Stories by Jonathan Leask

A large Canterbury solar farm is gearing up to increase the power output in the district, but it's also creating a massive jump in green waste.

Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury president said the government's changes around the Resource Management Act will be well received by local farmers.

Mid Canterbury biodiversity and pest management projects received a combined $50,000 boost, which will help a riverside restoration project reach the finish line.

"There's nothing for our kids and teenagers in this town."

Organisational failure saw Environment Canterbury fail to reprimand the chairperson - that's what the council are saying.

Ashburton's new library and civic centre cost $62.1 million to build.

A hut holder says Ashburton's council made the right decision not to apply for resource consent to divert water from Balmacaan Stream to the troubled Lake Camp.

Customers required emergency hospital treatment after suffering severe allergic reactions in two separate incidents at Ashburton cafes.

Helmets remain "strongly recommended" at the Staveley Ice and Curling Rink as it waits to consider the outcomes of investigations into a tragic accident.

Ashburton councillors will meet on Tuesday to decide if action is to be taken.

A group is calling for six district councils to amalgamate and end their involvement in Environment Canterbury.

Cars could once again be able to drive up to a popular Canterbury picnic spot and lookout - at least for now.

Lake Camp has been a summer recreational mecca for over half a century - but families fear it will be too dry to use this summer.

Recent polling shows abuse aimed at councils is on the rise. LDR looks into the behaviour that is increasingly becoming a threat to democracy.

People in Ashburton are cranking up their wood burners in the face of the cold winter weather and the town has already breached the high-pollution threshold twice.

Farmer Ray Logan has had enough of what he describes as the "over-the-top" use of road cones.

The household was accused of putting out multiple yellow and red bins to dump 480kg of rubbish and becoming abusive when approached about it.

An investigation will look at how Ashburton district's local economy could benefit from a bite-size portion of the Te Araroa trail.

The statue is in need of work, but with the project unbudgeted the council has yet to work out where the cash to fund it will come from.

An investigation continues into Environment Canterbury's chairperson, five weeks on from him standing down from the role.

The Transport Minister is not ruling out introducing a toll on a second Ashburton bridge - either on the new bridge or existing State Highway 1 crossing - to help pay for its construction.

A new freight hub is being described as a "game changer" for Mid Canterbury, which will help shift trucks off the busy highway and keep Ashburton moving.

Ashburton's Chinese market garden settlement will be officially opened on Sunday and will be open to the public from Monday.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown remains confident that the town's second bridge won't fall into what could be a $24 billion fiscal hole.

Local residents say there was no consultation and are campaigning to bring back the campground, or remove the bollards.