A $2 million community trust is proposed as part of Oceana Gold's plans to extend the life of its opencast and underground mines at Macraes Flat by about another 10 years.
Just how Oceana Gold will react when one of its mine safety "trigger levels" is exceeded in its proposed new pits needs to be detailed, hearing panel member Cr Duncan Butcher said.
A proposal to charge international anglers more to fish in some of the world's best recreational fisheries does not go far enough, Otago Fish and Game councillor Ray Grubb says.
Incredibly beautiful singing that could have been "performed on any stage, in any country", is how adjudicator Stuart Skelton described the achievement of the winner of the Otago Daily Times Aria competition, Dunedin student Maia Vegar.
Graeme Harford has spent nearly 20 years volunteering each summer as a warden at Aspiring and Siberia huts in Mount Aspiring National Park. Despite being in his 70s and having given more than 3000 volunteer hours he has no plans to stop, he tells Rebecca Fox.
More water will be able to be taken from North Otago's volcanic aquifer as a result of a recently adopted plan-change proposal.
An albatross chick had to be plucked from Otago Harbour and driven by car back to Taiaroa Head in the lap of a passenger after a loss of wind caused it to "crash-land" into the sea.
While readily admitting it was "crunch time" for overcrowding at the Otago Regional Council's headquarters, councillors yesterday delayed a decision about it for another six weeks.
The peal of church bells was heard around the city at 1pm yesterday to herald the return of the first albatross to Taiaroa Head, after confusion over funding the event was resolved.
Otago regional councillors signed the council's 2010-11 annual report with little debate yesterday.
Rob, the royal albatross, is making a habit of being the first bird to return to the Taiaroa Head colony for the summer breeding season, but its arrival will not be heralded by the ringing of church bells.
A removable council chamber or a new multistoreyed attachment are among options costing between $400,000 and $1.2 million being considered to ease space constraints in the Otago Regional Council's Dunedin headquarters.
A severe weather warning for Otago and Southland was issued yesterday as snowfalls of 10cm-15cm were forecast.
A multimillion-dollar tax refund and a special dividend from Port Otago has translated into a $4.3 million surplus rather than an expected $13.2 million deficit for the Otago Regional Council.
Rugby fans keen to see a bit more of Dunedin than Otago Stadium are being encouraged to take tours rather than go exploring by themselves.
Otago's jewelled geckos have faced some tough challenges in recent years but Setpoint Solutions Ltd has helped fund research and literally lent a helping hand. Rebecca Fox talks to the Coastal Otago Conservation Award finalist about what a corporate sponsor gets out of conservation.
In just four months' time, Otago residents in towns with the worst air pollution will no longer be able to burn coal, and if they do they put themselves at risk of being dobbed in by neighbours.
Despite last month's snow and frosty conditions, Otago's weather made the record books for low rainfall and high sunshine hours.
The Otago Regional Council has responded to a record number of incidents, mostly from the public reporting concerns about harm to their environment.
The Constable triplets are growing up.
