Rebecca Fox

Visitors to the Otago Regional Council's Dunedin headquarters are being greeted in a new, secure foyer and reception area.

Solar water heating still has a place in reducing fossil fuel consumption, Solar Association of New Zealand chief executive Adrian Kerr says.

Dunedin salmon anglers are upset someone hand-fished a spawning salmon out of the Water of Leith.

Claims Milton's wastewater treatment plant is the cause of pollution in the Tokomairiro River are disputed by the Otago Regional Council.

For the future safety of Otago communities, the building of homes and businesses in hazard-prone areas needs to be restricted, and in extreme cases banned, by councils, the Otago Regional Council says.

An earthquake could render the pump station and floodbanks which keep water off the West Taieri plain inoperable for a "prolonged period of time" and at risk of flooding from Lake Waipori.

There is no need for a separate South Island Strategic Alliance, Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead says.

Hopes Sirocco, the world-famous kakapo, will again boost visitor numbers and revenue for the Orokonui Ecosanctuary have been dashed.

Oceana Gold may face legal action after backing out of an agreement which protects the region from financial and environmental risk if a disaster hist or the company pulls out of its mining operation at Macraes, the Otago Regional Council says.

Southern right whale researchers are heading to the Auckland Islands today for the final year of a study into the subantarctic population.

South Island councils are to formalise plans to create a strategic alliance to provide a "stronger and more unified voice" on central government initiatives and the opportunity to reduce service costs for ratepayers.

Genetic testing used to boost the endangered kakapo population is now being used to help save rare Otago and grand skinks in the Lindis area.

Emissions from Speight's chimney might be looking darker but the brewery is still within its resource consent limits, a company spokeswoman says.

The Otago Regional Council has invited the Federated Farmers dairy chairman to visit Otago after he criticised the council's approach to water-quality regulations at a national conference last week.

Another councillor may be added to the Otago Regional Council as it considers how to ensure fair representation across the region.