Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Since Sept 27, 1879
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
EARLY LAMBS THRIVING
Bugs hit schools P3
FULL STORY
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PHOTO SUSAN SANDYS 270519-SS-0047 (002)
D-Day for i-SITE building A gift with meaning P14
It’s been one of the most contentious issues of the past few years for the Ashburton District Council, but on Thursday a decision on the future of the former Ashburton i-SITE building will be made. At Thursday’s council meeting, councillors will discuss a number of recommendations for the building, one of which would see the East Street premises, which is the home of Experience Mid Canterbury (EMC), to allow a group of key local figures to establish an information centre, known as the Informa-
tion Hub, in the building. Other recommendations propose that the building should not form part of the Town Centre Revitalisation project and that it eventually be sold for removal with the Information Hub leading the building in the interim. There is concern that once work is completed on the revitalisation of the area, it could highlight the tired and dated appearance of the building and that its current location would impact on a proposed cycleway route. The Ashburton i-SITE closed its doors
in October, 2017, which led to a public outcry and resulted in rallies being held. Since then it’s been a long and winding path to reach this week where an outcome will finally be reached on its future. The Information Hub group, led by Tony Todd, Paul Mullan and David West, offered fresh hope last year of a return to the building’s former glory.
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