The organising committee for the creative fashion WoolOn event have announced they will not hold a show this year. The once-strong event had struggled over recent years, cancelling twice, and was now in need of new members to allow it to “rebuild”. “This decision has not been made lightly. The 2021 event was extremely successful and the committee was delighted with the enthusiastic community response in welcoming it back.However, given the general uncertainty associated with Covid this year, we intend to focus instead on rebuilding and marketing this iconic event,” according to a WoolOn press statementSpeaking to the Central Otago District Council on Wednesday, committee member Maxine Williams thanked the authority for a last-minute $10,000 grant issued to allow the 2021 event to proceed. She said the benefits from the event for designers, young and old, and models were great as well as the opportunities for promoting wine, food and wool production. The previous event had also been made possible by the provision of a free venue, The Canyon, near Tarras, something that would have cost around $20,000. The owners had indicated that they would be willing to provide this again, she said. WoolOn 2021 Runner Up ‘From Ward to Wine’ by Charlotte Hurley of Alexandra.The extra time between shows would be used to attract new members, secure funding and reorganise to ensure that the committee was not going to be “behind the eight ball” going into another event.“We had a very stressful time and it was amazing we pulled it off.” She said a paid event co-ordinator would be required to ease pressure on committee members.Later in the council meeting, members discussed having a council representative liaising with any future WoolOn committee, if they were to again ask for funding. Clearer financial records of WoolOn’s income and expenditure would also be desirable, the meeting heard. WoolOn is a long-running event showcasing original design in natural fibres, particularly wool. It began in Alexandra and until recent years, was a community-focused event that attracted national media coverage for the innovative creations it showcased. The committee say they would welcome people with all types of experience as new members and anyone interested could contact them via email: [email protected].   

Some elderly council tenants will soon be notified of a rent increase, as part of an annual review. The Central Otago District Council own 98 ‘Elderly Persons Housing’ units throughout the district with the cheapest at $70 per week in Ranfurly, ranging to the most expensive in Cromwell at $270 per week.Of the 26 units in Alexandra and Clyde, eight units will have no rent increase, eight have a $5.00 per week increase and 10 will have a $10.00 per week increase. All 31 Cromwell units will have a rent increase, 19 of $5.00 per week and the other 12 units of $10.00 per week. All but two of Roxburgh’s 15 units will have a rent increase of $5.00 per week and over in Ranfurly, 10 units will receive a $5.00 per week increase while payments for the remaining 16 units will remain the same.The council had looked into subsidising rents in the past but found that “substantial costs” would be placed on ratepayers. Reductions or subsidies would also have the undesired effect of reducing any government payments to tenants through its Ministry of Social Development accommodation supplements. The last rent review was undertaken in May 2019 and new rents became effective on 1 September 2019, according to a council report. As part of the COVID-19 response plan, government put a freeze on all rents for six months from 26 March to 25 June, 2020.All the units have been double-glazed, had heat-pumps and are now compliant with the Healthy Homes standards. Occupancy rates at the time of the rent review was high - within 94% - 96%.The council aimed to keep rentals to below 30% of a single person or couple’s income but it was not always possible to track and record this information.  The new rates will apply from July 1 and tenants would all be notified by the end of this month, councillors were told yesterday.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield is recommending councils get on with fluoridating community water supplies with systems in Clyde, Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly and Roxburgh fitting his criteria for action.Supplies serving more than 500 people, as these all do, will eventually have to be fluoridated, following a law change last year. The move is aimed at substantially reducing rates of preventable tooth decay.According to a letter to councils from the out-going Director-General of Health, using the additive in community supply was a proven public health measure for improving oral health.If the government’s Three Waters Reforms are adopted in 2024, it will become a job for a yet-to-be- formed entity but in the meantime, he encouraged councils not to wait.“I encourage all local authorities with un-fluoridated community water supplies that service over 500 people to start fluoridation-related preparatory work now.”The Health Ministry was offering a financial carrot, with some capital works funding available for councils “willing and able” to begin the move by the end of this year. Central Otago was not going to be in a position to meet that deadline, yesterday’s Central Otago District Council meeting heard,with a timeframe of 18 months being estimated by council’s water services manager, Ian Evans, to initiate and action dosing into community supply.Councils have now been asked to supply government with information on their water upgrade requirements and costings.If fluoridation became compulsory, CODC say the logical plan would be to introduce it as existing treatment plants were upgraded, with the new Lake Dunstan Water treatment plant occurring first.“A review has been undertaken to confirm that there is sufficient space to include fluoridation within the site layout at the new Lake Dunstan treatment site.Current estimates indicate a cost of approximately $255,000 per site,” a council report states.Fluoridation of water had proved a divisive issue in the past, with many people not in favour of it.

