Men will get a chance to improve their culinary skills when Central Otago Reap (CO Reap) launches another round of Bloke's Cooking next month.Bloke's Cooking is a free course, being offered in Alexandra and Cromwell, designed to give men the confidence to cook quick, nutritious meals from scratch.The course is designed for men who live alone, including those who want some guidance, or widowers who had previously been treated to meals with all the trimmings by their late wife.CO Reap educator Shona Bain said the course was first offered in the district last year, which was so popular that it made sense to bring it back for round two.She said it was designed to be hassle free, while giving men a chance to improve their basic cooking skills to ensure they were eating good nutritious food.Shona said it was also about teaching them how they can still eat well on a budget.“There’s quite a few of those [that have] suddenly got to work under a budget and food’s really expensive. Some of them are first time flatters, some have lost their wife, some just want to learn how to cook.”The workshops will be hosted by Marcanui, who will bring a wide range of skills to the kitchen.“He’s a great cook and relates really well to people, and he’s got a whole plethora of cooking that he’s going to introduce the men to,” Shona said.But, it won’t be a high paced pressure cooker, with fancy expectations.“It’s budget cooking,” Shona said.“It’s good, solid, basic nutritional meals.”The workshops are limited to 12 participants.“Our kitchen capacity is about 10, but because of the popularity of the course we squeezed a couple more in.”Shona said there had already been some interest so encouraged people to register soon to avoid missing out.The Cromwell course will take place over four weeks on a Friday from May 3 at the Cromwell Reap room, 19 Molyneux Ave, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.The Alexandra course will take place over four weeks on a Monday from May 6 at the netball pavilion at Molyneux Park, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.To register visit Adult and Community Education Categories - COREAP

Alexandra Airport’s $930,000 runway reseal has been delayed until next Spring-Summer after contractors told the Central Otago District Council it was at risk of cracking once resurfaced.A status report to council in March said Fulton Hogan had advised that there was now an issue with the existing base of the runway, and more investigation was needed into costs and requirements.The 1200m long by 30m wide chip sealed runway was first sealed around the mid to late 1980s and has not been resurfaced since.Users had expressed safety concerns about the deteriorating condition of the runway, and possible damage to their aircraft.Initial costs of $486,000 had been budgeted for the reseal in the 2022-23 Annual Plan, but due to Covid-19 and rising construction costs, the runway reseal then almost doubled in price. The extra funding for the shortfall came from council’s Alexandra Airport Masterplan, which had $900,000 earmarked for a new hangar precinct.In 2017, to meet the demand for hangar sites, the power supply capacity to the airport was upgraded, power and water reticulation installed to all sites and 700 metres of sealed taxiways constructed. In 2018 another five sites were developed with power and water connections and an additional 300 metres of sealed taxiways constructed.The hangar precinct proposal included establishment of water, power and wastewater services for the sites, a new gravel accessway from Letts Gully Rd, fencing and sealed taxiways.A new report to council will be presented in coming months, which will provide a financial update on the project in the Long Term Plan (2024-34).

Central Otago was in a unique position to now have two local representatives on the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) executive from one council.Councillor Tamah Alley was recently appointed chair of Zone 6 - incorporating all of the councils from Waitaki south - including the Otago Regional Council, and replacing Bryan Cadogan.The Clutha District Mayor has announced this would be his last term, which brought about a vacant role for the rest of the term on the LGNZ executive committee. His brother Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan is also on the Zone 6 committee and the representative for the national council of LGNZ.“Central Otago is punching well above its weight in terms of representation on a national scale,” Tamah said.A former police officer, Tamah said she brings perseverance, patience and persuasion to her new role, and was not afraid to have serious conversations, “or hold the line to a point that needs to be made.”“It’s much easier to get things done in this world if you’re a collaborator rather than a bulldozer.”Her proven capabilities in high stress situations and managing big egos has already come in handy in the world of local politics, and in her new role as Zone 6 chair she’ll be mixing with many different personalities - from Invercargill City Mayor Nobby Clark through to new Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers.Her role will also involve supporting other elected members to work together, combining everyone’s strengths and knowledge, as well as further across the Zone 6 boundary - sharing information with representatives from numerous councils.“I think it’s really important that we build a community whereby lots of people want to stand to help democracy survive in our communities. And, that’s only going to work if we support people once they get there . . . so they don’t feel isolated and in the deep end."To hear more about the work Tamah is doing, listen to this week's The Outlet podcast.

