Today is Election Day for the 2023 General Election. Voting places are open from 9.00am to 7.00pm.Preliminary General Election results will be available here progressively from 7:00pm.Alexandra Alexandra Primary School (AWA)Ventry StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmDunstan High School (A)School Gymnasium, Room G212 Enterprise StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmSt Gerard’s Parish Hall (A)2 Station St, Tarbert St entranceSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmClydeClyde Primary School Hall (A)25 Blyth StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmCromwellCromwell Presbyterian Church (A)10 Elspeth StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmEttrickEttrick Community Hall (A)5155 Ettrick-Raes Junction Road (SH 8)Sat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmMillers FlatMillers Flat School Library (A)1655 Teviot RoadSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmRoxburghRoxburgh Area School Library (A)78 Scotland StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmRoxburgh Memorial Hall (AWA)120 Scotland StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmNasebyNaseby Fire Station (A)4 Ness StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmOmakauOmakau Primary School (A)9 Deaker StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmPoolburnPoolburn School (AWA)1017 Ida Valley-Omakau RoadSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmRanfurlyRanfurly Public Hall (A)3 Northland StreetSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmTarrasTarras Primary School (AWA)2812 Tarras-Cromwell RoadSat, Oct 14, 9am - 7pmThe Electoral Commission will publish the official results of the 2023 General Election on Friday 3 November 2023.

The Central Otago District Council (CODC) says it has taken “proactive steps” to ensure water in the district continues to meet the rising standard of water quality in New Zealand.  “As water quality standards increase, we have continued to prioritise investment, including the recently opened Lake Dunstan Water Supply,” CODC chief executive officer Peter Kelly said.    On Thursday, October 5, the CODC received direction from Taumata Arowai regarding compliance deadlines for protozoa barriers to be installed in all water systems. For those water systems that rely on surface water as the source, the installation and operation of a protozoa barrier must be completed by 31 December 2024.  For water systems that use bore water as their source, installation and operation of a protozoa barrier must be in place by 31 December 2025.The CODC said it had a plan in place to deliver compliant water supplies and would accelerate its ability to achieve compliance by the due dates as directed by Taumata Arowai.    “We acknowledge the issues that have been raised by Taumata Arowai and are working towards achieving the best possible water quality for Central Otago residents”, Peter said.  "CODC is committed to delivering safe drinking water that meets New Zealand’s Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules."

The countdown is on to election day - October 14.Early voting has been popular, with queues reported at local voting places and 722,713 people had voted nationwide by the end of October 9. Numbers are well below early voting for the 2020 General Election, but 2020 was an outlier of a year because of Covid and all the allowances that had to be made for that. This year’s early voting numbers are slightly above the 2017 figures.For those who like numbers, Vote NZ shows in Southland, 46,392 voters are registered on the general roll and 1524 on the Māori roll. In Waitaki, 50,856 voters are on the general roll and 1197 on the Maori roll.Waitaki covers Cromwell and Manitoto in Central Otago while Southland covers Teviot Valley, Clyde and Alexandra.Nationally, 3,241,359 people are registered on the general roll and 262,451 on the Māori roll. Of that latter figure, 38,344 voters have a say in the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tonga, which comprises all of the South Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands. It also extends into the North Island to include Wellington and parts of the Hutt Valley as far north as Avalon.For those planning to vote in Alexandra, St Enoch’s Church Lounge is open as an early voting place but will not be in use on Election Day itself.Visit the vote.nz website on where you can vote, or visit our locations section (live tomorrow) Voting

Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust needs to plant 5,500 plants at the Half Mile Recreation Reserve at Alexandra, nursery manager Rachael Baxter says.Five thousand of those would be grasses, but it was still a tall order and an exciting one, Rachael said.Haehaeata and The Central Otago District Council (CODC) had reached a Memorandum of Understanding to plant and redevelop the reserve, the CODC announced yesterday. The council removed wilding pines on about 14ha on the reserve earlier this year, raising temperatures for and against the cull, including last-minute legal manoeuvres.The MOU allows the Clyde-based Haehaeata trust to source, propagate and plant out over a five-year period.“It is exciting,” Rachael said of the partnership. “We are looking forward to it.”Nursery manager Rachael Baxter teaches Clyde School pupils about tree species in May of this year, during a planting session near the Miners Lane playground. The timing was perfect for the trust as it  was running out of planting sites on its flagship revegetation project at Flat Top Hill Conservation Area.The site is a recognised lizard and gecko habitat and the reserve has several historical sites within it that link back to the gold mining days of the area. These would be protected and their history highlighted during the redevelopment.The council would hand over the replanting of the reserve to Haehaeata to enable it to undertake the required work and would continue to work in collaboration in providing infrastructure such as water, signage, pest control, including herbicide and rabbit proof fenced plots, promotional information and other materials as required, such as mulch, stakes, guards, compost and fertiliser.CODC group manager community experience David Scoones said he looked forward to seeing the partnership flourish.“Originally, Council had budgeted (assuming it would have to be a commercial arrangement) for about 4000 plantings in total on this reserve. However, working with Haehaeata, we will be planting this number in the first year and about the same every year after that for five years. “Each year we will review our progress together and depending on how we are tracking, the number of plantings could increase again,” David said.Rachael said the trust hoped to establish a dryland planting.“We think that it is going to be a wonderful opportunity for people to see some of our native drylands species,” she said.Plants would not be a problem, Rachael said, although blackbirds had “really made a mess” of some of the younger seedlings. Community plantings at Flat Top have become a regular event in the lives of many locals and she hoped to see the same when the time was right for planting.“We are hoping to recruit lots of people from the community to help put them in the ground.”Neighbour Ken Churchill was against the wilding pine removal and said the proposed planting by Haehaeata was a great move, but the council had let the community down by not removing slash and wood chip.“The lizard report said clearly that the slash and chip needed to be removed as it provides shelter for predators,” he said.“None of this provides any shelter whatsoever.“They have effectively taken away the use of that place at the moment, because it’s full of slash.”Ken said with the El Nino effect, the reserve and the slash there it would be tinder dry.“Already, in the last big blow we had about a week ago, with the loss of the shelter belt, two big trees have come down in the neighbourhood.”The following planting programme has been agreed, with the CODC assuming maintenance of the reserve plantings three years after any section has been completed.Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust would plant: the first tranche of 500 plants (shrub and tree mix) and 5,000 grasses in Autumn/Winter 2024;a second tranche of 750 plants (shrub and tree mix) in Autumn/Winter 2025;a third tranche of 1,000 plants (shrub and tree mix) in Autumn/Winter 2026;a fourth tranche of 1,000 plants (shrub and tree mix) in Autumn/Winter 2027; and the fifth tranche of 1,000 plants (shrub and tree mix) in Autumn/Winter 2028.

Wedderburn farmer and Central Otago District Maniototo ward councillor Stu Duncan thinks local farmers will cope with El Niño.Stu said there had been a lot of rain from the West Coast and dams were looking good.The Otago Regional council has urged farmers to consider the possible impacts of an El Niño summer on their businesses.NIWA forecasts a 100% chance of El Niño continuing October through December and a more than 95% chance it will persist through summer. ORC manager science Tom Dyer said Otago’s current river flows and soil moisture content were normal, or slightly higher than normal for this time of year. “The 35-day forecast is for slightly drier conditions than normal, although we do not expect significant drought-related issues across much of the region over that timeframe,” he said.However, Tom said farmers should give consideration to preparing for an El Niño summer and the ORC would continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates. ORC acting manager, regulatory Joanna Gilroy said farmers needed to consider making a plan with contingencies, and “act on it earlier rather than later”. “Having a plan now will help to support making decisions later on,” she said. “Plenty of thought should be given to water needs over summer, how water will be managed and what feed requirements there might be,” she said. Farmers should now check their irrigation and stock drinking water systems for any faults, undertake any deferred maintenance and consider ordering spare parts. Joanna said ORC could assist farmers with management of water takes, especially if water takes become restricted in coming months.  Tom said river and rainfall predictions may be close to or above average for Otago, but long periods of wind can dry out soils in a short time. Stu said there was a lot of moisture in the ground and that was a good sign for farmers.While El Niño is locked in, river and rainfall are expected to be average to below average for east Otago and average to above average for inland Otago, the ORC said. On NIWA’s drought index, there are no forecast hotspots over the next 35 days in Otago, however the rainfall predictions show the north-eastern areas of the region could start to dry out. 

