Central Otago District Council (CODC) will hold its next full meeting in Roxburgh on Wednesday (July 30) - the first time in years such a gathering has taken place in the Teviot Valley town.

According to mayor Tamah Alley, it was “the first time in a long time” a district mayor and councillors had made the journey for a full meeting and there were some “big topics” to discuss.

“We’ve got some people coming for the public forum, and we’ve got some big topics on the agenda, including a temporary potential solution for Ranfurly and Patearoa’s water woes, an update on the Cromwell Memorial Hall build and how that’s coming along, and also a talk about the welcoming communities work,” the mayor said in her weekly round up of council work.

Teviot Valley ward councillor Sally Feinerman welcomed the move, confirming it was the first time in her term on council the full council was coming to her patch.

For her, it was “really important” the council made the effort to connect in-person with all corners of the district, despite advances in technology that allowed for remote connectivity.

She’d heard from several residents who planned to attend because the meeting was close to home - people who might not otherwise travel to Alexandra for a council meeting.

“I think it’s great that we’re trying to get around our different wards and give people the chance to sit in on our meetings,” she said.

“Even if they don’t want to speak (in the public forum), just actually getting the chance to sit in on a meeting and grasp how it is run - I think that’s really valuable for the community.”

Sally said the move to hold meetings around the district had been driven by councillors and made a priority by the mayor since she took office.

The full council met in Cromwell in December and in Ranfurly in March.

This week’s meeting begins at 10.30am on Wednesday, July 30, at the Roxburgh Service Centre.

It will also be livestreamed, with a link available on the council’s website.

Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]