Balancing considerable loss of profits for ratepayers against the need to house workers in Central has proven a tricky equation for the Central Otago District Council(CODC), who are hoping residents can help point policy in the right direction.The council has been attempting, unsuccessfully, to source funding toward affordable housing for the region, which some consider to be “in dire straits” when it comes to housing much-needed staff.Today they will consider a plan to survey residents in the Cromwell and Vincent wards to see what people think about council’s role in the issue and about potentially foregoing millions of dollars in profits, to provide housing.In March, Central Otago Affordable Housing Trust chairman, Glen Christiansen, told CODC that rental costs for workers were very high as was the cost of building and the area had “missed the boat already” in addressing the issue.Glen Christiansen, chairman of the Central Otago Affordable Housing Trust speaks to council via video link at a recent meeting.The group had identified a ‘secure homes’ model which required land to be gifted then developed and managed in a way that progressively allowed workers a foot in the door of Central Otago’s high- cost residential property market.In Cromwell about $4M worth of land was needed from the council-owned Gair Avenue development. This could be used by the Trust to leverage funding to secure loans for building houses.According to a council report, the land was part of a larger parcel that the Cromwell Community Board had anticipated using profits from, to help fund Cromwell Masterplan work.Council are developing one other parcel of residential land, off Dunstan Road in Alexandra.This had also been identified as having potential for a similar contribution and the potential loss of profit if both land parcels were gifted could be as much as $16M.There were no developments planned or likely in the Teviot Valley or Maniototo areas so feedback would be targeted to Cromwell and Vincent ratepayers.Council staff earlier recommended the land not be given up because of the financial impact on future projects “which may not go ahead or have an additional rates impact”.With the Trust’s only way forward being reliant on gifted land, elected members wished to ascertain the views of the community before making decisions.They are expected to today finalise the consultation, which will be distributed via email to ratepayers if approved. Responses would then be collated and presented at the council’s July meeting.

The government has begun drilling work near Lake Onslow as part of its $30M investigation into a possible pumped-hydro power scheme.The results of this, however, and the environmental cost involved in the build, will not be assessed until the end of the year. The NZ Battery Project idea aims to guarantee a ‘greener’ power supply year-round, even in very dry years, although there would be no guarantee of cheaper power prices.While the funds are also being used to look at other types of energy generation elsewhere for now, Lake Onslow is by far the largest and will be New Zealand’s biggest hydro project ever, if it goes ahead.Next month the government will review initial findings from scientific and other studies undertaken during past months. They would then refine where the focus should be for the second stage of the feasibility study, according to a Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment(MBIE) spokesperson.Meanwhile, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods’ announced yesterday that the first bore holes for the geotechnical investigations were underway. The site was blessed by representatives from mana whenua and the drilling company, Cromwell-based Speight Drilling, had undertaken a site induction and begun drilling, she said.This first hole will be drilled to approximately 100 metres. Core samples will be taken and tested, and monitoring equipment will be installed to monitor things like groundwater flow over the long term. Minister Woods said this geotechnical investigation, and those being proposed for the coming months, will provide “valuable insight into the regional geology and its suitability in supporting pumped hydro infrastructure”.“This work will help determine the best tunnel route and location for an underground powerhouse, and ultimately, give a better picture of the scheme’s technical feasibility and costs.These technical investigations will inform the broader Lake Onslow feasibility study that also considers the environmental, cultural and social implications,” Minister Woods said.  Information gained from the drilling would not, however, be assessed until December when the second phase of the feasibility study was presented to Ministers. Embodied carbon and operational carbon emissions for each design option of the pumped hydro scheme will also be assessed as part of finalfeasibility decisions in December, MBIE say.Lake Onslow is man-made and a popular fishing spot with anglers from across the region.Next month, Ministers will receive information on those potential design options for the scheme, as well as updated cost estimates and information on potential impacts on environmental, cultural and other values.“This information will be preliminary, and subject to further revision as part of further feasibility work through to December. In May detailed geotechnical information will not yet be available.Ministers may decide to stop or pause work on a pumped hydro scheme at this stage, although detailed geotechnical information will help to provide a more accurate assessment of geotechnical risks, as well as overall project cost.” Ministers would also be able to make a decision next month on whether any alternatives to the Lake Onslow option require further investigation as part of the feasibility study.There are predictions of a four-year build with 3000 direct jobs and an economic boost to the area. Where the workers would live is unknown as Central Otago grapples with its long-term job-surplus and associated housing shortage.Many locals were adopting a wait and see approach and the government was not -at this stage anyway - looking for general feedback regarding how people felt about the project.“At this stage of the project we are engaging directly with those affected by the Lake Onslow investigations, including landowners, mana whenua and councils.Engagement with the wider community will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the NZ Battery Project, should a pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow pass the feasibility stage,” MBIE say.In 2020 Labour announced an extra $70M was being set aside to expediate its aim of making the country’s electricity generation 100 percent renewable by 2030, five years earlier than planned.