The Otago Regional Council is hosting drop-in meetings across the region in the coming weeks to talk about the council’s Land and Water Regional Plan.  ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said the kōrero would be around the proposed direction of the plan, which cares for Otago’s lakes, rivers and streams, and is a guide to activities which impact them.“People are encouraged to come along and talk with councillors and the ORC team and to ask questions and add their voice to the draft plan,” Gretchen said. The venues around Central next week are: Millers FlatMillers Flat Hall, 1665 Teviot RoadWednesday, October 18 11am-2pm or 3pm-6pm CromwellCromwell & Districts Presbyterian Church, 10 Elspeth StreetTuesday, October 1711am-2pm or 3pm-6pm ŌmakauOphir Peace Memorial Hall, 55 Swindon StreetFriday, October 2711am-2pm or 3pm-6pm

The Central Otago District Arts Trust (CODAT) is in good heart, trust chair Jan Bean says, and in the next year will facilitate and encourage projects with an arts cultural and heritage component.Jan and arts coordinator Rebekah de Jong presented a report to the Central Otago District Council (CODC) at its September meeting, at which the trust had requested a district-wide community grant of $50,000. Council staff recommended that 40,000 be granted, based on the previous year’s level, but that was adjusted upward to $44,000 when the council decided to give the full fund available in its first round, rather than using staff time and resources holding a second round with only $23,445 available.Rebekah and Jan sat down with the Central App to talk about the report and what is coming up for the trust. Jan had started her report to the council by stating that a year earlier, “we were coming out of a long period of personal and community disruption and stagnation”. “One year on, I can safely say that the arts community in Central Otago is looking healthy and bright,” she said. Forefront of their mind had been the notion of community, Jan said, and at the end of August, Rebekah and several trustees attended a Collaboration for Stronger Communities workshop.  “This valuable session explored ways in which we can enhance collaboration, enable the collective impact and support diverse communities to work and innovate together,” Jan said. “We like to think that we are already quite good collaborators at CODAT – we work with many different arts and cultural groups from all sub-regions within Central Otago and also with our neighbours in Wanaka and Queenstown; we work with local government and community development officers; we work alongside local cultural and heritage organisations – and in so doing, we build on these connections, we innovate together and together we are stronger.”The CODC grant for operational expenses allowed Rebekah to be employed as coordinator, and without her the trust would not function, Jan said.“We are extremely grateful to CODC for their continued financial support, which allows us to employ Rebekah. However, we are also mindful that her project activities are constrained and that all trustees contribute what they can within the range of voluntary manpower and financial capacity.” During the coming year, the trust will facilitate and encourage projects with an arts cultural and heritage component, one of which was a collaboration between Clyde and Cromwell Museums.In early November, following on from the success of the first event, they will host the second Cover to Cover literary event.A highlight on November 12 will be the unveiling of the Multicultural Mural Project in Cromwell, which was the outcome of a collaboration between a Central Otago-born mural artist, Welcoming Communities, the CODC communication and engagement Officer, and CODAT.That event will be followed by opening celebrations for the Bislana (Nivan) language week.“We have long had a desire to introduce monumental public art into the rugged central Otago landscape,” Jan said.A scoping project for that was on the 2023/24 agenda.“We, in the arts sector, can be change-makers, working at the intersection of public policy and community development. We can help and encourage members of our arts communities to be innovative, adaptable, ethical and willing to learn – and so provide ample opportunities for our collective wellbeing.”The trust had welcomed new artists during the past year, many of whom were new residents to Central Otago.   “We continue to provide governance and support for all these creative people and so ensure that the arts in Central Otago are respected, valued and promoted,” Jan said.“We will keep trying to raise the awareness and importance of all the arts to the overall enhancement of our community and to continue promoting Central Otago as an arts destination.” The trust looked ahead to another year of creative energy, activity and ideas, she said.“Our trust is in very good heart.”

