Latest news with #NeilBrown
Otago Daily Times
13-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Ashburton to get $400k mini golf course
Work on Ashburton's new terraced 18-hole mini golf course started this week. Mayor Neil Brown turned the sod in a digger on Tuesday, with contractors setting up on site this week to begin the earthworks for the new Mid Canterbury-themed mini golf course being built in front of the sports stadium, EA Networks Centre. Each hole represents a unique feature of the Ashburton District, including the Ashburton town clock, a combine harvester, braided rivers and Mt Hutt as hole 18 at the top of the course on the embankment. Ashburton District Council people and facilities manager Sarah Mosley said Grant Hood Contracting was moving in this week to start excavating the site and begin construction of retaining walls. 'The work area has been fenced off and they'll be creating three levels for the holes. 'The flat area in front of the carpark will be for holes one to 11, and the other holes will be on higher terraces, looking down towards EA Networks Centre.' The project was expected to take around 14 weeks to complete. The council had earmarked $400,000 for the project during its long-term plan deliberations but approved an increased $500,000 budget in December. The project is being funded from the Reserves Contributions Reserve, so does not impact rates, but it will be in the future for maintenance costs. Mosley said the design and build contract with play space specialists CREO was $400,000. The remaining $100,000 was for the civil contract works and signage. 'The major costs being the asphalt accessibility pathways and linkage ways up the terrace. 'Ongoing operational systems to enable online bookings and scoring are being investigated and, along with hire equipment, will be covered by operational budgets.' The holes would be manufactured in Oamaru, where the contractor is based, and transported to Ashburton for installation, Mosley said. Holes one to 11 are on the flat area and will be accessible for people pushing a pram, or those with limited mobility or in a wheelchair. Hole 12, the Rakaia Bridge, leads up to the embankment to holes 13-18. Carparking at the EA Networks Centre will remain largely unaffected during the works, and the steps from River Terrace will also remain open for pedestrians. Once it's built, the public can bring their ball and putter and play for free or rent them from the EA Networks Centre. The mini golf course is going in next to the $30,000 sand court that opened earlier this year. The sand court and mini golf projects are part of the 30-year masterplan for the EA Networks Centre site that was adopted by the council in December. By Jonathan Leask, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
12-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Work starts on $400k Canterbury mini golf course
Work on Ashburton's new terraced 18-hole mini golf course started this week. Mayor Neil Brown turned the sod in a digger on Tuesday, with contractors setting up on site this week to begin the earthworks for the new Mid Canterbury-themed mini golf course being built in front of the sports stadium, EA Networks Centre. Each hole represents a unique feature of the Ashburton District, including the Ashburton town clock, a combine harvester, braided rivers and Mt Hutt as hole 18 at the top of the course on the embankment. Ashburton District Council people and facilities manager Sarah Mosley said Grant Hood Contracting is moving in this week to start excavating the site and begin construction of retaining walls. 'The work area has been fenced off and they'll be creating three levels for the holes. 'The flat area in front of the carpark will be for holes one to 11, and the other holes will be on higher terraces, looking down towards EA Networks Centre.' The project is expected to take around 14 weeks to be built. The council had earmarked $400,000 for the project during its long-term plan deliberations but approved an increased $500,000 budget in December. The project is being funded from the Reserves Contributions Reserve, so does not impact rates, but it will be in the future for maintenance costs. Mosley said the design and build contract with play space specialists CREO is $400,000. The remaining $100,000 is for the civil contract works and signage. 'The major costs being the asphalt accessibility pathways and linkage ways up the terrace. 'Ongoing operational systems to enable online bookings and scoring are being investigated and, along with hire equipment, will be covered by operational budgets.' The holes would be manufactured in Oamaru, where the contractor is based, and transported to Ashburton for installation, Mosley said. Holes one to 11 are on the flat area and will be accessible for people pushing a pram, or those with limited mobility or in a wheelchair. Hole 12, the Rakaia Bridge, leads up to the embankment to holes 13-18. Carparking at the EA Networks Centre will remain largely unaffected during the works, and the steps from River Terrace will also remain open for pedestrians. Once it's built, the public can bring their ball and putter and play for free or rent them from the EA Networks Centre. The mini golf course is going in next to the $30,000 sand court that opened earlier this year. The sand court and mini golf projects are part of the 30-year masterplan for the EA Networks Centre site that was adopted by the council in December. By Jonathan Leask, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Associated Press
04-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
2025 CEO State of Talent Study - Webcast Panel and Survey Announced
CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 CEO State of Talent Study is announced with a mission to identify effective strategies for managing human resources in challenging business environments. The study will focus on hiring expectations, recruitment and retention, and benchmark hybrid work environments, compensation, and more. The results of the research study will be previewed at a August 14, 2025 webcast (see registration information below). CEOs, Presidents and related executives can participate in this important study by taking a brief, anonymous and strictly confidential survey. Respondents will receive a complimentary copy of the Study Report here. 'Our annual CEO State of Talent Study will uncover the latest insights into managing in difficult business environments', states Neil Brown, CEO of the Chief Executives Council. 'CEOs and C-Suite executives can benchmark peers by participating in the survey, webcast panel, and the study report.' The 2025 CEO State of Talent Study Results - Webcast Panel will include subject matter experts to be announced, and moderated by Neil Brown. To take the brief and confidential survey, the 2025 CEO State of Talent Study, link to: To register for the complimentary August 14, 2025 webcast panel discussion, click here ABOUT the Chief Executives Council Chief Executives Council™ is a community and platform for CEOs, Presidents, Founders and related professionals focused on best practice resources, career development and training, peer networking and recognition. Programs include research studies on strategic topics, webinars and roundtable panels, informative articles and whitepapers, the CEO Insights™ Interview Series, and the annual CEO Pinnacle™ Awards. Chief Executives Council publishes the annual CEO Sentiment™ Study that quantifies a CEO Financial Performance Index™ (FPI), and the CEO Spending/Budget Index™ (SBI); along with the annual CEO Talent Study, and the upcoming CEO 2030: Predictions Panel. For more information, visit View original content: SOURCE Chief Executives Council
