The giant Christmas tree in Baring Square East is a lovely, if scary, reminder that the end of the year is nigh – and there is still much to do in the next four weeks.

There are two full Council meetings, plus meetings of the Stockwater Transition Group and the new Three Waters committee, as well as the day-to-day business of collecting rubbish and recycling, providing water and roads, and dealing with sewerage.

Those are core services, administered largely by staff in Te Whare Whakatere, but the summer holidays are also a busy time for the Ashburton Library, Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum, Open Spaces team  and EA Networks Centre. So busy, that we have put all the different activities into one holiday booklet that will soon be available in printed form and on our website for instant access.

It’s 20 pages of crafty fun, physical adventure and Christmas festivities that are happening in December and January, and many of the activities are free.

There are old favourites, like the Great Santa Hunt at the gallery and museum – this has been running for more than a decade and opening night is quite the occasion, with the facility in darkness and kids of all ages armed with torches and trying to find the different Santas.

There are new activities too, like the jumping platform at Lake Hood, which was very busy this last Monday night when the weather was hot. You’ll also see when we are visiting some of the district’s outdoor swimming pools with our inflatables.

So call into any of our Council facilities next month and grab a brochure, or click on the link that will be on the front page of our website and you can see all the activities online.

Our Customer Service desk has traditionally closed over the Christmas and New Year break, but it will be staffed this year on December 27, 30 and 31 and on January 3. This also coincides with the Ashburton Library opening hours over the break.

All Council departments will be back on deck on January 6, looking forward to another busy year.

See you all at Light up the Night on Saturday!