The Cromwell pool will close tomorrow for approximately two months, while its aging heating system is upgraded, the Central Otago District Council announced last week.The closure, which coincides with the start of the school holidays, was to allow the current LPG boiler to be replaced with an energy-efficient heat pump.The innovative move, partly using heat off a street water main, attracted a $100,000 grant from the government’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority(EECA), CODC Parks and Recreation Manager Gordon Bailey said.He was pleased to see the boiler being replaced with a much lower-carbon emission option, which would also mean decreased operating costs.While the timing wasn’t the best, Gordon says it was unavoidable due to delays in equipment arriving and also resulted in the least disruption for lessons and other programmes. “We are aware it is the school holidays, but this timing period has been chosen because of a six-month wait in international freight deliveries, which included the arrival of the heat pump itself and some other equipment.The timing is also to least impact on the swim schools and other set programmes.The Alexandra Pool is open during this close-down period so that people do have that option. No time is a good time, but the work needs to be done.”The new heat pump will be utilising a new refrigerant, which has low global warming potential, according to a council media statement. “It is a unique way of heating a pool.This new form of heating will shift almost all energy usage to electricity and take heat from the Council’s street water main, which will be transferred into the pool.”Over the next five years, this meant a carbon reduction of approximately 221 t-CO2per/year, the equivalent of the CO2 emissions stored in 3.4 hectares of established native forest.“While it is an inconvenience for people in the short term, in the long term what we’re going to end up with is an energy-efficient way of heating the pool, which will be of benefit not just to the community but to the environment,” Gordon says. The Cromwell Community Board welcomed the upgrade, chairperson Anna Harrison said. “The Cromwell Community Board fully supported this initiative that will see significant reduction in Council’s carbon footprint in operating the Cromwell Pool.” All memberships will be put on hold during the upgrade and people will still be able to use their swim membership at the Alexandra Pool, according to the statement.Term 2 for Central Swim School will be shortened, and the swim school team leader will contact all swimmers in June for enrolments for the following term. All swimmers in theTerm 1 course will be automatically held a spot. In November last year the Community Board approved to allocate the full amount to undertake thework, while the application to EECA for funding was pending.The board had already allocated $930,000 for the project and agreed to allocate a further $162,000 needed after an updated estimate.This was prior to the $100,000 grant being approved.Council would be giving updates on progress as the work progressed.