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Ratepayers On Hook As Ashburton Annual Plan Agreed
Ashburton District ratepayers will receive an average rate rise of 7.3% on July 1. The 2025/26 Annual Plan was adopted by the Ashburton District Council on Wednesday [MAY 21] with a lower rate increase than the 10.1% signalled in the long-term plan. Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown was happy with where the council had landed after a thorough process. 'We cut some things out. We've changed a few things around, but it's still above inflation." He said the external pressure on the budgets came from increases in insurance and electricity costs. Councillor Tony Todd said the increase was lower than projected, 'but still probably higher than most people would like'. 'We have been through the budget line by line, and I think we have come up with a reasonable result'. The 7.3% average rate increase will vary for individual properties across the district, depending on their location, capital value and services they receive. Councillor Richard Wilson pointed out the rural rates were 'going up substantially'. 'Rural people can have the comfort that we are investing heavily in roading. 'There will be some push back on the rate increase but they are getting something for it, its not just being lost in the greater council budget.' The council plans to spend $70.2m on operations, delivering and running services and $36.3m of capital expenditure, with the projected debt at the end of 2025/26 of $166m. Chief executive Hamish Riach reminded councillors that in adopting the annual plan, 'all the work in it is approved'. 'We don't intend to come back to you and seek further approval on projects.' The main changes from year two of the long-term plan include the removal of the planned upgrade to Robilliard Park (saving $251,500), a 5% increase to the drinking water rate (from $706.10 in 2024/25 to $741.50 in 2025/26), and using the Reserve Contributions Reserve to fund open spaces projects rather than loan funding. The transport budget was adjusted to match the reduced NZ Transport Waka Kotahi funding, with the council retaining its $2.2m in the unsubsidised work budget. In total, there is $18.7m to maintain and upgrade the roading and footpath network. Separate from that is the council's $4.9m contribution to the initial second bridge costs, with the full cost unknown until the tender process is completed later this year. The plan includes $7.55 million for water main renewals, $3.6m for sewer main renewals and relinings. In advance of green waste to be added to kerbside collection in 2026/27, the council plans to build a $564,000 consolidation bunker to temporarily store the collected waste before processing. There is $1.2m in community grants, with $428,000 in contestable grants and $783,000 in non-contestable grants given directly to agencies like the Ashburton Trust Events Centre and Safer Mid Canterbury. The plan includes $856,000 to develop a gravel car park on the former Polytech site, which includes the demolition of the buildings. A reconfiguration of the Ashburton Domain playground will begin, with $338,000 of the work budgeted. A business case will be developed for a district learning hub with a budget of $50,000. Council fees and charges increase by 2.5%, except for food licence fees, which increase by 12% and animal control fees by 7%. Refuse and recycling fees, where the material is destined for Kate Valley, have been increased by 9.25% to align with the cost to the council. Mayor Brown's abandoned road cone fee - $10 per cone, with the 'details to come later'- has also been added.
Agriland
24-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
CAFRE to discuss sustainable use of nutrients in on-farm events
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will host two on-farm events on Monday (April 28) to discuss the sustainable use of nutrients to enhance grass growth potential. CAFRE beef and sheep advisors will be in attendance to provide practical advice on the key steps to managing nutrients on farm. Attendees can expect to learn how to use soil analysis reports to determine crop requirements and the value of organic manures, which can help reduce fertiliser bills. These informative and practical events – which are open to all farmers – will be hosted in two locations in Northern Ireland to allow as many farmers as possible to attend. According to CAFRE, host farmers will provide an overview of their farm business and the steps taken to ensure the best use of nutrients produced on farm. Adjusting fertiliser applications to soil test results and crop nutrient demands ensures that nutrients are applied at the right time and in the right amounts – reducing nutrient loss to water, greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting soil health. These practices also help build consumer trust in environmentally-conscious food production, experts stated. Nutrients In addition to environmental benefits, an effective and sustainable use of nutrients helps farmers achieve a balance between high productivity and economic efficiency, offering better returns on costly inputs. Former UFU president, David Brown, and his son Neil Brown, of 68 Drumhack Road, Macken, BT92 3DT will welcome farmers from Co. Fermanagh and the surrounding areas on Monday, April 28 at 7.30p.m. Brown and his son Neil run a spring and autumn calving herd that uses proven Simmental and Limousin genetics through the exclusive use of artificial intelligence (AI). Grassland management, making high quality silage and using the nutrients produced on farm effectively, were noted as a priority within their system. Another event will be held simultaneously on the same evening on the farm of Conor McAlinden, which is located at 11 Castlewellan Rd, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5LY. CAFRE advised that booking for either event is not required.