A Central Otago orchard’s cherry rescue project is moving ahead in leaps and bounds.Cherry Corp started its cherry rescue project back in 2019, starting with its cherry cola in conjunction with the Citizen Collective - a pioneer upcycling food company in New Zealand.Now several years later the orchard has 76 food and beverage ‘brands’ in the pipeline, using waste cherries from its Cromwell orchard.General manager Reece van der Velden said Burger Fuel was stocking its charcoal-activated cherry cola, along with many supermarkets throughout the country.There’s also lemonade in the mix, but due to commercial sensitivity, the rest of the products are still a bit of a secret.Cherry Corp currently uses between 200 and 300 tonne of cherries each season for its products, and aims to be completely waste-free by 2030.“We want to get that number up to 4000,” he said.  “We want to rescue all the cherries in New Zealand.”Eden Orchards, which recently opened its new juice factory in Alexandra, is also on a similar path, using waste cherries from many Central Otago orchards.Reece said he was interested to hear from other cherry orchards that wanted to get rid of their waste fruit - to save them having to pay to go to landfill.

Dogs roaming a Ranfurly paddock where they allegedly mauled two sheep have been brought to the attention of Maniototo Community Board members.The issue was raised at the community board meeting last week, where members discussed their concerns, particularly around whether the two dogs - a mother and her pup - were being restrained correctly following the incident.The incident was reported to Central Otago District Council (CODC) team leader enforcement and animal control Ryan Parker, who has confirmed the sheep were euthanized due to their injuries.CODC assigns a service request for Animal Control to investigate such reports. In this instance, Animal Control was advised directly by the police, Ryan said.He confirmed the adult dog has been classified as menacing and was now required to wear a muzzle when it is off its property, or in a public place.Both dogs are of mixed breed, with the adult registered as a Catahoula Leopard cross.One community board member said the dogs have continued to roam since the incident.Maniototo Community Board chair Rob Hazlett was concerned if the owner did not follow the rules, the next victim could be a child.“If it’s the wrong time of the day, it gets hold of a kid, what’s going to happen?”Deputy chair Mark Harris agreed, noting the dogs in question were known to advance on people and bark.He said it would only take a young child to be approached by one of the dogs, which could terrify a young person, causing them to squeal, turn and run.“[Then] she’s all on.”Ryan urges anyone who notices a dog behaving aggressively to contact CODC and try to obtain photographic evidence of any offence if it was safe to do so.

Heavy rain is on its way for Central Otago tomorrow, bringing some light relief to parched soils.Although there are no watches or warnings in place for the district, heavy rain was expected on Thursday, MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said.He said the last time Alexandra recorded anything more than about 5mm in one day was on March 4, which saw 14.2mm.Over all of March, Alexandra got 30.4mm, which was under its average of 37.4mm, but notably, both January and February got less than half the average rainfall for the month.He said while more was in store over the next couple of days, it was the West Coast that was on high alert.“Most of the rainfall will be happening on the other side of the ranges to you,” Alwyn said.An orange warning is in place for the Westland District, south of Hokitika, where 600mm to 800mm of rain is expected to accumulate about the ranges, and 200 to 300 about the coast.There will be peak rates of 25 to 35 mm/h about the ranges until Wednesday evening, then again from mid-Thursday morning onwards.MetService has graded it a significant heavy rain event, with the potential to be upgraded to a red warning.To keep an eye on Central's forecast, click on The Central App's Weather button.

