Most of the big decisions have been made for the Ashburton District’s long-term plan.

Affordability was a key issue for the Ashburton District councillors with the funding of the proposed second bridge looming large around affordability, and the rates rise looking like it will tip over 10%.

Green waste collection will be introduced, there will be no $3.1m spent on a pool, stockwater service will be phased out in three years, and a three-court extension at EA Networks could happen around 2032/2033.

The decision on the Balmoral Hall and a few items were left on the table when the meeting was adjourned until Wednesday.

Affordability was a focus during deliberations while the unknown impact of funding the proposed second Ashburton Bridge loomed large.

The Ashburton District Council had consulted on a 9.9% increase for 2024/25

Following the submissions and a three-day deliberations workshop to discuss the community's requests, that figure was sitting at 11.7% (34.1% over years 1-3 and 66% across the 10 years) at the start of Thursday.

With several items being removed, added, or shifted the figures won’t be finalised until after everything is decided on Wednesday

Contributing to the rate increase in year 1 is a significant boost in road funding (4.2%), three waters and servicing debt.

Here is how the big decisions were made on Thursday:

1: Green bins

A green waste collection service for all residential users will be introduced in September 2026.

In the lead-up to the introduction of the service, the council will consider what bin size options will be made available and when the service will be introduced for businesses.

Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan said the council “had a very clear direction from our community” to introduce the green waste collection.

The council is opting to do a full food and organic waste collection and will consider the 240 litre, 120L and 80l bin options.

The bins are for residential properties that receive kerbside collection,  but the council will also consider including businesses in the rollout.

The introduction of the bins is estimated to cost $1.66m, with the council expecting to get a waste minimisation subsidy of around $918,000.

The operating costs are forecast to be $1.24m, covered by the rate increase and a reduction a general waste collected.

It is estimated that organic waste makes up 42% of what currently goes in the red bins.

2: No pool spend

The council will opt not to spend $3.1m on water-based leisure “at this time and it can be revisited in a future annual plan or LTP”.

It means the Tinwald Pool will be permanently closed but the Tinwald Reserve Board will investigate alternative options for the site and bring those back to the council for consideration.

There was no clear-cut consensus for any of the five options, and potentially consulting on five options may have diluted the community opinion.

The Tinwald Reserve Board will work with the community to come up with potential options for the site to present to the council, but there is no money allocated in the budget.

Councillor Richard Wilson said there was no clear outcome from the submissions and that putting the future of the Tinwald pool site back in the hands of the Tinwald Reserve Board was a good solution.

Councillor Phill Hooper felt that investigating “something quite cool that could go in that spot” would appease the supporters of the Tinwald Pool.

During deliberations the councillors had discussed the potential of transforming the pool into a paddling pool or water play area, that wouldn’t require lifeguards.

Councillor Russell Ellis had attempted to pass an amendment to include a provision for hydroslides at EA Networks Centre in years 5-6 of the plan but the motion failed to get support.

The do-nothing option has cut $3.1m of capital investment and the $400,000-$480,000 annual operating costs of pool options from the budgets, but didn’t impact 2024/25 figures.

3: Balmoral Hall and land

The final decision will be made next week with the councillors seeking further information to finalise what option they will choose.

The councillors were leaning towards refurbishing the hall and retaining the old polytech land, demolishing the buildings and creating a fee-paying carpark.

They have requested more information on the options around the building repair costs and the impact on rates.

The hall is facing a $1.3m refurbishment cost.

The concrete tile roof needs to be repaired but if the option is a replacement with a lightweight option it will likely trigger a building consent requiring the building to be brought up to code, chief executive Hamish Riach said.

“We can’t just replace the roof and do nothing else because that suits our budget.

“We then trigger compliance with the building code which generates the estimate of $1.3m”.

The demolition and asphalted car park were estimated to cost $1.9m.

There is a proposal to construct a new West Street carpark for $1.5m that was put on hold, and not budgeted in the plan, with McMillan suggesting the carpark next to Balmoral Hall could be the better option.

4: Stockwater 

That council plans to exit providing the stockwater service by the end of June 2027.

The council is increasing the district water management budget by $45,940 in 2025/26 and then $152,970 in 2026/27 to fund a managed exit from its delivery of the stockwater service.

