Rosie Manins

A free community barbecue is now complete and in use at Cromwell's Alpha St reserve, following a voluntary effort instigated by the Cromwell Lions Club.

Cromwell's motocross track has been open to riders without consent since its inception in 2000, and managers are applying for retrospective consent to continue its operation.

About 50 people of all ages were involved in the inaugural 2009 Thyme Festival's Cardboard Boat Race, which was entered by 13 teams in Alexandra.

The establishment of a proposed $20 million motorsport park at Cromwell is on track and directors hope to implement its development in stages.

Those visiting a viewing area above the Roaring Meg hydro station in the Kawarau Gorge are now able to take in the scenery more safely, after a $56,000 development of the area has been completed.

It was a quick change of scene from the golf course to the speedway track for Tiger Woods' caddy Steve Williams, as he competed in the first round of a six-stage saloon racing event in Cromwell last night.

Alexandra's annual Thyme Festival began with a teddy bears' picnic in the town yesterday, followed by an official launch and art exhibition opening at the Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery.

Following in the footsteps of her father "Gelignite Jeff" Connelly, Anne Smythe and her husband Justin run the Cromwell Scrap Metal Recyclers and Second Hand Dealers yard on Cemetery Rd.

The Environment Court's decision to decline Meridian Energy's controversial Project Hayes wind farm on the Lammermoor Range could spell the end of large-scale electricity generation development in Central Otago

"It was an inappropriate scheme in an inappropriate place and I always felt that the bench would recognise that."

Meridian Energy is disappointed consents for its proposed $2 billion Project Hayes wind farm have been declined by the Environment Court, but has not yet decided whether to appeal to the High Court, a spokesman says.

After a year-long dry spell, Ida Valley residents will be able to refresh themselves at the Poolburn Hotel again.

Most security safes are highly sought-after, but the Alexandra police are trying to find the rightful owner of one which appears to have been abandoned near the town.

Central Otago is down but not out due to the recession, and is well placed to rise above most parts of New Zealand in terms of economic recovery, Mayor says.

L and M Mining Ltd is due to start extracting gold from Earnscleugh this week, following delays with its equipment.