Almost $100,000 of grants distributed
Almost $100,000 of grants distributed
A Twizel group, two volunteer fire brigades and two schools are the biggest winners in the latest round of grants from the Meridian Energy Ltd Waitaki community fund.
David Bruce
Final stage for subdivision
Final stage for subdivision
A lakeside residential subdivision on the shore of Lake Aviemore that has been 16 years in the making is entering its final stage after a resource consent hearing before a Waitaki District Council hearings panel yesterday.
Pillar in place for Oamaru war monument
Pillar in place for Oamaru war monument
The Boer War monument is taking shape again in Oamaru on its new site at the Thames-Severn-Coquet Sts intersection.
Cat alerts owner to fire
Cat alerts owner to fire
A cat meowing to get out of the house woke an Oamaru woman to discover a fire which caused major damage to a rental property she was living in, in Tees St, Oamaru, early on Saturday.
Sea of Galilee coming to Otago
Sea of Galilee coming to Otago
A sea of Galilee fishing village and harbour is coming to the shores of Lake Benmore courtesy of a feature film about the life of Christ.
Rotting seaweed runs red
Rotting seaweed runs red
Oamaru Creek is still stained a brick red and the Otago Regional Council suspects it is being caused by rotting seaweed washed into the lagoon during recent heavy seas.
Councils share waste concerns
Councils share waste concerns
The Waitaki District Council and its ratepayers are going through the same difficulties over dealing with waste and recycling as other districts in New Zealand.
Farmers 'vulnerable, threatened'
Farmers 'vulnerable, threatened'
Farmers "feel very threatened and vulnerable" over the future reliability of their water supply from the lower Waitaki River for irrigation, Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company chairman Chris Dennison said yesterday.
Early childhood centre in jeopardy
Early childhood centre in jeopardy
Waitaki Valley parents fear its only pre-school centre may have to close at the end of this term because it is losing its only qualified teacher.
Plan to construct irrigation dam
Plan to construct irrigation dam
Two of New Zealand's leading deer farms in the Hakataramea Valley want to increase the area they irrigate by building a dam up to 28m high to form a lake 2.2km long.
Waihao farmers put case for water
Waihao farmers put case for water
A proposal for a 6800ha irrigation scheme for up to 51 farms in the drought-prone Waihao Downs area of the Waimate district was outlined yesterday to an Environment Canterbury hearing in Oamaru.
Hospital prepared for strike action
Hospital prepared for strike action
It is hoped Oamaru Hospital will not be too badly affected by two 24-hour strikes planned by support staff - one on Friday and the second on Monday.
Waitaki River subject of intensive didymo project
Waitaki River subject of intensive didymo project
An international team will undertake a research project on the Waitaki River which may identify ways to control didymo in rivers.
Proposed water takes would irrigate 1000ha
Proposed water takes would irrigate 1000ha
Harvesting water during high flows is being proposed by three farmers in the Hakataramea Valley to overcome a shortage of water.
More irrigation may mean nitrate, nitrogen rise
More irrigation may mean nitrate, nitrogen rise
More irrigation on the Waitaki Plains may increase nitrate and nitrogen levels in water, but management plans individual farmers had agreed to implement would reduce the effects, an Environment Canterbury hearings panel in Oamaru was told yesterday.
Hakataramea farmer says irrigation will secure future of valley
Hakataramea farmer says irrigation will secure future of valley
More irrigation is needed in the Hakataramea Valley to secure its future, improve its environment and help prevent big dust storms removing soil, Hakataramea Valley farmer Bob Sutton said yesterday.
Irrigators' claims outlined at hearing
Irrigators' claims outlined at hearing
The case for irrigating more than 5000ha in the Waitaki and Hakataramea Valleys was put yesterday to an Environment Canterbury hearings panel sitting in Oamaru.
Irrigation guarantee hopes of Waitaki farmers
Irrigation guarantee hopes of Waitaki farmers
Farmers using water from the lower Waitaki River hope to reach a deal with Meridian Energy Ltd to ensure their irrigation supply remains 100% reliable.
56 applicants begin process to fight for allocations
56 applicants begin process to fight for allocations
A three-member hearings panel yesterday started considering 56 applications to use water in the Waitaki River below the Waitaki dam - for some applicants the first chance to put their case since they were filed up to 10 years ago.
Celebrations extra special
Celebrations extra special
Noeline Cleverley had at least four joyous reasons for attending the Oamaru Baptist Church's 125th anniversary celebrations at the weekend.