Ashburton Courier: September 24, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Tree site hot topic
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, September 24, 2020
Garden tips for youngsters
5
LINDA.CLARKE
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
The siting of Ashburton’s
giant Christmas treewill be
debated today by Ashburton
District Councillors.
Retailers would likeit on
the chequerboard this year
and councillors on the town
centre sub­committee were
lastweek split over moving it
or leavingitatBaring Square
East, whereithas beensince
2017.
However their wishes may
be trumped by practicalities
of moving the tree from the
square,atleast forthis year.
The giant Christmas tree is
officially lit up by mayorNeil
Brownand plays astarring
role in council’s annualLight
up the Nightevent. Aspecial
powerconnection in the
square was installedfor that
expresspurpose and the tree
lights up with the street
lights daily over the festive
season.
However, thesquare might
be out of actioninChristmas
2021 and 2022 while it is
revamped to sit alongside
council’s new library and
civic building, which will be
under construction this
December.
Councillors were told last
week there was no electricity
at the chequerboard to
powerthe tree and staff did
not know if it would even fit
there.
Areview could be
undertaken in January with
feedbackfrom staff, CBD
retailers and the community
for other location optionsin
the future.
Cr Angus McKay said a
Christmas tree on the
Ashburton’s giant Christmas
tree has been in Baring
Square East since 2017.
chequerboard would attract
more people to East Street,
the CBDingeneraland to
shops.
He said retailers were
putting up with alot as the
CBD revitalisation
progressed and it would bea
goodmove to relocate it this
year. The town centre
neededtobelivenedupto
attract people, who would
buy food andgoods.
Cr Cameron said retailers
had asked for more
Christmasambience in the
town centre and the
chequerboard.The same
request had beenmadelast
year.
Council did review the
location of thetree earlier
thisyear anddecided to
leave it in Baring Square
East.
Cr Leen Braam said money
had already been spent
puttingupthe fairy lightson
East Street andhewas
comfortable with the
Christmas tree staying in the
square for this year.
Cr JohnFalloon said he
supportedthe tree staying in
the square this yearonly
because it seemed too lateto
move it, but the centre of
town was abetter location.
Moving thetreeto anew
location this year has not
been budgeted for.
Council eventco­ordinator
Verity Jackson said
Christmas flags would be
hunginthe town centre from
November 6, taking the place
of Mid Canterbury Open for
Business signs.
There wouldbenobanners
across the road because
fixings on the railway sideof
East Street had been
removed by EA Networks as
they were ahealth andsafety
hazard and there was
nothingtohang the banners
on that side.
The Night of Lights
Festival will run from
November 20 until January 6
and include afestive walk.
Membersofthe Ashburton
Art Gallery’s artaddicts
group are makingspecial
wraps for treesand
newcomers groups have
been invitedtoadd
decorations from their
different cultures.
The Christmas treeis
scheduled to be lit up on
November 27,there will be
buskersatvariousspots
around the CBD on thenight
of December 3and afamily
movie night is planned for
December 11.
Motorshow fundraiserfor Methven
MethvenLions is lining up a
big new motorshow eventas
its next big fundraiserand is
hopingvehicles ofall kinds
will be brought out and
exhibited.
The Methven Motorshowis
set to be held at the Methven
A&P Showgroundson
November 15.
Anyone interested in
exhibiting an interesting
vehicleisencouraged to do
so.
Mac McElwain from
Methven Lions said more
details of the event would be
revealed soon, but it was
excitingtobeable to
announce this newevent for
Methven.
All money raised from the
motorshow wouldgothe
Lions Charitable Trust for
distribution within the
Methven community.
Mr McElwain said theclub
envisaged anumberof
different vehicle categories
in the show, including
British classic, American
classic,agricultural, exotic
and hot rod.
‘‘We alreadyknow of many
vehiclesfrom within the area
and we’d expecttounearth
more. We’ll addmore
categoriesaswe get more
entriesin.’’
He said the ideawas for
people toopen up their
sheds andtobring along
anything thathas wheels and
which willbeinterestingto
look at.
Public admissionis$10 per
head and afamily packageis
being worked out.
Mitre 10 gardening guru April
Breading has been helping
students at Longbeach School
learn some growing skills.
The free spring garden
programme for schools involves
three practical sessions and
students this week planted a
strawberry plant, sweet Alice
flowers and seeds of sugar snap
Clearance Sale
Starts Monday 28 September
$
40
$
30 $
20
Saleracks
Open daily 9am–5.30 pm l Saturday 9am–2pm
Ends Saturday 3October
TheArcade,Ashburton l 3084009
www.chicagojoes.co.nz
peas into peat soil pots. The
plants were carried home in
recycled milk bottles.
In term 4, April will be visiting
St Joseph’s, Tinwald and
Hampstead Schools. The
programme is open to all schools.
Mitre 10 supplies the plants,
pots and soil, and April shares her
knowledge and enthusiasm.
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