Funding offered to help remove wilding pines at the Half Mile reserve near Alexandra will not be available after July 1, according to the Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group(CWG).The group have been working with the Central Otago District Council to help manage the invasive species on council land.In October last year, however, residents living near the Half Mile were upset to discover trees they valued for shelter and recreation were to be immediately cleared. Work was halted by council to allow a landscape plan to be drawn up to enhance the area post-felling and for more discussion.CWG executive member Phil Murray said for several years the group had been encouraging the Central Otago District Council to deal with conifers on their reserve land, where they were a source of seed- spread onto adjoining land.The council had agreed that the work was important and wanted to “take a lead as responsible landowners” according to a media statement issued at the time.In addition to funds offered by CWG, the council had also budgeted through its own funds for an ongoing programme to clear wilding pines.The Half Mile and Manorburn reserves were both identified by CWG as seed-source areas and in 2019, Phil says, council agreed to have some pines removed from the Lower Manorburn reserve.“Follow up of that work and a programme of part logging and part felling to waste trees on the Half Mile reserve was planned for this financial year.We agreed to contribute $50,000 from National Wilding Conifer Control Programme funds that are administered through the Ministry for Primary Industry and Otago Regional Council.”Last month 37 residents supported the presentation of a 10-page report to the Vincent Community Board arguing the trees had not been proven to be a widely-spreading seed-source, provided habitat for birds and lizards and should remain.The Board elected to defer the felling further, amid strong argument presented at the meeting by environmentalist Sir Grahame Sydney, Otago Regional Council, Department of Conservation representatives and others. Phil Murray said this week that his group were aware discussions were ongoing between the parties. “It seems unlikely that matters can be resolved in time for an agreed programme of work to be carried out this financial year. The unspent funds allocated to council reserve land cannot be carriedover to next year.”A view from the council reserve at the Half Mile looking south-east with Jolendale Park at left. Image Jill HerronHe said follow up work from previous tree clearing on the Lower Manorburn reserve could, however, continue. “In the national budget 2020 Government allocated $100m to support wilding conifer control over the entire country to be spent over a 4-year period.Spending of those funds has been front-loaded so that available funding is winding down. Consequently, funds available for next year is significantlyless than this year.”He said the contribution that CWG can make to assist the council in meeting their obligations in wilding control on council land will be less next year than this year. “CWG understand the benefits that conifers provide to communities in terms of amenity and other benefits. However, it is important that people understand the serious adverse effects that result from the uncontrolled spread of conifers over our landscape and how their plantings can contributeto this.”The group say the Half Mile and Lower Manorburn areas were both seed take-off sites, adjacent to land that was vulnerable to invasion – something the residents group refuted.CWG did appreciate that people needed time to adjust to changes where wilding pines were being dealt with, Phil said. “We also accept that it takes time for communities to understand the need for transitioning their amenity and shelter plantings to non-spreading species and that they need reassurance that financial commitment will be made to providing equal amenity following pine removal.However, this process has to be balanced against the reality that funding support may be declining in the future. We therefore encourage all parties to make the most of funding opportunities while they exist.”The CODC contribution to the Half Mile and Lower Manorburn reserves’ wilding removal is in the vicinity of $25,000, according to a council statement. Both projects were reliant on the additional funding from CWG.The CODC had recommended all the Half Mile trees be felled and landscaping based on a “natural Central Otago” theme be implemented. As this work had not been budgeted for, around $138,000 could be used for this from the Alexandra Reserves Contribution.The issue is expected to be reviewed by the Vincent Community Board in the coming months, although Chairman Martin McPherson predicted that consultation information was not likely to be available until its June meeting “at the earliest”.

A move to investigate how the whole of Otago could work together to better solve the region’s ever- more-costly rubbish woes has been initiated.The Central App recently reported Central Otago’s own garbage budget blow-out caused by the climbing cost of carbon credits. It cost the area over $100,000 and disposal of food and other organic waste was a key factor in that equation.This material has been confirmed, in a new report by the Otago Mayoral Forum, as the emerging problem child of the waste family, region-wide.The group this week released what is the first report of its kind on waste and recycling issues across the whole region. They also recently approved the preparation of an ‘outline business case’ for a more formal partnership between the councils of Otago to manage waste and deliver waste infrastructure.The Forum is comprised of Otago’s five Mayors and the Chair of the Otago Regional Council, with their Chief Executives. Forum chairperson, Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan, says the report provides a region-wide viewpoint that paves the way to a more coordinated approach to managing waste across Otago.Workers sort paper and plastic at a recycling facility. Image: Otago Mayoral Forum “Thinking regionally to address waste makes a lot of sense. Traditionally, Otago’s five district and city councils have managed their waste and recycling responsibilities better.”While good work was being done in some quarters, the organic waste issue was a worry. “This is not just about councils and organisations. I was concerned to read, just as one example, that an estimated 55% of kerbside rubbish going to Otago’s landfills is organic material and most of this is food waste. We all need to do better,” he said.Organic material created the predominant waste stream to emerge from the analysis in terms of both current tonnage to disposal and as a focus for action, the report stated.“Kerbside food waste is the largest single source of organic waste to landfill. The most problematic organic wastes are putrescible materials with a high moisture content.These are likely to lend themselves to processing technologies, such as anaerobic digestion or vermicomposting, that do not require large quantities of carbon-rich feedstocks or‘bulking agents’ to work.”The Forum partnered with environmental consultancy Eunomia to produce the analysis, which documents waste and recycling infrastructure, volumes and activity throughout Otago. The second phase of the project, later this year, will see the Forum work with Eunomia to draw on the analysis and explore how councils can work together on waste management, with an initial focus on organic waste, and construction and demolition waste.

