Extra roading projects have been identified by the Waitaki District Council on which to spend about half a million dollars it saved on its annual roading maintenance contract.
The council signed a new three-year $9.3 million maintenance contract with SouthRoads from July 1, saving it about $250,000 this financial year.
Oamaru has scored a major coup, with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa agreeing to sing in the town's Opera House next year.
Some Kakanui residents feel a proposal to connect their town to Oamaru water and sewerage schemes is being pushed through.
Coal to Newcastle or ice to Eskimos - there is the inevitable cliche for Oamaru whisky to Scotland.
Emergency services had a sticky situation to deal with yesterday after a truck crash spread molasses along State Highway 1 at Otaio, between Waimate and Timaru.
False alarms by Shag Point sirens are worrying Waitaki emergency services who fear people may ignore a genuine emergency.
Despite the absence of David Fagan, of Te Kuiti, and other top shearers, who were competing in the North Island, the open machine event at the Waimate Spring Shears on Saturday was an exciting affair.
A reduction in the value of water, wastewater and stormwater assets owned by the Waitaki District Council is actually good news for ratepayers.
A time-lapse photograph taken from the Mt John University Observatory above Lake Tekapo shows the spectacular circular orbit of stars making up the southern sky. Many people believe they rise in the east and travel to the west.
About 350 people were at a memorial service in the Papakaio Community Centre yesterday for Victor Boraman (21), who has been missing since last Sunday after being swept into the sea at the Rakaia River mouth.
Health services in the Waitaki district, including at Oamaru Hospital, have operated at a surplus for the past financial year, turning around a deficit in 2010-11.
The go-ahead has been given for the construction of the $3.5 million first stage of the North Oamaru Business Park on the northern boundary of Oamaru.
A $7.2 million expansion of the North Otago Irrigation Company's scheme has started, providing water to another 800ha on the North Otago downlands.
Upper Waitaki power canals, renowned for their big trout and escaped salmon, are also the worst water for anglers breaking the law in the Central South Island Fish and Game Council region.
Between 20 and 30 aircraft will make a Dawn Raid on Oamaru Airport tomorrow, part of a traditional fixture held each year between the North Otago, Waimate, South and Mid Canterbury Aero Clubs.
The level of North Otago's streams and rivers continued falling yesterday in what residents hope will be a long-term trend after three weeks of periods of heavy rain.
Charges to dispose of rubbish at the Waitaki Resource Recovery Park in Oamaru will rise on September 1 because of increased costs and a cut in funding from the Waitaki District Council.
"Water, water everywhere" is how Waitaki emergency services manager Chris Raine has described the latest result of more heavy rain in North Otago over the past 24 hours.
A voluntary group that has made a major contribution to settling migrants into North Otago last night received a New Zealand Diversity Award, one of 12 presented at the New Zealand Diversity Forum in Auckland.
A spate of burglaries in Twizel is worrying the town's police, who fear there may be more yet to be reported.