The demolition of the Cromwell Memorial Hall has been pushed back to early 2024 as the Central Otago District Council (CODC) seeks to minimise disruption to neighbouring residents.Council announced on the Cromwell Events Centre project updates page that they were waiting for the tender to be awarded for construction of the new building to allow time for them to fully prepare the site prior to work starting.Tenders close on November 2.The Building Consent application for the construction has been submitted to the council.That began the process to gain approval to construct the facility and ensure it meets all regulations.Jasmax, the architects of the project, was approaching completion of the detailed design phase of the project, following endorsement of the developed design by the Cromwell Community Board at their May meeting.At the same time, work has been continuing with external funders to seek support for the project capital investment.The tender process for the physical works, including demolition and building, commenced on September 18 when the four shortlisted respondents from the initial registration of interest procurement process were invited to a site briefing by the council’s evaluation team.This team comprised representatives of Council’s property team and external consultants covering architectural and engineering disciplines. At the briefing, the respondents were given a more detailed brief of the project, invited to ask questions, given access to the site to get a feel for the surrounding area of the hall, and had the opportunity to better understand what will be required in their tender responses.Whilst on site, it was also a good opportunity for Council to emphasise the need for the contractors to minimise disruption to the neighbouring properties throughout the project. Until the tenders close, the council will be preparing the contract documentation to ensure all legalities are covered and ready for signing by both parties when the winning tender is confirmed. Plans will be made on how the community can say goodbye to the hall before the demolition work starts.

The World’s Edge Festival, which opened today (October 7) in Queenstown, comes to Bannockburn tomorrow evening (October 8), then plays Cromwell on Thursday (October 12) to a sold-out Cloudy Bay Shed.The 2023 At the World’s Edge Festival (AWE) organisers were thrilled to learn earlier in the week that their composer-in-residence, Victoria Kelly, had been awarded one of Aotearoa’s most prestigious music awards, the SOUNZ Contemporary Award/Te Tohu Auaha, celebrating excellence in contemporary composition. Victoria received the award for her highly praised composition, Requiem, which was premiered at the Auckland Arts Festival by the Auckland Philharmonia with tenor Simon O’Neill and soprano Jayne Tankersley.The award came as no surprise to AWE Artistic Director, Benjamin Baker. “Victoria has been a leading light in Aotearoa’s music scene for a long while and we are absolutely thrilled that she has received this thoroughly well deserved award. Her CV reads like a who’s who of the music world - from classical musicians to contemporary artists such as Tami Neilson, Anika Moa and Shapeshifter - and we could not be happier to have her add AWE composer-in-residence to her accomplishments. “We’ll certainly be raising a glass or two in celebration of this fantastic recognition of her endless talents.” Victoria’s homage to New Zealand nostalgia: Goodnight Kiwi for solo piano will be performed tomorrow evening in the intimate surrounds of Bannockburn’s Coronation Hall as part of the festival programme Hommàge.Many New Zealanders will remember the animated kiwi whose arrival onto the screens of Aotearoa signalled the end of television programming for the day. Victoria played this piece to her mother in her final days, the piece becoming as much a tribute to her dying mother as it was to an iconic Kiwi moment. For tickets and more information on the full festival programme go to The Central App What's On guide or head to www.worldsedgefestival.com.

Visionaries who have shepherded Naseby’s application to be Central Otago’s first Dark Sky Precinct have welcomed the public notification by the Central Otago District Council (CODC) of Plan Change 22.The plan change is an amendment to the district plan which supports the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the night sky from the adverse effects of artificial lighting. The provisions would initially apply to the Naseby Township but, over time, the section could be extended to apply to other areas across the district.The project has been driven by community organisation Naseby Vision.John Crawford, who was chairman of the group in 2016 when the project began, said it had been a long gestation period.“It’s been about eight years, we’re heading into nine."We hoped the public would support the application, saying the Naseby community had always supported the project.Project manager Jill Woolf, another Naseby Vision former chair, said it was exciting to have reached this stage and that dark sky designation would not require much change for Naseby residents, but would bring added tourism opportunities.Want to hear the full interview? Go to the front page of The Central App, and click on the bottom (new navigation Podcast bar) “Most people are pretty good with their lighting anyway,” she said. “Nobody has spotlights or upward-facing lighting out here.“I just see it as another opportunity for small tourism-type activities that will bring economic growth to the area.”  Astrophysicist Paul Bishop, who moved to Naseby to set up Night Sky Tours, taking visitors to ideal places to view and photograph the region’s stunning night skies and auroras, also welcomed the next step in the small town gaining Dark Sky Precinct accreditation.“I came here in 2018 and the process had already started,” he said.Paul plots the number of visitors that take his tours and said the daily average was increasing.“I had a family of five two nights ago,” he said, yesterday.“They were down from Christchurch. They were down here some time ago, I think at King’s Birthday weekend and came into the office and bought a photo."On their return trip to Naseby, they wanted to take the tour, he saidThe CODC has notified Plan Change 22, with public submissions closing at 4pm on Friday, November 10. Full details of the proposed plan change can be viewed on the council’s Let’s Talk page and in hard copy at council service centres and libraries.Listen to today's Podcast episode.

