March 11, 2026
Hundreds have tuned in to the Methven Community Board’s first live-streamed meeting on Monday.
The one-shot camera mounted in the corner beamed the meeting live via the council’s social media channels, and by midday, it had been viewed over 1000 times.
Chairperson Megan Fitzgerald was impressed by the early numbers.
Fitzgerald said it showed "there is strong interest from the community to match the board's desire for stronger transparency".
The one-year livestream trial, at a cost of $1000, is aimed at increasing community engagement with the board and the work they do, she said.
At the meeting, the board documented a proposal with a recommendation to investigate accessibility parking in Methven, identifying three potential locations.
Fitzgerald said the board presented suggestions for accessible parking solutions for the Ashburton District Council to consider for the long-term plan, to fit in with the three-year funding cycle for roading.
“One of the solutions is literally just some paint on the ground.
“Another is a more major redevelopment of an area in the mall.
“We just want to table it so we can get into the LTP [long-term plan] funding cycle.”
The council also discussed investigating options for improving the surface of the paved footpaths in the town centre.
Mayor Liz McMillan said it has been requested quite a few times over the years.
Consultation on the Methven Strategic Community Plan last year again raised the issues of the paving stones being slippery and dangerous.
Board deputy chair Richie Owen said previous efforts to clean the pavers had worked temporarily.
“Only for a certain amount of time before the grime builds up and it's lethal again.”
Options are being considered and priced, with the report alluding to the fact that, due to the quantity of pavers across the footpaths in the town centre, it could be an expensive exercise.
There was also a brief update on the Methven CBD lighting project, which EA Networks plans to complete remedial works before winter.
A more in-depth discussion on the project occurred during the public-excluded part of the meeting.
It was also noted that the first funding grant round had no applications.
Applications for round two close on May 4.
The community board’s next meeting is on April 20.
By Jonathan Leask
Hundreds have tuned in to the Methven Community Board’s first live-streamed meeting on Monday.
The one-shot camera mounted in the corner beamed the meeting live via the council’s social media channels, and by midday, it had been viewed over 1000 times.
Chairperson Megan Fitzgerald was impressed by the early numbers.
Fitzgerald said it showed "there is strong interest from the community to match the board's desire for stronger transparency".
The one-year livestream trial, at a cost of $1000, is aimed at increasing community engagement with the board and the work they do, she said.
At the meeting, the board documented a proposal with a recommendation to investigate accessibility parking in Methven, identifying three potential locations.
Fitzgerald said the board presented suggestions for accessible parking solutions for the Ashburton District Council to consider for the long-term plan, to fit in with the three-year funding cycle for roading.
“One of the solutions is literally just some paint on the ground.
“Another is a more major redevelopment of an area in the mall.
“We just want to table it so we can get into the LTP [long-term plan] funding cycle.”
The council also discussed investigating options for improving the surface of the paved footpaths in the town centre.
Mayor Liz McMillan said it has been requested quite a few times over the years.
Consultation on the Methven Strategic Community Plan last year again raised the issues of the paving stones being slippery and dangerous.
Board deputy chair Richie Owen said previous efforts to clean the pavers had worked temporarily.
“Only for a certain amount of time before the grime builds up and it's lethal again.”
Options are being considered and priced, with the report alluding to the fact that, due to the quantity of pavers across the footpaths in the town centre, it could be an expensive exercise.
There was also a brief update on the Methven CBD lighting project, which EA Networks plans to complete remedial works before winter.
A more in-depth discussion on the project occurred during the public-excluded part of the meeting.
It was also noted that the first funding grant round had no applications.
Applications for round two close on May 4.
The community board’s next meeting is on April 20.
By Jonathan Leask