A 50-year-old Cromwell man was arrested by police on Jolly’s Rd last Sunday, and a search of his vehicle found numerous illegal items.Senior Constable Graham Perkins said police seized a loaded rifle, ammunition, meth utensils, knives, cannabis, scales, and multiple cellphones.He was taken into custody and appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Monday, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of utensils, and possession and supply of cannabis. The man came to police attention after a breach of his probation.Meanwhile, in the Teviot Valley, a 48-year-old man was brought to the attention of authorities by a friend after becoming concerned about his wellbeing.The man had intended to travel from Lawrence to Roxburgh, but was stopped by police at Raes Junction using road spikes, and was found in an agitated state.Alexandra Police were called to several reports of disorder in Alexandra on Saturday night, involving three teenagers.Snr Const Perkins said the disorder was focused around Clutha St and members of the public were also reporting suspicious behaviour on Facebook, regarding people coming onto their property between 9pm and 10pm.A young man (19) was assaulted by the three offenders who were 15 and 16, and one, who is known to police, has been dealt with through a youth plan.Snr Const Perkins said there were also reports of family members of the assaulted man, driving around the town looking for the offenders with a possible weapon.Cromwell Police were called for backup, but the people were not located. Snr Cons Perkins said police took a hard line on those attempting vigilante behaviour.An American tourist reported a vehicle passing him in the Cromwell Gorge last Thursday, while the driver aimed a pistol at him.The driver was located and a search found a range of bats, knives, sticks and an imitation gun in his vehicle. Snr Cons Perkins said it was possibly a road rage incident.

Seventeen volunteer firefighters and support crew trudged 17km along the Lake Dunstan trail on Sunday, wearing full protective gear and carrying an oxygen tank weighing 25kg between them as a relay.Training for the annual Sky Tower challenge in mid-May, it started out with a small group from the Clyde brigade planning the inaugural event to act as a practice run, and then word got around to local brigades Alexandra and Cromwell, who joined in as well. Tim Paulin, Clyde station officer and the organiser of the event, said this year was kept small to make sure it was manageable, "but next year we’ll plan a much bigger and more ‘official’ event.”Some of the fire fighters started from the Hugo Bridge, with others joining along the track via the support boats from the Coast Guard and Scott Nevill. While the weather was mild, they were definitely sweating under all that heavy gear, fellow team-mate Tom Heath said.“It was tough at times, but a great team building event. We were all fully dressed in our protective gear and took turns carrying the oxygen tank for about 1km each and passing it on to the next member ensuring everyone got at least one turn carrying the ‘can’.”Volunteer firefighters making their way to Clyde on the Lake Dunstan Trail on Sunday.The trail was quiet at this time of year and the Coastguard acted as support crew, even running food supplied by local landscaping business Weka Landscaping at one point, along the trail. Tom said there were certainly some interesting looks from other track users, probably wondering where such a big group of firefighters were going on foot, but by stopping and explaining why they were there, the group managed to raise $200 in donations just on the track. The brigade thanks the support crew who made the day such a success including:The Clyde Coast Guard and Scott Nevill of Quality Irrigation Services for support boatsJJ Tractors Limited for supplying T shirts Weka Landscaping for suppling the food and drinkTony Haig who biked and supported the brigade while on trackContact Energy for allowing access over the damThe Brigade would also like to thank everyone who attended the recent Clyde Wine and Food Festival and donated during the event. They managed to raise over $1800 with proceeds going towards Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ. You can still support and donate to the Clyde Volunteer Fire Brigade team via its Sky Tower Challenge website. The team is training hard and looking forward to the Sky Tower challenge in Auckland on May 17.PHOTOS: Supplied