Violinist and dancer Cathy Irons says it is accepted within the touring arts community that Alexandra can be a tough place to sell tickets, but the town holds a special place in her heart.Cathy is midway through a “If this is Wednesday, this must be Wyndham” paced tour of the South Island, as part of jazz quartet Douce Ambiance, which will play at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday evening.Museum manager Paula Stephenson said on Wednesday ticket sales were surprisingly low for such high-calibre performers. Paula heard Cathy last year when she toured as part of the Nikau Harp Trio.“She brought tears to my eyes,” Paula said. “It literally sang to my soul.”The museum does not make a profit on the event, she said, but it was important to support tours putting Alexandra on their schedule.“If we don’t support professional outside groups, they just won’t come to Alexandra.”Cathy said the tour is not a commercial venture, with some funding from Creative Communities and hosts providing accommodation along the way, but depends on ticket sales to break even. “I come down every year,” she said. “One of the residents really kindly accommodates us.”That resident is involved with the Central Otago Regional Orchestra, with whom Cathy has played as a soloist before, and will do again this year, and was the one who first suggested Cathy play in Alexandra.That is how the tour dates get decided, Cathy said.“We go to wherever people are keen to host us. Some of the venues have been churches. It’s usually someone in the community that recommends a venue.”The jazz tour, held over nine consecutive nights, will have flowed through Blenheim, Kaikoura, Geraldine, Dunedin, Wyndham, Riverton and Te Anau, before easing into Alexandra on Saturday. The tour ends on Sunday in Queenstown. The remainder of the quartet are Dan Robertson on piano; Dougal Canard on bass; and, possibly the best last name for a jazz percussionist, Doug Brush on drums. However, do not expect the musicians to stick to just one instrument or talent.Asked about ticket sales, Cathy said she hoped they would pick up before the event, and she had always had wonderful audiences in Alexandra, and the Central Stories was an ideal venue.“There is an acknowledgement that Alexandra is quite a tough place to sell tickets, but I keep coming back.“I love touring,” she said. “An intimate atmosphere is nicer than a wide open space.“It’s the communities and people that keep bringing us back.”

Tourism Central Otago’s premium spring event - a celebration of the region’s wine, food, and beverage options - returns to venues across the region for its seventh year later this month.Menu entries have closed for the Eat.Taste.Central food and beverage celebration, which runs from October 20 to November 12 this year, with special dishes submitted across three categories. Participants were asked to use Central Otago produce as “hero” ingredients in their dishes, a challenge they have risen to and surpassed in previous years. Those categories are:Pie-ology – a fulfilling inside story;Sense-ational Burger – burgers that deliver A World of Flavour through multiple senses: taste, sight and smell; and A World of Flavour on a Plate – main meals and shared plates.Joland and Richard Foale of Burger Afloat with their Eat.Taste.Central 2022 burger entry. PC: James Jubb, Tourism Central Otago.Menu entries include Wild Cairnmuir Rabbit Terrine, the Central Otago Scapegrace Whiskey BBQ Bliss Burger, the Cherry Bunny Burger, and Orangapai Pie. The menu will be released in the week of October 16 online only, Tourism Central Otago head of destination Anthony (Antz) Longman said.“We’ve adapted the programme to bring our menu 100% online this year, enabling locals and visitors to read about the dishes, get quick directions to venues, and check opening hours,” he said.  “There are some creative and mouthwatering dishes to be enjoyed around the region whether you want to sit down with friends in a stunning vineyard setting or enjoy a Sens-ational Burger after experiencing some of our amazing local trails.”Many previous participants are embracing the campaign against this year, and a range of special experiences and events would take place throughout. These include the Alexandra Basin New Release Wine Tasting event on October 22.   