A working group will be formed to manage the transition and provide council oversight of the process.

Riach said the council is getting out of stockwater but there are solutions to the continued provision of it “by some other means”.

Mayor Neil Brown said that people have stockwater now, and they will still be able to get water – it just won’t be from the council.

“We must look after those ones who believe they have no alternative water.”

The working group will assist with finding cost-effective alternative sources, he said.

A large number of submitters highlighted concerns with the ecological impact and the councillors believe some races will need to be retained for their ecological value, and some for their drainage benefits.

How they are then funded will form part of the managed transition.

5: EA Networks Centre Stadium

There was support for the three-court extension but grave concerns around its affordability with a price tag of $23.7m, especially with the cloud of the second bridge cost looming large.

Calculations had the finance costs peaking at around $2.2m the year after construction is completed, which Ellis said would equate to an around 5% rate increase on its own.

The concern is the bridge could end up costing double what the stadium costs, and impact rates sooner, making the stadium unaffordable.

The decision was to push the project back to year 7-9 in the 10-year plan.

Wilson supported the extension but was put off by the price tag.

“We need to think more about where we put $23.7m for sport in the whole district.”

Wilson said it means it will go through two council terms so if the situation changes it can be brought forward if the economic situation changes.

McMillan said the extension had eye-watering costs and having it beyond year three “gives us time to reevaluate”.

OTHER DECISIONS:

Second Bridge

The council is holding firm at $7.5m towards the proposed second bridge as it awaits the Government's indication of the required contribution, expected in September.

With the cost of the bridge now estimated to be $130m, an NZTA standard subsidy of 51% would leave the council needing to find $63.6m.

Lake Hood

As well as taking on the $715,000 annual management and maintenance costs of the Lake Hood area from July 1, the council has an additional $200,000 spent to tackle water quality issues.

Airport fees

A decision on the airport fees has been pushed to Wednesday to allow the proposal to be run past the airport users' group meeting on Monday. The proposal is a $200 bulk landing fee and a $12 flat fee but it’s believed that won’t reduce the ratepayer in put in 2024/25. Alternative management and operation models will be investigated to take over the Ashburton Airport in 2025/26.

Roading

A total of $32m over three years, an increase of 24% on year one, will allow the council to maintain its current level of service in the face of rising costs.

An additional $500,000 of unsubsidised funding across the 10 years is also proposed to be added for maintaining the unsealed roading network.

Ellis pointed out that it wasn’t just a $500,000 increase – equating to a 1% increase, as there is already a 24% increase.

The additional funding was left on the table for Wednesday.

Funding requests

The Ashburton Event Centre, Citizens Advice Bureau, Safer Communities, and Safer Mid Canterbury will all get a three-year inflation-adjusted funding agreement, rather than going through an annual application process.

The council will also establish a capital expenditure fund of $40,000 per year to fund the depreciation of the event centre.

Base Youth Café will receive $15,000 per year from the Youth Council reserve to run a youth advisory group.

The Plains Museum Trust will receive up to $35,000 in next year for signage and entranceway upgrades, and $20,000 the following year for a site development plan.

Methven Swimming Pool will receive an increase to $25,000 per year as part of the Methven Community Board rate.

The Upper Rangitata Gorge Landcare Group will receive $5,000 from the Biodiversity Grant.

The Methven Lighting Project will be funded with $5,000 per year for operational expenditure and capital expenditure of $51,000 in year 1, $55,000 in year 3 and $10,000 in year 4.

General items

-$75,000 in year 2 for the investigation of alternative sites for the Methven Resource Recovery Park.

-An Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy will developed in year 2.

-A Methven Strategic Plan development is in year 1 for $20,000.

-An investigation of the District Biking Trail for $25,000 in 2024/25.

-Existing funding of $25,000 will be used to extend the opening hours of EA Networks Centre, resulting in a $9,000 savings in years 1– 10.

-A mini-golf concept proposal, funded from the Reserve Contribution account, with a value of up to $400,000 will be developed in 2024/25.

-Upgrading the EA Networks Stadium Scoreboards for $100,000 will be decided on Wednesday.

- Ashburton welcome signs remain in the plan for year 4 with a $161,000 budget.

By Jonathan Leask