Central Otago skies have been treated to a spectacle of Hercules proportions this week.A C-130H (NZ) Hercules, flown by Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 40 Squadron, has been flying above the district over recent days, adding some rare activity to what is, usually, a relatively quiet airspace.The aircraft, which weighs more than 34,000kg, has been taking part in Exercise Skytrain, which provides scenario-based consolidation training for C-130H aircrews in low-level tactical flying, aerial delivery of equipment and threat avoidance.Defence Public Affairs senior communications adviser Dave Williams said Exercise Skytrain was supported by numerous RNZAF and New Zealand Army logistics regiment units.The Hercules has been taking part in a range of sorties over parts of Central this week. PHOTO: Defence ForceHe said it provided an opportunity for the units to build experience working in an unsupported location.Crews flew multiple sorties (missions) each day, which were put together based on a detailed intelligence picture with each flight providing support units to the battlefield, interlaced with threats from fictional opposing force.“Exercise Skytrain ensures that C-130H crews are trained to meet readiness requirements for tactical operations in war-like conditions, as well as maintaining delivery options in unfamiliar environments, which may be encountered during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.”Dave said Exercise Skytrain encompassed much of Central Otago, through to the Mackenzie Country, Hokitika, Timaru and Invercargill.In Central, air drop sorties were focused on three drop zones in the Ida Valley and Maniototo, near Ranfurly.“Central Otago offers a unique terrain and environment, which is different to operating areas close to our home base in Whenuapai in Auckland. This presents new challenges to crews in both their flight planning and sortie execution.”Air-land sorties, where the aircraft lands, loads and unloads personnel or equipment with engines running, flew into Wānaka, Alexandra, Omarama, Timaru and Invercargill.Training is scheduled to finish tomorrow.

Members of the Clyde public were alarmed to hear explosions in the town on Sunday evening, which came following a discovery of explosive power gel on the Clutha Riverbank.Alexandra Police confirmed the find yesterday morning, the second of its kind in recent weeks.After further investigations following the initial find in Miners Lane several weeks ago, it was understood to be linked to the construction of the Clyde Dam 30-plus years ago.Senior Constable Graham Perkins said members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Christchurch were called again to Clyde yesterday, to safely detonate the material.Police have been wanting to keep the exercise low profile, and even jet boaters involved in a river sprint on Sunday had to be warned to keep clear of the site.Because the Clutha River had lowered, the explosive material had been washed up into a crater made by the last sticks of power gel found there by a member of the public out walking their dog.Snr Const Perkins said police had been questioned about the cost of the exercise, but confirmed it was all covered by the New Zealand Defence Force.“The only cost to us is manpower and there were only two officers there,” he said.It was expected there would be more explosives found in coming weeks, and advice to the public was obviously not to touch it, and report it immediately.

A roller skate disco had people of all ages putting their skills to the test at Molyneux Park on Friday night.Whangarei-based Skatescool NZ has travelled south for three months as part of a summer nationwide tour, which also included events in Bluff, Cromwell, along with Wanaka this coming weekend.Skate instructor Brigitte Legendre is a former French professional skater and settled in New Zealand 15 years ago with her Kiwi partner, where she now shares her passion with others.The school is well known throughout the North Island, but this was her first tour of the south, travelling on the road in her van with her cat.Amelia Bell and Lily Player, both 11, in matching costumes. PHOTO: The Central AppAll ready for the roller disco on Friday night was Dayton Sutherland, 9, of Alexandra. PHOTO: The Central AppWatch some of the action. VIDEO: The Central AppShe started her first skate school in Whangaparāoa 12 years ago, and last week made it to Bluff, where 50 per cent of the skaters at the disco were adults.Surprisingly many of the smaller New Zealand towns had the best turnouts, and this was true for Alexandra on Friday night - Molyneux Stadium was packed out.Brigitte said on her Facebook page if she’d known how popular it was going to be in Alexandra, she would’ve added a second night.