The Central Otago District Council (CODC), at its monthly meeting last week, approved unbudgeted expenditure of $30,000 to create a gravel vehicle accessway for hangar sites at Cromwell Aerodrome.In presenting her report to the council, CODC property manager Tara Bates said the cost had not been budgeted for in this financial year, but there was unbudgeted income from hangar site rentals available to fund the $30,000.She said there were 23 hangar sites at the aerodrome, of which 14 had been built, with the remaining nine expected next year. A dirt track being used by both hangar users and construction workers had become inaccessible for vehicles after heavy rainfalls, making it necessary to drive around the front of the hangars, which should be kept clear for taxiing aircraft.Complaints had been received, Tara said.“The cost was going to be put in the long-term plan but, because of the complaints and the deterioration of the track, it is proposed we spend the money now,” Tara said.“Four or five” hangar rentals that were unbudgeted would help fund the $30,000, she said.The request was approved unanimously.

With early voting open in the run-up to the general election on October 14, the Central App is introducing you to those running in Central Otago, whether for the Southland, Waitaki or Te Tai Tonga electorates.We asked each candidate to comment on some issues of concern to Central Otago residents and elsewhere: housing and the cost of renting; the cost of living; the future of tourism; Christchurch International Airports plans to develop an international airport at Tarras; and one other issue they wished to address.Today, we hear from Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidates Rebecca Robin, standing for Te Tai Tonga, and Anntwinette Grimball, standing for Southland.Rebecca says she entered the elections late and wishes she had got more time to korero [have discussions] with people across the Te Tai Tonga electorate, but people she had spoken with in Otago said the price of things going up was definitely an issue.“But, also for them, the issue of cannabis still not being legally available and holding medical users to ransom at such exuberant prices no chronically ill person could afford is still a major issue,” she said.Rebecca said she could not personally comment on the Tarras airport question.Addressing her party’s central issue, she said 1.4 million people voted for the legalisation of cannabis in the 2020 referendum.“They can’t be wrong or ignored [and] keeping it medical locks patients out of accessing their medicine."Anntwinette Grumball (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Southland) Anntwinette Grumball, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate for Southland, said that, as a country, we needed to change the hemp laws from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Primary Industries so people could grow hemp for housing, and to replace such things as plastics, fuel and clothing. “Our government is stifling the hemp industry,” she said. “I am passionate about hemp and cannabis, I have also been through the justice system for growing cannabis.”There was no such thing as medical cannabis, as cannabis was medicine, she said. “As far as housing, etc., goes, we are 20 years behind in getting hemp for roads, housing, and to use with other natural fibres, and other hemp fibre is imported as the only part of the plant used in this country legally was seed. “Instead of moneymen having control, let the people decide. Housing in Queenstown is ridiculous, workers have nowhere to live for work, the hotel industry really needs to take on board renting or housing workers.”If cannabis was legal with restrictions, it would impact on the tourism trade with money able to be put back into health and education,” she said.Anntwinette did not support an airport at Tarras. As her final comment, she said that those on legal medical cannabis should ask themselves why the isolates (cannabidiols) added were not produced in New Zealand.“Keep New Zealand clean and green,” she said.

A modified foyer for Alexandra Community House (ACH) will take the organisation’s reception area back to its core functions, says manager Carole Gillions. Alexandra Community House received a grant of $71,600 at the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) board meeting on September 25, towards the modification of its foyer. The project will benefit more than 180 users and groups that make use of the space by increasing its security, accessibility and usability, CLT said. Carole said some changes were made to the area after the first Covid-19 outbreak so ACH could continue to operate once lockdowns were over and levels shifted. A review in 2020 - 2021 looked at the lessons learned during that time and what was needed in a foyer area, she said.“We especially wanted to look at how we improved our security, but wanted to return some of our core functions of welcoming, and light. We also hope to tell a story about what Community House is, to articulate why we are here and what we do.”Conceptual plans have been drawn up by Breen Construction, who built ACH 10 years ago. Carole said the full cost was estimated to be $180,000 plus GST, and $66,652 had been received as a grant from the Department of Internal Affairs. Results of one more grant application were still to be announced, and it was planned to begin work early next year, she said.Volunteer South also received $39,000 towards a new initiative aimed at supporting capability and capacity in community groups across the region. The working title for this was The Lighthouse Initiative, but that would change, said Volunteer South regional lead Gillian White.Significant operational grants were also approved for KiwiHarvest and Age Concern Otago. Mat Begg, grants manager for the CLT, said it was not often that a project addressed two major issues at once, but that is exactly what KiwiHarvest did. The charitable organisation reduced waste by “rescuing” surplus food, and then channelled it to those in need of food support. Working with a wide network of community organisations, KiwiHarvest provided around 6800 meals per week in the Central Lakes Trust region.“The board was very impressed by how KiwiHarvest combines social wellbeing with positive environmental impact,” Mat said. “Their dedication to supporting families in need while reducing food waste is not only admirable, but also serves as a shining example of how organisations can create meaningful change.”A grant of $111,775 was approved to support KiwiHarvest with operational costs over the coming 18 months.A grant of $100,000 was approved for Age Concern Otago, whose support extends to addressing housing-related issues, legal matters, health promotion seminars, education on safe computer usage, safe driving, and combating loneliness and isolation, particularly affecting the elderly.“As our elderly population continues to grow, the work of Age Concern Otago becomes increasingly important. CLT has a longstanding relationship with Age Concern Otago, and we are proud to continue supporting their efforts through the coming year,” Mat saidProject grants within Central OtagoAlexandra Community House Foyer Modification $71,600SARDA NZ Rescue Equipment $21,000The Lightfoot Initiative Programmes Sep 2023 - Aug 2024 $39,000Operational/Programme Grants Age Concern Otago Operational Grant Dec 2023 - Nov 2024 $100,000Multi-year grants KiwiHarvest Operational Grant Sep 2023 - Mar 2025 $111,775

