David Bruce

Kurow's sewage treatment scheme has been issued with a resource consent, despite an Environment Canterbury panel questioning the standard of effluent treatment and disposal.

A $1 billion power scheme on the lower Waitaki River planned by Meridian Energy will again come under the scrutiny of the Environment Court when it sits in Oamaru next month.

Police yesterday appealed for more information on the movements of the hitchhiker who was killed when he was struck by two vehicles at Hampden on Wednesday night.

Most of about 100 submissions want the Oamaru to Waianakarua coast road kept open, even though it could cost ratepayers millions of dollars to address coastal erosion.

Only 10 roads remain closed in the Waitaki district, almost two weeks after torrential rain brought widespread flooding to the region.

The Otematata sewage treatment plant will have to be better managed by the Waitaki District Council under a new resource consent issued by Environment Canterbury, after problems with disposing of effluent.

In an unusual request, a group representing Oamaru businesses has asked the Waitaki District Council not to lower their rates.

No public toilets in Oamaru will be closed by the Waitaki District Council after all.

Twelve resource consent applications to use water from the lower Waitaki River for irrigation have been granted by Environment Canterbury, including three for a new irrigation scheme in the drought-prone Waihao Downs area south of Waimate.

Flooding in North Otago has forced the Waitaki District Council to postpone today's council meeting , which was to make final decisions on the rates for the next financial year, and given more time for ratepayers to pay their rates bills.