We’ll introduce a new green waste kerbside collection service from 2026 to meet resident demand and reduce landfill waste.

The Government mandated the introduction of a food waste collection service by 2027, so we asked our community how they wanted us to provide this service. We presented two options, either introducing a green waste collection service (for both food and green waste) or providing just the mandatory food waste service. A clear majority of submitters supported the Council’s preferred option of introducing a full green waste service. Council has agreed and will introduce this service to all residential kerbside collection users from September 2026.

Council will not invest in water-based leisure and that means the Tinwald Pool will close permanently. We will be working together with the Tinwald Reserve Board on an alternative for the site.

We asked our community if we should spend around $3 million on a water-based leisure project, and if so, where it should be spent. We provided five options: refurbishing Tinwald Pool, creating a new waterplay area at Ashburton Domain, building an outdoor pool at EA Networks Centre, building a hydro slide at EA Networks Centre, or doing nothing. The feedback we received on this topic was split with most submitters supporting either the Tinwald Pool refurbishment or an outdoor pool at EA Networks Centre . Many people also raised concerns about unnecessary spending and the impact on rates. After considering all the feedback, Council decided against proceeding with any water-based leisure project at this time. This means that Tinwald Pool will be permanently closed, however Council has asked staff to work with the Tinwald Reserve Board to find an alternative activity for the site.

The Polytech land will be redeveloped in an unsealed carpark and Council retains the Balmoral Hall and the site for two more years, or until the Hall becomes unusable, whereby the hall is sold or demolished.

We asked for feedback on the future of Balmoral Hall and the old Polytech land in Ashburton, as the hall needed significant repairs to make it viable for future use. The three options provided to the community, included retaining and repairing the Balmoral Hall & Polytech site, selling both sites, or demolishing or relocating the buildings and redeveloping the site. The majority of submitters supported the sale of both sites. However, there were others who suggested selling the Polytech Land to help fund the hall project and using the land for carparking. Council has decided to demolish or relocate the buildings on the Polytech site and redevelop the land into an unsealed gravel car park, with $1.6 million budgeted in Year 1 of the Long Term Plan for the work. As for Balmoral Hall, Council will retain the hall for two years or until it becomes unusable, after which the building will be sold or demolished, with Council to retain ownership of the land. This allows time for current users of Balmoral Hall to find a suitable alternative location.

Council decided to exit the stockwater service by 30 June 2027. A working group will be established to tackle the key issues the community came forward with and develop a plan for the way forward.

Our fourth key topic focused on the future of the stockwater service provided by Council, with three options presented - stay and invest, maintain with a closure programme over time, or exit the service within the next three years. The majority of respondents supported exiting the stockwater service. However, many noted the complexity of the issues involved, including the protection of biodiversity and a lack of alternative water sources. Feedback also emphasised the need for a well-planned and inclusive approach to exiting the service. Council agreed to proceed with the preferred option and will exit the stockwater service by 30 June 2027. A project group, including two Councillors, will work through the issues raised by submitters and regularly report progress to Council. Council also agreed to increase the minimum charge to $700 to address funding inequities. Any races that remain open following the stockwater exit (for biodiversity, recreational or other purposes) will likely be funded by the general rate.

We agreed to the three-court extension but pushed the stadium extension out two more years to start in 2031.

We asked the community if we should extend the EA Networks Centre stadium and presented three options – a two-court extension, a three-court extension, or doing nothing. 52% of the submitters supported the three-court extension, citing the current level of demand, future growth and the opportunity for hosting large tournaments and events. Council agreed to the three-court extension but acknowledged community concerns around affordability and Council debt levels by delaying construction to Years 7-9 of the plan (2031-33), rather than Years 5-7 (2029-31).