There’s no ice yet in Central Otago, but Alexandra Flames junior players have already started training for the season.A youth development coaching clinic with the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF) was hosted in Dunedin last weekend for players from age seven through to 18, who were invited to take part from all over the country.Featuring coaches from USA Hockey, this was the third time NZIHF was able to fund the American coaches to come out to New Zealand to help up-and-coming players, coaching co-ordinator AJ Spiller said.Alexandra Ice Skating Club’s kiwiskate coach Rebecca Cowley also attended with her three children who play ice hockey, and her skills as a former figure skating competitor have proved valuable at helping the younger players with power and refining their edges.Last season she swapped her skates after a young player challenged her to do the same tricks with ice hockey skates on.“I can bring the skills from figure skating into ice hockey and teach them how to increase their power, agility and balance, while I learn the game play and the drills from our visiting American coaches.”In season, she spends an extra four hours a week in Alexandra teaching ice hockey players how to have speed, and control on the ice, and other clubs have now come calling.Rebecca’s been asked to help at future youth development camps in Tekapo and Queenstown for some private power and edge classes in coming months, as her skills have started to become recognised.The best ice hockey players have also been taught how to use their edges properly, and those who completed kiwiskate programmes were at a distinct advantage, she said.Rebecca, who is also a keen snowboarder, skier and snowblader, said there was simply not enough winter for her to be involved in everything she loves - as well as being a mother, berry grower and bakery owner with her husband Joel.“If I had to choose one thing and do it all the time, being on the ice with children would be it.”But, don’t make her choose between teaching figure skating (kiwiskate) and ice hockey. That would be like favouring one child over another.“It fills me with joy being on the ice,” she said.Last season she taught 3000 kids how to skate through the Central Otago primary schools programme, and now adding ice hockey onto that, her winter’s looking pretty full.Alexandra’s IceInline plans to open its rink with the new roof for an extended two-week season from May 10.

Potholes and corrugations on some of Maniototo’s roads can make for a rough ride and it is unlikely to improve any time soon.The issue was raised at the Maniototo Community Board meeting on Thursday after chair Rob Hazlett met with some of the area’s school bus drivers.They had raised their concerns about the number of potholes and level of corrugations, with one explaining how bad Danseys Pass Rd was. “He said the grader had been around in the morning, so the issue is, at the moment, the roads are very dry and very hard,” Rob said.He said those conditions meant there was “just about no point” grading them.“We’re actually creating more potholes and more corrugation as the grader is going up the road.”Councillor Stu Duncan said he had noticed similar scenarios where recently graded roads had quickly returned to their previous state.Rob made it clear that it was not the grader driver’s fault.“They are just doing what they are told.”Community board members also discussed the need for shoulder repairs along many of the district’s roads.They agreed that to fix one shoulder was feasible, but to fix a lot would blow the budget.

Central Otago police will have several new changes over the coming months, as some officers move onto different positions.New Sergeant Darren Kidd has relocated from Cromwell Police to Alexandra, closer to his home in Clyde.Sgt Kidd comes from Invercargill where he spent 11 years on the front line, before moving to Central Otago with his young family five years ago.He said working in a metropolitan area was vastly different to rural policing, but at the end of the day, everyone wanted the same outcome.“Policing is a thinking person’s game. Your thought processes have to be sound because your decisions affect others.”Working in a Central Otago town also meant you were often policing 24/7, being so easily identifiable in a small community.Stepping into a new sergeant’s position meant he was now in a supervisory role at Alexandra Police, under Senior Sergeant Clint Wright.“The team here are all pretty experienced and know how to make good decisions,” he said.When he’s not working, Sgt Kidd said he enjoys tinkering with old motorbikes and cars, as well as playing basketball and cricket.Three new Alexandra police officers will also start in coming weeks to fill the positions left by the other officers.

