Seven nominations have been received for two people to represent the Waitaki district at the Aspiring Leaders Forum at Parliament in Wellington from July 26 to 29.
Nominations were called by Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton for people aged between 18 and 30 who exhibited leadership potential to represent the district at the forum.
It would provide an opportunity for them and others throughout New Zealand to debate ideas and philosophies of leadership, while encouraging them as future leaders, Mr Familton said.
He was pleased with the number and "very high quality" of nominations.
A panel will select the two representatives early next month, and their attendance will be funded by the Community Trust of Otago and the council.
Foreshore work: Remedial work on land contaminated by a former timber treatment plant on the Oamaru foreshore will go ahead, with the council approving expenditure of up to $145,000 for the project.
How much will be paid by ratepayers will depend on what funding is available from the Otago Regional Council and the Ministry for the Environment.
The area, between the Oamaru Creek and the railway pedestrian bridge, covers about 3600sq m and was the site of the former Placemakers timber treatment plant. Investigation, involving soil sampling and analysis, found areas of arsenic contamination above acceptable limits (80mg per kg of soil).
The options include removing the contaminated soil and replacing it, which would cost from $145,000 to $445,000.
The $145,000 solution was accepted, but the cost could be reduced to $80,000 if sand from Oamaru Harbour was used. That would involve spreading material to a depth of 400mm over the area.