Planting along riverbanks and the creation of wetlands is yielding clear improvements in the Manuherekia catchment, with more to come through $4M worth of funding from the Ministry for the Environment(MfE).Otago Regional Councillor Kevin Malcolm says that while changes take a long time and balancing water care and commercial interest required effort, people were showing that “it can be done”.Malcom was nominated this month as the elective representative for a MfE catchment overseer group, which has the rather wieldy title of the ‘Manuherekia Exemplar Catchment Programme Governance Group’.He will join a MfE official observer and representatives from Kāi Tahu rūnaka, the existing Manuherekia Catchment Group, Department of Conservation, Fish and Game NZ, Forest and Bird plus an irrigation representative and an independent community representative.The catchment was selected through a government ‘At-Risk Catchments (ARC) Programme’ within a $12M ‘Essential Freshwater’ nationwide fund. The programme aims stop further degradation of the country’s freshwater resources and start making immediate improvements so that water quality is“materially improving” within five years.Malcolm believes that was already happening through considerable work being done by farmers and others over recent years.He said people often didn’t see the huge amount of work being put in as farmers tended to quietly get on with it and not shout it from the rooftops.At Thomsons Creek near Omakau water quality monitoring had shown considerable improvements as a result of fencing, planting and the creation of wetlands. The MfE fund had allocated $2.9M for work to continue here, with $1.3M tagged for general wetland creation in the catchment.Farm irrigation systems could be used, he said, to channel water to areas to help this process.In the past, although people had adhered to the rules of the day, waterways had suffered but change had begun to remedy things.The Ministry’s nationwide goal is to get waterways into a healthy state within a generation, while addressing water allocation issues – something that has proved troublesome for this large chunk of typically-arid Central Otago. Environmental concerns around low water levels and water health havedominated many headlines.“Some of those things didn’t work out too well in the past. Now you just look at some of these farms, there’s one that’s based on dairy grazing, close to a fully-irrigated property, that won an environmental award for their work.”The vast Manuherekia Catchment covers over 3000sqkm. Photo ORCThe Catchment runs from Alexandra, along the right of the Dunstan Mountains and is bordered in the northeast by the Hawkdun Ranges. It incorporates many small communities and towns including Omakau, Becks, St Bathans, Oturehua, Poolburn and Moa Creek.With farming being prominent and irrigation essential, communities have been affected by evolving rules around water use. Over recent years, water quantity has been a growing concern as well as water quality, according to the ORC.Gold Miners Paved the WayWater rights or ‘deemed permits’ in Central Otago were first allowed as mining rights for gold extraction. They had no expiry dates and were utilised until 31 years ago when the Resource Management Act became the ruling legislation, and resource consents something farmers and theORC had to start working toward. The aim was to have the matter sorted by October last year. Now the historic water permits cannot exist, new consents are needed.Provision for these, put in place recently through Plan Change 7, for the Regional Plan, Water for Otago, includes that they generally will have a term of no more than six years.Meanwhile setting minimum flows is an important part of freshwater management and in August 2021, ORC staff proposed a minimum flow in Alexandra that would start at retaining 30 per cent of the rivers low flow and increase to retain up to 50 per cent of the rivers low flow in 2037.A group of councillors questioned the available science and what was put aside as a result represented $4.4M worth of work with over 26,000 staff hours spent preparing reports to justify recommending what some believed to be a more healthy minimum flow.This involved leaving around 1200 litres per second flowing in the river which would increase to leaving 2000 litres per second by 2037.Otago Regional Councillor Kevin Malcolm. Photo: ORCThe issue proved divisive for the council and was less than iwi, Kai Tahu ki Otago preferred to prioritise the health of the river, an ORC report stated. McKeague Consultants, however, representing the majority of irrigators in the catchment, had recommended leaving 1100 litres per second in the river, with no recommendation to increase that over time.Malcom, one of those who voted not to accept the information at the time, says the science was incomplete and was now being “peer reviewed, ratified and completed” before being presented to a future ORC meeting.There would be further discussion of the information which must be agreed upon and written into new planning by 2023.

