Monday, Oct 14, 2019 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2 Home delivered from $1.35 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY www.guardianonline.co.nz Ashburton’s mayor elect Neil Brown and wife Judy. PHOTO ROBYN HOOD 131019-RH-001 Looking to the future New mayor to P2 lead our district BY SUE NEWMAN whole lot busier. huge issue, especially with the freshwa- [email protected] “The mayor is a lot more in the pub- ter plan out there. As a council we need When Neil Brown woke up on Sunday lic eye, where as, as a councillor you’re to advocate to central government, morning, the reality of his new life hit there getting on with the work. Now I’ll that’s our role.” him, fair between the eyes. be out front leading and directing but Within the district the council had Saturday morning he was Neil Brown, this will be a team, not just one person.” a lot of consented water as stockwa- Joe Citizen; Saturday afternoon he be- He’s very clear that every mayor’s ter, but more efficient use of this water came Neil Brown Ashburton District style is different. His will be inclusive meant there were surpluses that should mayor elect. His phone rang red hot, and it will be about sharing the work- be used on other projects, he said. friends and family called to celebrate, load between councillors. With just nine Also high on his list is getting rural but it wasn’t until the next morning the around the table this coming term rath- and town residents on the same page, impact of the new job hit home. er than 12, there will be no room for pas- looking at the future from the same di- Yesterday was one of reflection, of sengers, he said. rection. looking at the way his life would change “It’s important for all councillors to “And to be fair, we’re not too far away and looking at the challenges ahead. have a good relationship with the mayor from that now,” he said. He’s optimistic, more than optimis- and with each other and it’s important His first job will be to meet with coun- tic about the future, saying voters had we keep an open mind on issues.” cillors, talk about their interests, the ar- elected a solid team of councillors, a There are critical issues he will be eas they would like to be involved. From Chasing NZ team he was keen to work with. working had to see if not resolved, then there he’ll allocate portfolio and specific With 15 years as a councillor behind progressed. roles. Among those will be the all impor- him, the last three as deputy mayor, “We need to sort the water issue out. tant job of deputy mayor. Cup glory Brown said he had the advantage of This district is blessed with plenty of plenty of local government experience, water and we all need to be able to use P18 but he knows his life is about to get a it. It’s the lifeblood of the district. It’s a CONTINUED P3 Ph 03 307 7900 Retirement at its fi nest to subscribe! Independent and Spectacular location assisted living options Relaxed lifestyle Caring and experienced staff Phone 307 6140 37 carters terrace tinwald, ashburton 7700 RETIREMENT VILLAGE www.terraceview.co.nz Affordable luxury News 2 Ashburton Guardian Monday, October 14, 2019 www.guardianonline.co.nz ■ LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS Favel looks to the future THE RESULTS BY SUE NEWMAN been nine years out of my life [email protected] and over the past three of those She might have lost the mayoral- I’ve worked very, very hard. Now ty race, but Donna Favel says she my life is an open book.” knows she gave her three-year Tony Todd was also a mayoral tenure in the district’s top job her contender and received the sec- best shot – and then some. ond highest vote count, just 600 Receiving the news that her behind winner Neil Brown. time as mayor was over wasn’t He was philosophical about easy, but Favel said she was com- the result. fortable with the voters’ deci- “I always said you have to ac- sion. cept the democratic process. Yes, “I’m still relatively young and everyone likes to win but I gave it there are new chapters to write my best shot.” in my life. I’ll be stopping and He was prompted to stand for taking time, taking a breath.” mayor after leading a communi- Months out from the election ty campaign opposing the clo- Neil Brown she indicated she was not defi- sure of Ashburton’s information nitely seeking re-election. centre. The preliminary result for the “I was really torn before the “People