Early voting in the 2023 general election opened on Monday, with voting places in Central Otago reporting a reasonably busy day, with queues at times. Election Day is October 14, at which many more voting places will be open, but anyone can vote before then if they prefer.The early voting option can be especially useful for those with limited mobility, or who do not wish to wait in line on Election Day. Voting is not compulsory in Aotearoa New Zealand but The Central App encourages all readers to make their voices heard by doing so.The following are the voting places open in Central Otago for early voting, whether in the Southland, Waitaki or Te Tai Tonga electorates. They are labelled A for Accessible - Independent access to and within the building; or AWA for Accessible with assistance - may have steps or steep ramps. We will publish voting places for Election Day, October 14, closer to the time. All information can be found on the Electoral Commission website.Alexandra:St Enoch’s Church Lounge A12 Centennial AvenueMon Oct 2 - Fri Oct 6: 10am - 5pmSat Oct 7: 10am - 4pmSun Oct 8: 1pm - 6pmMon Oct 9 - Wed Oct 11: 10am - 6pmFri Oct 13: 9am - 4pmCromwell:Cromwell Presbyterian Church A10 Elspeth StreetMon Oct 2 - Fri Oct 6: 10am - 5pmSat Oct 7: 10am - 6pmSun Oct 8: 2pm - 6pmMon Oct 8 - Tues 10: 10am - 6pmWed Oct 11 - Thurs 12: 10am - 7pmFri Oct 13: 10am - 5pmSat Oct 14: 9am - 7pmRoxburgh:Roxburgh Memorial Hall AWA120 Scotland StreetSat Oct 7 - Fri Oct 13: 10:30am - 4:30pmSat Oct 14: 9am - 7pm

After a week of wild weather, a convoy of car enthusiasts, and an influx of visitors for the Alexandra Blossom Festival, local police were pleased to have a weekend with very few offences, Acting Sergeant Graham Perkins says.“Blossom Festival for us, police-wise, was a success,” he said.In what has long been a regular part of the festival weekend, a convoy of classic cars made its way from Gore, but the police had no problems with them, Graham said.“Around about 120 vehicles were met at Raes Junction by our traffic unit and shadowed through. When they stopped, we stopped, and we made sure all were roadworthy.”A small number of those stops resulted in cases that have led to teasing of police officers and a few red faces from those involved, in which passengers in left hand drive vehicles were breath-tested by police.None of the local police were involved, Graham said, but the error was understandable all things considered.“We set up in the middle of the road for officer safety and often the focus is on other things than the steering wheel, who else is in the car, what is happening in the back seat.”With more than 300 vehicles stopped for breath-testing on Friday alone, police got into a rhythm and were not necessarily expecting left hand drive cars, he said.They see the humour in the situation themselves, and will learn a lesson from the incidents.Graham suspected that the weather leading up to Saturday had some effect on festival numbers, with not everybody who might have planned to attend doing so. “The earlier rain hit Cromwell quite badly, but we came out of it well”, he said.The speedway event was cancelled but the burnouts went ahead, he said, which inspired many amateur attempts on public roads, as could be seen by rubber left on the road in many places.“There were burnout tyre marks up through Twizel.”High winds last week also damaged political hoardings, but vandalism of them continues, he said.“Once again, leave the signs alone.”The police had only one arrest on Saturday night, for an alcohol-related incident, and although those involved had been at the festival, it was not considered to be related. A further summons was served on Tuesday in regard to the incident. As for staffing matters, Graham said that interviews had been held for the rural sergeant’s position, for which three local officers had applied. The successful applicant would be notified shortly, and there might be a resulting vacancy locally, he said.All in all, in what is always a busy week, local police were very happy with having a relatively quiet time.

