Ashburton Guardian (New Zealand)

1 week ago | guardianonline.co.nz | Jonathan Leask

Lal Mulligan wants water she can drink from her tap. At the moment she travels from her home on Keenans Road in north-east Ashburton to the cemetery with plastic containers to source water from the treated town supply. Mulligan, who is concerned around high nitrates and E.coli in her private bore supply, has been calling on the Ashburton District Council to extend drinking and wastewater pipes to the north-east - home to about 100 households - for years.

1 week ago | guardianonline.co.nz | Jonathan Leask

Local rūnanga are appealing the consent approval for the expansion of a significant Mid Canterbury water rehabilitation project, as they fear the move will put added pressure on the Rangitata River. However, the trust behind the environmental project says the decision to appeal "is a kick in the guts" for the district. Commissioners granted resource consents to Rangitata Diversion Race Management and Hekeao Hinds Enhancement Trust on April 30 to expand the groundwater rehabilitation project.

1 week ago | guardianonline.co.nz | Jonathan Leask

The Ashburton Water Zone Committee signed off at their final meeting on Tuesday. Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown told the committee that the Canterbury Mayoral Forum will be deciding on the future model on Friday at its meeting in Kaikōura. Ten zone committees were launched, joint committees between Environment Canterbury and district councils, in 2010 to implement the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

2 weeks ago | guardianonline.co.nz | Jonathan Leask

There is no easy or speedy solution to remove the algal bloom issues plaguing Lake Hood in Canterbury. The Ashburton District Council isn’t about to rush into spending ratepayer money on potential solutions without thoroughly investigating its options first, the chief executive says. A 75-page report at the council meeting on Wednesday provided an update on the water quality issues at Lake Hood and the work underway to address them. Lake Hood has been closed since April 3 due to health warnings.

2 weeks ago | guardianonline.co.nz | Jonathan Leask

Ashburton District ratepayers will receive an average rate rise of 7.3% on July 1. The 2025/26 Annual Plan was adopted by the Ashburton District Council on Wednesday [MAY 21] with a lower rate increase than the 10.1% signalled in the long-term plan. Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown was happy with where the council had landed after a thorough process. “We cut some things out.