job had come
about through theCanterbury
Mayoral Forum’sfood and fibre
project, which was focused on
the future of agriculture, given
current pressures on
sustainability and the
environment.
It was fixed term, at no costto
ratepayers, and intended to
provide council with
“perspective”, he said.
“We hope it is not a
duplication andwecan pull
some strains of thinking
together so council can receive
updates. We do notreceive any
updatesfrom the farming
sector or the environment.”
Hesaid council needed to
think about land use changes
and freshwaterchallenges, and
therefore needed good advice.
The new advisor would
develop networks and
relationshipswithin the
agricultural, manufacturing
and export industries, and
connect withresearch and
development organisations like
MPIand Lincoln University, all
with aview to contributingto
the goal of achieving
sustainable practices in
conjunction with economic
growth in Mid Canterbury.
‘‘Thepurposeofthe portfolio
advisor is to work withindustry
and communities to identify
suitable PGF projects. Ideally
these will beprojects that play
to the region’s biggest
opportunities for growth.’’
Council has no ongoing
obligation to retain the
agricultural advisor after the
fixed term ends in March 2022.
Thejob description said
council was after “an
experienced individual who
can deliver practical results
through strategic and scientific
thinking’’.
CBD beautification project
New bureau chief
Ashburtonwoman Sarah Clifford
has beenappointed as coordinator
at thenew Mid
Canterbury Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB).
Shewillberesponsiblefor
setting up the new service and
then its ongoing operation.
Mrs Clifford foundedCanBead
in 2010afterabattle with cancer
andhas establishedthe
CanInspire Charitable Trustto
offerjewellery makingand fly
fishing courses to help and
supportothers affectedby
illness, traumaand loss.
Mid Canterbury CAB willbe
based at CommunityHouse Mid
Canterbury and is beingfunded
by Ashburton DistrictCouncil.
The service willbeprovided by
volunteers.Anyonewith good
communication skills, computer
skills,and who enjoys research
andhas an empathy withpeople
fromall backgrounds,is
encouraged to contact
Community House Mid
Canterbury (3081237)tofind out
more.
CBD revitalisation contractors Tru­Line Civil will be workingsome nights in TancredStreet to
reduce disruption to businesses and haveindicated they will explore morenight time workand
weekend work as the project progresses.
The two­year projectlost five weeks to Covid­19 but the contractors are trying to make up lost
time. This week work included laying anew sewer line across Burnett Street.
Pickleball rolls out welcome mat
Pickleball Ashburton will
host the Mid Canterbury
WinterClassic Pickleball
Tournamentat EA Networks
Centre next week.
The tournament runs from
July 10­12 andisexpected to
draw around70players from
aroundthe country.
The gameofpickleball
startedupalittle over ayear
ago in Ashburton and there
are good numbers at evening
sessions played on Sundays,
Tuesdaysand Fridays.
Spectators were
encouraged to check out
action,said Pickleball
Ashburton spokesmanRuben
Garcia.
He saidthe tournament
would feature ahighcalibre
of play in both singles and
doubles matches.
Anumber of local players
were involved and planning
had started six months ago.
‘‘Just afew weeks ago the
tournament was not looking
Pickleball fans at the EA Networks Centre.
verylikely,but it’s all systems
go, and we’re excitedtobe
holdingitinAshburton,’’
Rubensaid.
Pickleball combines
elements of badminton,
tennis, and tabletennis and
players use special paddles
and awiffle ball.
Netsand court sizes are
smaller than for tennis or
badminton.
Tournamentplay goes from
6pm until 9pm on day oneand
from 9am until5pm on day
two. Theday features the
finals andrunsfrom 9am
until 3pm.
PublicMeeting
Meet Todd Muller
Wednesday8July |2.30pm
ValettaRoom, HotelAshburton
11/35 Racecourse Road, Allenton
Authorised by AFalloon, 139Stafford Street,Timaru.