Ashburton District Council plans to appeal the regional council’s representation review over a minor matter, despite being pleased with the final outcome.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said appealing Environment Canterbury’s representation review is about “keeping us in the loop”.

“If someone else appeals and we don’t like it, we have a right to be part of the appeal.”

Environment Canterbury’s recent review decision was open to appeals or objections until Monday.

Ashburton’s council protested an initial ECan proposal to merge its district with the South Canterbury councils, leaving Selwyn District as a stand-alone constituency.

After facing pressure, ECan dropped that plan and ended up only making some minor boundary adjustments to the Christchurch City constituencies in its representation review.

The Ashburton District Council preferred a status quo outcome having submitted against being moved into the South Canterbury constituency.

The appeal is only to clarify its support for the use of the Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi name for the continuation of the Ashburton and Selwyn districts as a constituency in the final proposal.

The council had opposed the use of the name in its submission for a proposed constituency comprising only of the Selwyn District.

The appeal is supportive of the final proposal, which includes a suggestion a comprehensive representation review be carried out before the 2028 local body elections.

The final proposal will be reviewed by the Local Government Commission which will consider all resolutions, submissions, appeals, and objections to determine whether to uphold ECan’s decision.

It may also hold a hearing for those who have appealed or objected.

Policy advisor Lou Dunstan said by appealing, the council is still included in that process.

By Jonathan Leask