Centre spending approved
Centre spending approved
The Waimate District Council retrospectively approved $77,123 spending on its new event centre last week.
Hamish MacLean
Foreshore protection work timed to fit in with colony
Foreshore protection work timed to fit in with colony
Oamaru's little blue penguins will be protected by sand sausages after all.
Health heads talk about deficit
Health heads talk about deficit
While Dunedin and the Queenstown Lakes district take centre stage in the Southern District Health Board’s (SDHB) well-publicised capital works programme, the ongoing negotiations between the board...
Possible new park for market
Possible new park for market
The redevelopment of the Oamaru Farmers' Market site in the town's harbour area is one of 18 new projects under discussion in this year's annual plan process for the Waitaki district.
'Rates smoothing' could be adopted by WDC
'Rates smoothing' could be adopted by WDC
For the first time, the Waitaki District Council will propose ''rates smoothing'' in its draft annual plan to lessen rates rises in the district over the next two years.
Claim Food Act could sink cafes
Claim Food Act could sink cafes
The owner of an Oamaru Harbour cafe says increased regulatory fees for eateries could make the cost of doing business unaffordable for many in town.
Taking back the street
Taking back the street
Herbert Martin (obscured, left), Leigh Martin, Lydia Martin (19 months) and Marise Martin pull up a table and celebrate the closure of Harbour St with about 40 Victorians in the Precinct, Artisans & Eccentrics in Oamaru on Saturday.
Bren carrier fired up at mill’s 150th
Bren carrier fired up at mill’s 150th
When Tony Clark was "knee-high" he remembers sitting beside his father, Warwick Clark, in a Bren gun carrier, shunting wagons packed with 72kg sacks of flour away from Clarks Mill down to the railway line.
Firefighters nip rural blaze in the bud
Firefighters nip rural blaze in the bud
Otematata Station owner Hugh Cameron knows yesterday’s 25ha fire in one of his paddocks could have been a lot worse.
Penguin work extends to beach
Penguin colony’s work extends to Bushy Beach
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony has begun predator trapping and advocating for the yellow-eyed penguins at Bushy Beach Scenic Reserve, at the southern end of Cape Wanbrow in Oamaru.
CEO to go ahead of schedule
CEO to go ahead of schedule
The early exit of Waitaki District Council chief executive Michael Ross will not complicate plans to find his replacement, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says. A council press release ...
Event to celebrate no-car zone
Pop-up lunch to celebrate car-free street
Oamaru’s historic Harbour St is going car-free for the next 11 weekends and a pop-up lunch will celebrate.
Call centre for former RSA?
Call centre for former RSA?
The Waitaki District Council yesterday approved a start to negotiations with a possible tenant for the vacant former North Otago Returned and Services Association (RSA) building in Itchen St, Oamaru.
$250k council move to boost rest-home beds
$250k council move to boost rest-home beds
Stage 2 of the Observatory Retirement Village will get a $250,000 boost from the Waitaki District Council to counter increased pressure on the number of community care beds in Oamaru.
Harbour St closure ‘knee-jerk’: retailer
Harbour St closure ‘knee-jerk’, retailer says
Although he has "reluctantly" agreed to a trial weekend closure of Harbour St, Oasis Oamaru owner Greg Waite calls the proposed trial "meaningless" and a "stupid, stupid plan".
$4 million plan for RSA building
$4 million plan for RSA building
The former North Otago Returned and Services Association (RSA) building in Itchen St, Oamaru, could receive a $4million upgrade and expansion to suit the needs of an unnamed commercial tenant.
Helping people most in need
Helping people most in need
Michael Ardley and his wife Maureen have sold Oamaru’s Whitestone Funeral Services Ltd to Dunedin-based Hope & Sons Ltd. North Otago reporter Hamish MacLean catches up with Mr Ardley.
Funeral service ‘natural extension’
Funeral service ‘natural extension’
One of the South Island’s largest funeral businesses has invested in Oamaru — Dunedin-based Hope & Sons Ltd will take over Oamaru funeral directors Whitestone Funeral Services Ltd on February 1.
Downer’s performance better: WDC
Downer’s performance better: WDC
Efforts to improve the performance of the Waitaki District Council’s new parks maintenance contractor are ongoing, the council’s recreation manager says.
Suspicions over motive for tyre-slashing
Suspicions over motive for tyre-slashing
The Omarama farmer whose pivot irrigators' tyres were slashed at the weekend says he remains hopeful the culprit will be caught.