Roxburgh residents will soon be responsible for mowing the grass verge outside their properties.Up until now, it was the responsibility of the Central Otago District Council (CODC) after the Teviot Valley Community board, some years ago, resolved it should mow all the grass verges within the township of Roxburgh.That came at a cost of about $20,000 to the wider Teviot Valley ratepayer. It is the only township within Central and one of very few throughout New Zealand that receives the service from council, other than verges that are adjacent to council owned land.The issue was raised at yesterday’s Teviot Valley Community Board meeting, suggesting that money could be spent elsewhere, to improve outcomes within the open spaces contract, or as a rates saving.At least two members supported the move.However, not everyone agreed with the proposal, with community board member Gill Booth suggesting the community should decide, while fellow member Russell Read wanted the service to resume.“I think people should be given the option of whether they want to have their verges mowed or not, and possible solutions,” Gill said.“It’s their decision, not ours.”Mayor Tim Cadogan said board members were elected to make some of those decisions for the community.“This is 20-odd thousand dollars - you can’t consult [on] everything.”Community board member Norman Dalley reminded the group that the service was only of benefit to the residents of Roxburgh, not everyone who lives in the valley.CODC group manager - community vision Dylan Rushbrook said it could be put in a consultation document as part of the annual plan, which would give people a chance to have their say.However, chief executive officer Peter Kelly interjected to remind everyone that the annual plan was specifically for “big costs” right across council.“If we were to put in every cost that associates around $20,000 it would be the size of a Britannica Encyclopedia, and we don’t want that. I think there’s a sensible way forward.”Norman said if it becomes an issue for the community, they have the opportunity to raise it, even if it wasn’t necessarily listed.The board moved to stop funding to mow verges in Roxburgh and to redistribute the budget across other cost centres within the open spaces contract area.It also moved that the council develops a grass verge policy for the district.

Central communities wanting education around how to keep themselves safe from wildfire are encouraged to reach out to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz).Fenz has welcomed the move following a community meeting in Naseby last weekend, designed to educate residents on how to keep themselves and their properties safe from wildfire.The meeting was attended by about 100 people, who flocked to the Naseby Town Hall to hear from Fenz representatives, including advisor risk reduction - Otago District Mark Mawhinney, who features in this week's The Outlet podcast.During the meeting, Mark talked about the importance of defensible space, a term used to describe the careful selection, location and maintenance of vegetation and other combustible materials on the property.Following the meeting, Mark welcomed other communities who wanted to host something similar on the subject of wildfire, to reach out, particularly those that were at a heightened risk.“It’s raising awareness for people to be a bit more fire aware.”The Naseby community was one of about 15 that Fenz has worked with across the wider Otago area, including Mt Iron and Queensbury in Wānaka and the Queenstown red zone, which covers Glenorchy to Arthurs Point.He said each of those areas were identified as being at risk of wildfire, but the work done in each of those communities varied.“It’s entirely reliant on communities self-driving.” Fenz also encourages people to check their smoke alarms while changing their clocks this weekend, which marks the end of daylight saving.Daylight saving ends at 2am on Sunday, April 7, when clocks go back one hour.To hear more about the work Fenz does around wildfire education listen to this week’s The Outlet podcast.Read more: Naseby community answers the call

Rural Support Trust is on a mission to get people off their farms for some time out in Central Otago.The trust has teamed up with rural mental health advocates Matt Chisholm, Jack Cocks, Tyler Langford and Lana Van Lierop, to bring its popular Time Out Tour to Omakau on Tuesday, April 9.Each speaker will talk about their own experiences and challenges.Jack is an Otago high country sheep and beef farmer and a Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme alumni, who will talk about how resilient farmers thrive in the face of adversity.Tyler and her husband Wayne Langford established YOLO Farmer, following Wayne’s experience with depression.Their aim was to have lived by the end of every day, adopting a philosophy they could never have envisioned.Lana, an occupational therapist, has spent the past five years providing mental health support and coaching.She is passionate about seeing people thrive and teaching practical tools to manage stress and support wellbeing.Matt, a TV presenter turned local sheep and beef farmer, is also an ambassador for the Rural Support Trust.Guest speakers will include (clockwise, from left) Jack Cocks, Lana Van Lierop, Matt Chisholm and Tyler Langford. PHOTO: SuppliedHe has also had his own mental health struggles and now shares with others how he managed and found a way through.Otago Rural Support Trust trustee Amy Francis encourages people from outlying areas to attend the tour, where they can listen to the panel of speakers and take time out.It will also be an evening filled with important and entertaining conversations, providing people with tools to help them improve and maintain their mental health.She said the aim is to get people away from the farm to give them an opportunity to talk to their neighbours and colleagues.“Knowing we are all going through the same things at the moment, experiencing the dry and wishing it would rain more. It’s just that opportunity to have that break off-farm and have that human connection and talk to other people,” she said. “I think it’s too easy to stay on-farm, we’re entrenched in it . . . it’s easy to not go out and not have a connection with the outside world sometimes.”The event will take place at the Matakanui Rugby Clubrooms in Omakau on Tuesday, April 9, at 6pm.“It would be wonderful if we could fill the rugby clubrooms and get everyone off-farm for a night,” Amy said.To learn more and to register visit the Rural Support Trust.