Water quality and quantity issues were again highlighted at the Central Otago District Council meeting on Wednesday,, when Mayor Tim Cadogan gave his report for the previous month. In an addendum to Tim’s report published as part of the meeting agenda, he addressed two water matters that had occurred since he wrote that initial report. These were the cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown and the Otago Regional Council draft decision on the minimum flow for the Manuherikia River.Tim said that, as yet, there was no proof that the drinking water in Queenstown was the source of the cryptosporidium outbreak. However, because Queenstown did not have treatment measures in place to deal with protozoa, the water regulator Taumata Arowai told the council to put a boil water notice in place and keep it there until the treatment measures were put in place.”We need to be aware, and our communities need to be aware, that is not just a Queenstown problem - it could as easily have happened here and to the majority of councils across the country.”Some of Central Otago’s water treatment plants had barriers against protozoa but not all did, Tim said. There was some “talk, gossip, scuttlebug” that any council with supply that did not have a protozoa barrier might be put on a boil water notice by the regulator.“If we do go on to a precautionary boil water notice like that, it’s going to be the boy who cried ‘wolf’. Anytime we do put one on when we really need it, people are going to go, ‘oh, whatever’. And, then people really will get sick from something that is in the water as opposed to something that almost certainly isn’t.”The other matter was the release of the draft decision on minimum flows for the Manuherikia River, with extremes on both sides of the argument, Tim said.“Some say the flows are not high enough and happen too slowly, with others saying that they are too high and are happening too quickly.”In his opinion, those who were decrying the levels as being too high and talking of going to the Environment Court should be investing their money in engineers and not lawyers. “Any win that may come from the Environment Court, given the investment in time and money the Technical Advisory Group has involved, is likely to be pyrrhic. Increased water storage is the best option for meeting an increased flow, and an increased flow of some type is inevitable following this consultation.”The same logic applied to those who said the proposed flow was too low, Tim said.“I have sat in any number of meetings where people have plucked a number from their head and clung on to that as gospel. The flows the TAG (Technical Advisory Group) have put forward as ensuring the health of the river are what the experts tell us are right and I am not an expert, so I am not going to argue. On increased water storage, there would need to be a conversation with the broader community, he said.He believed that conversation needed to be led by the council in the 2027 long-term plan as to what investment the populace as a whole was willing to make in a rebuilt, higher dam.He encouraged people in the community to get involved and get informed.The council received the mayor’s report, with Maniototo Ward councillor Stu Duncan, commenting that he thought water storage was going to be a big thing that needed addressing in the next 20 or 30 year plan.“It’s not just sheep and beef,” Stu said. “It’s all viticulture, horticulture, cherries, strawberries, lawns, parks and recs [recreations].” 

Central Otago cinemagoers will once again have a say in who wins a global film festival this weekend when Central Cinema in Alexandra screens the entries in the 26th Manhattan Short Film Festival.Board co-chair Tracy Blackwell said the cinema had been screening the Manhattan Film Festival for about 10 years now and was the only movie theatre in New Zealand to do so. “One of our members read about it and got in contact with the festival and they didn’t have anyone in New Zealand so they were happy to incorporate us into the festival,” she said.The festival is unusual in that it does not have a judging panel or jury, but the short films selected go out to the world and audiences vote for their favourite.“It’s screened in the same week every year at the same time worldwide,” Tracy said.By virtue of their selection by MANHATTAN SHORT, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified, giving audiences an early viewing of those that will be in competition.The 10 finalists hail from seven countries with films from Australia, Afghanistan, Finland, Iran, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, alongside three films from the United States.Audience members get to vote for the best actor or actress, and best film, with their choices having equal standing with those from around the world.“Apparently New Zealanders have a different take on things than elsewhere,” Tracy said.