'We don’t want it to stop': jobs initiative proving a hit
The Waitaki District Council’s Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs has exceeded expectations.
WDC
Downer keeps parks contract
Downer keeps parks contract
Downer has retained the Waitaki District Council parks maintenance contract it won four years ago, but faces pressure to perform after falling short of expectations at times during its first tenure.
Technicalities delay report
Technicalities delay report
Waitaki District Health Services is yet to file its annual report for the 2018-19 financial year with the Waitaki District Council, after the Office of the Auditor-general became involved in the...
$45,000 to be spent on improving Severn St stone walls
$45,000 to be spent on improving Severn St stone walls
The Waitaki District Council will spend $45,000 on improving the stability of the Oamaru stone retaining walls in Severn St.
Financial results above expectations
Financial results above expectations
The Waitaki District Council is in a strong financial position, recording a healthy before-tax surplus more than $1.5 million better than predicted in July and a major improvement on a budgeted loss.
Councillor resigns due to health problems
Councillor resigns due to health problems
A life-threatening brain haemorrhage in early January has forced Waitaki District councillor Sharyn Price to step down, after trying to fill the role since March as she recovers.
Stockpiles of legal highs still concern
Stockpiles of legal highs still concern
Psychoactive substances are still a focus of Waitaki community groups, as anecdotal feedback suggests users have stockpiled the products ahead of new laws banning them in New Zealand.
Courthouse future under discussion
Courthouse future under discussion
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and community groups hope to meet Ngai Tahu representatives to discuss the Oamaru District Courthouse.
New bond sought to retain film set
New bond sought to retain film set
A new bond is being negotiated to keep a film set at the Falstone reserve on the shore of Lake Benmore, originally built in 2008 for a proposed film about the life of Jesus Christ.
Upgrades, new cell tower for district
Upgrades, new cell tower for district
The Waitaki District will get a new cellphone tower and upgrades to three sites in the next year, to improve mobile coverage and enable many rural residents to access wireless broadband.
Customers focus of new strategy
Customers focus of new strategy
A new strategy being implemented by the Waitaki District Council is aimed at keeping up with the increasing expectations of customers seeking information and services.
Submission noticed in North
Submission noticed in North
A joint stand by 13 South Island local authorities opposing aspects of earthquake-prone buildings legislation being introduced by the Government is making waves in the North Island, including at Cabinet level.
Gifts policy on table
Gifts policy on table
For the first time, a gifts policy will dictate how Waitaki's mayor and councillors should receive or make gifts.
Welfare centres set up as travellers stranded
Welfare centres set up as travellers stranded
Welfare centres were set up last night in four North Otago towns along State Highway 1 to provide accommodation and food for motorists trapped by floodwaters.
Irrigation repayments $2.4 million
Irrigation repayments $2.4 million
The North Otago Irrigation Company has paid back more of the $10 million loan from the Waitaki District Council and is planning major expansion of the scheme to fund the rest.
The expansion will be the biggest since the scheme was built and opened in October, 2006, at a cost of about $65 million.
Council moves on legal-highs policy
Council moves on legal-highs policy
Psychoactive substances are not wanted in Oamaru or the wider Waitaki district, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said this week.
Sole engineer has powerful job
Sole engineer has powerful job
While most people take the chance to get away from it all by taking a camping trip over the new year, a Hakataramea engineer will have the sole responsibility for keeping three of New Zealand's largest hydro-electric power stations ticking over.
Resource recovery trust attempting to recoup loss
Resource recovery trust attempting to recoup loss
Initiatives are being undertaken by the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust to recoup a small loss in the first three months of this financial year, caused by lower returns on recycled materials.
Name could revert to Macraes
Name could revert to Macraes
The township of Macraes Flat could undergo another name change, back to what it was in the 1880s - Macraes.
Since then, the township has been officially gazetted at various times as being either Macraes or Macraes Flat, Macraes Flat being the present official name.
Headquarters a quake risk
Headquarters a quake risk
The Waitaki District Council headquarters in Oamaru is one of just two council-owned buildings known to be potentially earthquake-prone, according to the preliminary results of a seismic rating survey.