An upgrade of Balclutha's hospital is due to begin in the next few weeks pending final approval from the Clutha District Council.
Solid Energy's pilot briquetting plant south of Mataura is well on track to be completed by the middle of the year.
Riders in the Catlins Great Escape bike journey during the Owaka to Purakaunui Falls leg of the two-day event. Photo by Helena de Reus.
More than 80 cyclists escaped to the Catlins over the weekend to take part in a two-day biking event through some of the area's best scenery.
The event covered 160kmfrom the Nugget Point lighthouse to the Waipapa Point lighthouse.
Somewhere in the Catlins near the township of Papatowai, lives a man in his 90s, still living off the land. Balclutha reporter Helena deReus presents a glimpse into the life of a colourful farming character.
A draft strategy to manage flood risk in the South Otago township of Milton has been released, with an aim of reducing risk while encouraging the area's growth.
Bullying and teasing from workmates led to a drunk 17-year-old shearer taking off in a van, from a party, and crashing off a bridge, Otago-Southland coroner David Crerar found yesterday.
Clutha residents face an overall rates rise of around 4.21%, according to the draft long-term plan released by the Clutha District Council for public consultation.
West Otago and Lawrence Tuapeka community board members spoke out in defence of their boards yesterday, with some suggesting residents in the two communities should decide their fate, not the council or the wider district.
Milton's historic woollen mill will be running again in the next two weeks but is taking its first orders from today as a new company, the Bruce Woollen Mill.
Milton's struggling woollen mill has been bought by a group of New Zealand businesses, but questions remain as to how many former staff will be re-employed and when exactly it will reopen.
Residential development in recent years is behind a proposal to expand the Gore urban rating boundary.
A Kaitangata woman is pleading for the return of her dead son's bravery medal after it was stolen from her house this month.
Drainage and the height of roads were two of the main issues raised at a meeting last night held to discuss managing Milton's flood risk.
A Milton businessman awarded more than $1 million in compensation and costs when a buyer reneged on a Wanaka property purchase says he is glad he took a breach-of-contract case to court, even though he is not sure he will ever see any of the judgement money.
A public meeting will be held tomorrow to try to get Milton residents involved in a community process aimed at better managing the area's flood risk.
Fish and Game Otago will continue to try to get the Otago Regional Council to discuss issues around 1080 poisoning and gamebird "by-kill" after a request to have ground bait screened was turned down.
Creating art from recycled materials will be explored at a workshop in Kaitangata on Saturday.
Proposed changes to the Clutha district's wards will be discussed by its two community boards at their meetings in Tapanui and Lawrence today.
Two truck drivers escaped serious injury when their trucks crashed just north of Milton yesterday afternoon. Constable Robin Hutton, of Milton, said emergency services were called to the collision on State Highway 1 just north of Milton about 4.30pm.
Flying is in the blood for model aeroplane champion Michaela Groenewegen (13).