Heavy traffic in and around Central Otago over Easter kept police busy, but it wasn’t just people speeding that were causing the problems.Senior Constable Graham Perkins said there were a lot of frustrated drivers stuck behind campervans and motorists towing caravans, who were holding up traffic.It was understood that over 1000 campervan owners stayed in Wānaka over the long weekend, and those travelling between 60km/hr and 80 km/hr caused problems.Police received many phone complaints from irate motorists, and drivers affecting the natural flow of traffic could also be ticketed for inconsiderate driving.“It’s all about maintaining that flow and that’s when people take chances on our roads. It can be just as bad as speeding.”Ranfurly police issued 15 tickets for speeding on State Highway 85 - including one driver who lost his license immediately, after travelling at 142km/hr.In Alexandra, three youth were charged with excess breath alcohol after random vehicle checks - one had a level of 470mcg and the other 600mcg. The 18 and 19-year-olds were both on a zero license and will appear in court this week.On Sunday evening, Land Search and Rescue was deployed after four individuals in a four-wheel drive vehicle got stuck in snow near Shingle Creek. Snr Const Perkins said by the time the rescue group converged in Alexandra to make a plan, the group in need of help managed to get themselves back to safety.An Alexandra man in his 30s has been charged with assault and lighting a fire in a prohibited season, after letting off fireworks at 6am on Saturday morning.Snr Constable Perkins said when the neighbour went over to ask the guy why he was causing such a disturbance at that hour of the morning, an argument ensued before he was assaulted.An Alexandra youth has been given trespass notices after the theft of a bicycle from Dunstan High School, which was recovered in the New World carpark.The youth was caught on CCTV and also damaged shrubs in the supermarket carpark, along with flooding the area by leaving a tap running.The BBQ picnic table stolen from outside the Alexandra Night n’ Day was returned when the offenders were identified on camera after it was shared on Facebook.And, in Cromwell on April 1, a group of people started a fire in Goldfields Primary School amongst the trees overnight, and had used the area to congregate and drink beer.The remains of the fire and empty bottles were found by a person out walking a dog the next morning.

Significant work will need to be done on Molyneux Stadium to extend the life of the building beyond the next 30 years.The Vincent Community Board agreed yesterday to spend $20,000 on a quantity surveyor’s estimate for compliance and maintenance, to bring the facility up to a fit-for-purpose standard.Central Otago District Council property officer Tara Bates told the board once the report was complete, they would have the full picture of costs associated with retaining and refurbishing the stadium.Built in the 1970s by Breen Construction, the stadium needs significant earthquake strengthening, and $1.38 million has been budgeted in year three of the Long Term Plan (LTP) for this.Many sports and community groups use the facility, but its current condition was less than the required 34 per cent New Building Standard (NBS), according to a seismic assessment carried out in 2020.An asbestos assessment has also been done, which identified that the toxic material was present in the building’s interior and exterior cladding, as well as other areas within the building. The report said that the cost of removal and replacement was expected to be significant, and the assessment identified the stadium as having a building life of 25-30 years if ongoing maintenance work continued. A further report will come back to the board for consideration on how to proceed once the cost estimate has been received.Another report commissioned by Sport Central recently found the stadium was no longer fit-for-purpose as it wasn’t meeting the need of all users, and a Molyneux Stadium feasibility study would look into options to address those issues.Fifteen years ago, a new proposed sports hub to replace Molyneux Stadium was put to ratepayers at a cost of $13 million, but it failed to gain support.