Speeds around schools have been in the headlines this week, with commentary that some motorists in Ashburton may be ignoring the new permanent 30km/h zones, especially outside of school times.

Changing engrained driving habits is hard but these slower speeds have been mandated by Government and have been in force locally since July and the start of the third school term.

Councillors decided earlier this year that permanent 30km/h zones outside urban schools would apply throughout the district, and the signs were ordered. Having variable speed zones (slow for school hours only) would have required a level of signage costing about $10,000 for each electronic sign.

We’re aware there has been comment about the need for any restrictions outside school hours and it does feel very slow at times, but increasing the safety for everyone around our schools is at the heart of the change and that feels like a worthy overarching goal.

It is early days for this initiative and Council has noted the commentary and feedback. We will be reviewing the situation in February next year and one possible outcome could be variable speed zones outside some schools, but that will come with the associated cost.

Getting signs to comply with the new Land Transport Rule around speed limits was important, but if it is not working locally then the review will reveal that.

Until that report is before Council, the permanent slow zones remain.

Everyone who drives on Havelock Street will be noticing the progress of Te Whare Whakatere, the new library and civic building on Baring Square East.

It’s a very busy place as many of the different work streams are coming together to be completed and at one stage last week, there were 170 workers on site.

The most common question is: When will it open? There is much to do yet internally but we remain on track for opening before the end of the year.

The new overall name for the building, Te Whare Whakatere, was gifted to Council last week by Te Runanga o Arowhenua and Council was delighted to accept it. The new name literally means The House of Ashburton and it encompasses how the building’s different parts and functions are all connected.

There have certainly been some challenges brought on by Covid and supply chain breakages, and the move itself will be a big logistical exercise, but we are really excited about the whole building. Members of the community will particularly enjoy the new library space and the wide range of new experiences and activities, and the way it flows to the council chambers and the decision-making spaces.