said I should give it a Ashburton District Council elec- election on putting my name in. go so I put my hand up and gave tions held on October 12 is: There was a lot of my life I was it a shot. I accept the voters’ de- missing and my health hasn’t cision and really appreciate the Mayoralty been the best so I’m glad I now support I’ve been given.” BROWN, Neil 4418 have the time to fix that,” she He suggests he’s unlikely to TODD, Tony 3731 said. make a bid for the mayoralty in FAVEL, Donna 2384 Reflecting on her time as may- 2022. BRAAM, Leen 1422 or, Favel said it had been a term The fourth person standing for where the council had worked the mayoralty was Leen Braam, Western Ward (2 vacancies) through a number of obstacles who also stood as an urban ward MCMILLAN, Liz 1444 and where it had faced a number candidate. He finished fourth in LETHAM, Rodger 1069 of distractions. the mayoralty race but topped CHISNALL, Evan 1055 “But I’m really pleased that we the polls as a councillor. Donna Favel got runs on the board. We were “I have no problem whatsoev- Eastern Ward (2 vacancies) starting to gain traction.” er with missing out,” he said. LOVETT, Lynette 1315 Under her tenure, Favel said in some ways there was a genu- ency. I’ve worked hard and as a “I’m happy with the team and WILSON, Stuart 1217 she had taken the council in a ine sense of relief at being able council we’ve achieved a lot in am rapt that I back as a council- MALCOLM, Mark 816 different and more empathetic to step back and to think about the past three years.” lor.” RUSHTON, Philip Arthur 514 direction that perhaps not every- where to now. At this stage Favel is pretty He said he was happy to throw one had liked. “After nine years I know I have clear she won’t be making a bid his support behind Brown as Ashburton Ward (5 vacancies) Taking into account her two done my best. I was always hon- to return to local body body pol- mayor. BRAAM, Leen 4658 terms as a councillor and one est, even if I was not always right itics in 2022. “I’m looking forward to work- FALLOON, John 4538 as mayor, she said she had giv- and I’ve tried to lift the inclusive- “At this stage I’ll be closing that ing with him. We’ve got a darned CAMERON, Carolyn 3798 en nine years to the council and ness of council and its transpar- chapter. It’s been a blast but it’s good team.” RAWLINSON, Diane 3672 MCKAY, Angus 3455 PRICE, Selwyn 3369 BELL, Thelma 3355 SHAH, Ash 1840 CASTLE-WILSON, Rochelle 1653 Mackenzie tops ECan poll Ashburton Licensing Trust (6 vacancies) Eiffelton farmer Ian Mackenzie uency seats at this year’s local Christchurch South, Vicky South- PATERSON, Roger 6522 came out top of the list when body elections, with Sarah Wal- worth and Phil Clearwater; North QUINN, Chantelle 5736 the votes were counted for seats ters and Allen Lim receiving 9882 Canterbury, Claire McKay and BREAKWELL, Kieran 5393 around the Environment Canter- and 9717 votes respectively. Grant Edge; Christchurch west, SILVA, Tim 5255 bury meeting table for the Mid Other Environment Canter- Megan Hands and Craig Paul- HARNETT, Robert 4857 Canterbury/Opakihi regional bury seats were won by: ing; Christchurch north east, ROBERTSON, Chris 4621 constituency. Jenny Hugey and Tane Apanui; CLOUGH, Kerry 4049 The pair were among four can- South Canterbury – Eliza- Christchurch Central, Lan Pham MALCOLM, Mark 3767 Ian Mackenzie didates seeking the two constit- beth McKenzie and Peter Scott; and Nicole Marshall. SHAH, Ash 2471 News www.guardianonline.co.nz Monday, October 14, 2019 Ashburton Guardian 3 ■ LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS New CDHB Four new council faces members The seven elected members of the Canterbury District Health Board for the next three years are: Sally Buck, James Gough, Jo Kane, Naomi Marshall, Aaron Keown, Catherine Chu and Andrew Dick- erson. They were among 23 candi- dates standing at this year’s local body elections. Rodger Letham Carolyn Cameron Angus McKay John Falloon BY SUE NEWMAN count is posted later this week, structure. We need to prioritise “It’s great to be back and I’ve [email protected] rather he is looking forward to fit-for-purpose water and waste- kept well abreast of issues over There will be four new faces getting on with his new job. water systems, and a robust local the past three years,” he said. around the Ashburton District “I’ve been critical of the past roading network,” he said.