Ashburton Courier: May 12, 2022

COUNCILBRIEF
ASHBURTONDC.GOVT.NZ/NEWS
5BaringSquareWest, Ashburton |POBox 94, Ashburton, NewZealand 7740 | Telephone (03) 307 7700 | Website ashburtondc.govt.nz
Former refugees sharemayoral lunch
Thursday,12May 2022 |ISSUE 78
Late surgeof
AnnualPlan
submissions
Council was delighted to receive a
flurry of last-minute submissions
duringthe final week of consultation
on the draft Annual Plan, withatotal
of 131peoplehavingtheir say before
the deadline.
Staff are now processing the feedback,
howeverroadingisalready emerging as a
hottopic. Some submitters haveindicated
theywantto speaktotheirviewsin-person
whenCouncil meets on 24 and 25 Mayto
considerthe submissions. Thesehearings
and the Council deliberation process will
be livestreamed.
Ashburton MayorNeil Browninvited
some special newcomers to lunch
last week to hear how they are
finding theirmovetoAshburton.
Thirty-five men, women and children
who fled Afghanistan and resettled in
Ashburton overthe past year were invited
to share food with Mayor Brown, deputy
mayor Liz McMillan and Councillors Leen
Braamand Diane Rawlinson.
It wasanoccasion to celebrate their new
beginnings.
Refugee Settlement support team leader
Kathy Harrington-Watt said the latest
arrivals had only been in Ashburton a
fewdays, and another 22 were dueinthe
coming months.
“They all originate from Afghanistan but
havehadtoleave forfearofpersecution or
other frighteningreasons. Theyare loving
livinginAshburtonandsaythecommunity
has been very welcoming.”
She said many refugees spent years
after fleeing Afghanistan incountries like
Malaysia or Iran, waitingtobe resettled.
“Now they are here, they are keen to
improve theirEnglish, fortheir children to
gotoschoolandtolearnnewskillsthatwill
securethemjobs in ourlocal community.
“The biggest reason why they are
flourishinginAshburtonthoughisbecause
the community is so supportive, generous
and accepting.”
The resettlement service finds homes
for the newcomers and arecent plea for
bicyclesresultedinabout200 beinggifted.
Mayor Brown said the shared lunch was
an important part of helping the former
refugees adapttotheirnew lives.
“It is good forthem to understand that in
New Zealand, the local mayor and local
government politicians are people they
canapproach andtrust. Their experience
of authorities in other countries may not
havebeen so positive.
“They should havenoreasontobefearful
living in our district and Iknow many
membersofourgenerouscommunityhave
goneoutoftheirwayto showkindnessand
hospitality.Welook forwardtothem taking
the next step and joining community
groups and the local workforce.”
Council is proposing an average 9.4 per
cent rate increase, driven by arange of
challenges includinghigh inflation.People
were also asked for their views on using
$1.7 million from forestry reserves to
do more roading work and whether the
Council should further review its day-today
services.
Strategy and ComplianceGroup Manager
Jane Donaldson thanked submitters
for taking time toread the consultation
documentand provide feedback.
“The number of submissions doubled in
the lastweekand theycontainedarange
of views aboutthe work we haveplanned
forthe next financial year.The next step is
for Councillors toconsider that feedback
and make decisions on the final form of
the plan, whichwill be adoptedatthe end
of June.”
Youcanreadwhatpeoplehadto sayabout
the draft AnnualPlan at itsourplace.nz.
Rodger Letham, Councillor
Do it right andkeep it local
We arealmoststarting the run-up
to the next LocalBody Elections,
which aredue to be held in
October. Where has the lastthree
yearsgone?
It has been abusy three yearswith
somebig projects completedor
still under way, plus youcan throw
in Covid-19, the Three Waters
Programme, LocalGovernment
Reform and ResourceManagement Act
review.
Thisisontop of our completion of the
CBD upgrade, with the newLibrary
and CivicBuilding underconstruction
and thefurther development of Baring
SquareEastplanned, plus anew bridge
on the horizon.
In the midstofall this Council still has
to run and maintain the everyday
activities of thedistrict.Our staff
areunder extreme pressurebut are
holdingthe line well. But first things
first.
Three Waters is going to be the biggest
challengewehaveseenfor decades
and it has notstarted well. No one
denies thatamassiveinvestment
in waterinfrastructureisneeded
throughout the country.
Spacedoes notpermit me to giveafull
run-down of events,ormyopinions,
but sufficetosay Councillors, whoever
theyare,willneed to be wary,watchful
and focusedinensuring we getthe
bestdealfor our ratepayers.
The Governmenthas notgiven us
confidenceintheir performanceso
far. The programme has been poorly
researched, badly presentedand has
cost millions of dollarsinchildish
propaganda to tryand sway the public
to theirpoint of view.
On topofall that, the Ministerblatantly
mandatedthe newentities before the
endofthe agreed time forstudyand
questioning by councils. In my previous
life, if apersonbroke acontractin
thatmannertheywould havebeen
promptly marched intocourt.Iamnot
even going to start on “co-governance”
but it appearsthatideologyisgetting
in the wayofpractical commonsense.
However, it has, to agreaterorlesser
degree, always been thus. We area
resilientcommunity which has over
the yearswithstood floods,snow,
gales, drought and storms.Attimes
of disaster, we pulltogetherand get
throughand we will do so again. All
these things will pass and we will face
different challenges.
We havesomeofthe bestsoils in the
world, the most successfulfarmersand
business people that arethe envyof
many.Wehavegood educational,
cultural and sporting facilities.
The enquiryfor building sites both
residential and commercial is huge,
whichindicatesapositivefuture.
In light of all thatishappening around
the world, Iamprivilegedtolive, work
and play in this district. Aplacewhere
motherscan take their children to the
playground in peaceand safety, where
our children canwalk safely to school.
Wherewecan gather and socialisein
comfort and safetyasand when we
wish (exceptduring covid lockdowns).
Long may it last.
1 Thursday,12May 2022 |ISSUE 78
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