High flow damage considered
High flow damage considered
Ratepayers and groups associated with the lower Waitaki River will next week learn the extent and cost of damage caused by last month's flood flows.
David Bruce
Waitaki hearing to begin on Monday
Waitaki hearing to begin on Monday
Three commissioners will sit with Judge Jon Jackson from Monday, to hear an Environment Court appeal against the Meridian Energy Ltd proposed north bank tunnel concept power scheme on the lower Waitaki River.
Irrigators require Meridian approval
Irrigators require Meridian approval
Farmers wanting water for irrigation in the upper Waitaki catchment, upstream from the Waitaki dam, will need approval from Meridian Energy.
Mediation fails, appeal to proceed
Mediation fails, appeal to proceed
The Lower Waitaki River Management Society yesterday confirmed it would go ahead with its Environment Court appeal against Meridian's $900 million North Bank tunnel concept power scheme after mediation last week failed.
Dates set for irrigation hearing
Dates set for irrigation hearing
More than 120 applications for water which could irrigate large tracts of the upper Waitaki Valley and Mackenzie Basin will transform what is arid tussock land into swathes of green pasture.
Sharing slice of saw hobby
Sharing slice of saw hobby
Noel Frew gets a buzz out of chainsaws - and Australian Fords and old tractors.
Public meeting on water race
Public meeting on water race
A Waitaki District Council proposal to sell the Otekaieke water race for a dollar to a private company will be discussed at a meeting next week aimed at alleviating concerns in the community.
Floods cost dear for road repairs
Floods cost dear for road repairs
Neil Jorgensen
Two floods so far this year have cost the Waitaki District Council $220,000 in road repairs.
However, the bill to ratepayers will be only $95,000, as a subsidy from the New Zealand Transport Agency is funding the rest.
Hopes latest redundancies at mill last
Hopes latest redundancies at mill last
Mill workers at Summit Wool Spinners hope the latest round of voluntary redundancies will be the last.
Oamaru penguin causes controversy
Oamaru penguin causes controversy
Oamaru's penguin may be nesting only temporarily at the blue penguin colony.
$5.5m deal for Oamaru company
$5.5m deal for Oamaru company
Oamaru company Whitestone Contracting Ltd has won back the contract to maintain Waimate roads.
Groyne extension exacerbates flooding
Groyne extension exacerbates flooding
A groyne built on the Waitaki River has been blamed for flooding in the Waitaki Bridge Park last month.
Meridian Energy keeping eye on the weather
Meridian Energy keeping eye on the weather
A close watch is being kept on possible heavy rain in the Waitaki catchment later today as the level of the lower Waitaki River returns to normal after flood flows since the middle of last month.
Water allocation may be too low to meet farmers' needs
Water allocation may be too low to meet farmers' needs
Some farmers could miss out on water for irrigation from the lower Waitaki River because not enough has been allotted in the Waitaki catchment water allocation regional plan.
Plan to privatise water race divides community
Plan to privatise water race divides community
The tight-knit Otekaieke community is divided and in a state of turmoil and over a proposal to sell a Waitaki District Council-owned water race to a private company, a group of race ratepayers says.
ECan water applications to be heard in Christchurch
ECan water applications to be heard in Christchurch
Christchurch, not Twizel, will now be the venue for the bulk of hearings into 126 applications to take water from the upper Waitaki catchment, most for irrigation.
'Alps to Ocean' cycleway proposed
'Alps to Ocean' cycleway proposed
An "Alps to Ocean" cycleway is being investigated by the Waitaki and Mackenzie districts as part of the national "Great Rides" project being promoted by the Government.
Street-map plan
Street-map plan
Waitaki Valley townships are being put on the map to make them more accessible for visitors.
Erosion work priority at dump
Erosion work priority at dump
The Waitaki District Council intends to stop erosion of the closed Hampden dump as soon as it receives resource consent from the Otago Regional Council.
Bumpy road may soon be smoother
Bumpy road may soon be smoother
The roller-coaster main road through Moeraki could be a lot smoother by the end of this year.