Ashburton

In 2018 Ashburton District Council signed the New Zealand Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration. Signatories are committed to making and implementing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, engaging with tangata whenua and promoting resilience within local communities.

The Council adopted its first formal climate change policy (PDF, 341KB) in 2019 and it was subsequently updated in 2022. During the review, Council identified the need for an 'action plan', to help meet the goals of the policy.

The policy states that it will respond to climate change in ways that:

• Ensure the sustainability of Council assets and services for the present and future wellbeing of the Ashburton District
• Enhance the resilience and preparedness of Ashburton households and businesses in the present and for the future
• Reduce carbon emissions from its own activities

The Ashburton District Council adopted the final Climate Resilience Plan on 17 August 2022. This is expected to be reviewed within the next three years.

The action plan details the resilience work the Council is currently doing, and what it expects to work on over the next ten years.

The plan has four goals:

1. Strive to understand climate change and what it means for the Ashburton District now and in the future, and create opportunities to share that knowledge with the wider community.
2. Ensure the sustainability of Council assets and services for the present and future wellbeing of the Ashburton District.
3. Enhance the resilience and preparedness of Ashburton households and businesses in the present and for the future.
4. Reduce carbon emissions from Council activities.

Resilience is the ability to anticipate and resist disruptive events, minimise adverse impacts, respond effectively, maintain or recover functionality, and adapt in a way that allows for learning and thriving. In essence, it’s about developing the ability to remain effective across a range of future conditions.

A baseline greenhouse gas inventory for the Council was completed in 2023, and climate change considerations have been integrated into Ashburton District strategies including the Open Spaces Strategy 2016-26, Surface Water Strategy 2018-28, Our Natural Place - Biodiversity Strategy 2023-43 (PDF file, 2.5MB) & Economic Development Strategy - Rautaki Whanake Ohaoha 2023-33.

Through the Long-Term Plan 2024-34, Ashburton District now has a $50k annual budget for climate change over the next three years.

Ashburton District Council is continuing to work with local communities to develop local emergency response plans.

Helping communities to understand the risks they face (including climate-related risks), and the resources available to them, helps people be prepared for adverse events and identify the best way to respond. This aligns with the work being done with the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan.

Council has set aside disaster relief funds for flooding, particularly after the May 2021 floods, and has been working with Government to progress a second Ashburton/Hakatere bridge to improve resilience to flooding.

In 2022, Council completed a $10m Ashburton Relief Sewer project which saw a major pipe installed under the Ashburton Hakatere river to add to the town’s wastewater resilience.

Recent upgrades to the membrane filtration systems in drinking water plants in Methven and Mt Somers makes Ashburton District more resilient and adaptable to a changing climate where water sources are likely to be impacted.

In 2022, Council supported a research project to explore how farming might adapt to a changing climate.

Ashburton District Council is working on ways to manage energy use and map its own carbon footprint, which will lead to further opportunities to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. Studies funded by EECA have identified energy saving opportunities at several council sites.

Council street lighting across the district has been replaced with LED lightbulbs. This will reduce electricity use, maintenance costs and waste from replaced light bulbs.

Sustainable features were incorporated into the design of the new Library and Civic Centre Te Whare Whakatere, including use of laminated timber in construction (which reduces the carbon emissions required for concrete and steel production and sequesters carbon in the timber) and minimising the cost of heating and cooling by use of heat exchange technology and bores into groundwater.

Council adopted a Walking and Cycling Strategy 2020-2030 (PDF file, 3.4MB) to promote the health and energy benefits of active transport.

Council has also supported use of electric vehicles by enabling EV charging stations to be located on council land, in association with EA Networks (electricity company).

A Biodiversity Strategy ‘Our Natural Place’ was launched in 2024 to protect flora and fauna, and sites of ecological value.

A specialised ecologist and biodiversity advisor is dedicated to working with the community on achieving actions of the strategy.

Council has continued to enhance biodiversity through the activities of the Biodiversity Subcommittee and community grants for habitat protection.

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park has been upgraded to improve recycling and recovery and reuse of materials, and Council will introduce a kerbside food waste collection service in 2026.