Plenty of focus will be on the proposed 11.5% increase in the first year of the long-term plan (LTP), and there is a lot to consider further down the road.

The LTP sets the Ashburton District Council work programme for the next 10 years and there are lot of big decisions to be made on the future of the district, and the cost implications.

In terms of roading, the second bridge and council’s potential $8m contribution will likely be determined by the new government's revision of transport funding policy.

The council is also planning to install a new water main across the new bridge for an estimated $4.62M.

Like the second bridge will provide resilience for transport, Riach said the second water main will do the same for the water supply. The current main goes across the existing SH1 Ashburton/Hakatere River bridge which will one day need to be replaced.

The introduction of green bins, kerbside food and green organic waste collection is planned for year three (2026/27).

One area that will garner plenty of discussion, as it did in the budget workshops, is where $3m should be spent on aquatic facilities – if at all.

A repair of the Tinwald Pool, a new outdoor pool at EA Networks Centre, a waterplay and paddling pool at the Ashburton Domain, and hydroslides at EANC were all presented as options – as was the option to do nothing.

Councillor Richard Wilson labelled the Tinwald Pool a dead duck due to the unknown extent of repairs needed matched with lifeguard resourcing issues.

Building a new outdoor pool at the centre, which would alleviates the lifeguard issue, was the preferred option by a slim majority - just ahead of doing nothing.

There was little appetite for hydroslides, while the domain water play option remains part of the Ashburton Domain 30-year plan and could still go ahead in the future.

All five options will be up for debate through the consultation process.

An extension to the aquatic side of the centre, estimated at $22m, was ruled out of the LTP.

A $21m extension to the centre's stadium, which would add three courts and additional car parking, has been included from year five (2028/29).

The Art Gallery and Heritage Centre is almost 10 years old and requires ‘significant renewals’ in the LTP, which include new lighting, a reconfiguration of the shop and reception, and a $2.5m refresh of the museum display around 2028/29.

The community will also be asked to consider the future of Balmoral Hall.

There was $480,000 budgeted for repairs, but Riach said it is “woefully inadequate”.

The actual cost is estimated to be around $1.4m, which the councillors felt was too much and will instead look to divest the building.

By Jonathan Leask