Cromwell’s two new roundabouts currently under construction, will not be completed for another eight months.Work was, however, considered to be on schedule and both roundabouts would be made operational in a temporary state by the end of May, after which work would stop for winter, a WakaKotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesperson said yesterday.“The roundabouts are on schedule for full opening in December 2022. This includes the construction of the roundabouts, footpaths, underpass, and the associated landscaping.”The agency say the pedestrian and cycle underpass being funded by the developers of Wooing Tree subdivision would go from there under state highway 8B to a new footpath and cycleway near the Big Fruit carpark.“A new footpath and cycleway will be constructed that will go from the new underpass alongside the Murray Terrace carpark (near the Big Fruit), to Murray Terrace. A footpath and cycleway will also be constructed to connect the underpass to Barry Avenue.The Cromwell side of the underpass will be grassed to tie into the existing grassed area, the underpass landscaping on the Wooing Tree side will be undertaken by the developer.”The Cromwell Community Board last month asked to view the footpath plan, before consenting to the area being fenced off for construction. All go for temporary opening, Cromwell's Barry Ave roundabout won't fully open until DecemberSigns going walkaboutWaka Kotahi said there had been no accidents within the extensive site of the works despite safety signage worth thousands of dollars being stolen.They described the thefts as “extremely unhelpful” and say one of the electronic signs that was stolen had a value of around $8,500.The SH6/SH8B roundabout beside Nichols Garden Centre was originally expected to cost $8M and be completed in early 2022. The revised cost was closer to $5M with Fulton Hogan Ltd awarded the $3.3M construction contract in July last year.The SH8B-Barry Ave roundabout and underpass were originally estimated at $7M but revised to $4.4M.

Only three of 51 sections remain unsold in the first three stages of the Central Otago District Council’s Dunstan Park subdivision, near Alexandra.The final stage comprising 20 sections, most of which are 291sqm in size, are yet to be released, council executive manager of planning and environment, Louise van der Voort, said.The residential development has been undertaken as a public-private joint venture and covers 5.5ha between Dunstan Road and Molyneux Estate.Titles were issued for stage one in January, Louise says, and stage two comprising 16 sections had just been completed, with titles expected within the next few weeks.Stage three and four were progressing, with completion of stage three expected in the next few months.CAPTION: The council-owned 5.5ha block just outside Alexandra lies adjacent to the Otago Central Rail Trail.To maximise profit and reduce risks to ratepayers, the council originally entered a joint venture project to develop the land with Queenstown-based company AC/JV Holdings.This arrangement had since changed following the death of AC/JV Holdings partner, Clark Proctor, in 2020.“The Dunstan Park development was continued by the remaining partner, Alistair Hey, under the company name of Imagine Property Services,” she said.It was for community boards to decide whether similar arrangements would be undertaken in future, but there were “clear benefits”.“The strengths of working with a development partner are that council has less upfront development costs, there is increased profit to council and therefore to rate payers, and also the risks are minimised as council has an experienced development partner.”

As the Eden Hore photographic exhibition makes its way around Central Otago, more and more people are delighting in the story of the area’s famous fashion-loving farmer.Large-scale photographs of a selection of Eden’s collection of over 220 high-fashion gowns from 1970s and 1980s New Zealand, portray the dresses against the area’s distinctive scenery.The images, created by renowned photographer Derek Henderson during a photo shoot in 2019, combine glamour with the often-barren charm of Central.Beginning in Naseby, near where Eden had his Glenshee tourist park and farm, the exhibition has attracted plenty of admirers, Central Otago District Council community engagement manager, Paula Penno, said.She said the beauty of the images gave people a real lift of positivity and working on the Eden Hore Central Otago project had been an “absolute privilege”.“It has been great to hear stories from individuals who had met Eden or had visited Glenshee ‘back in the day’. It is also exciting to be able to introduce the collection to a new generation.”The images were displayed in Alexandra and Cromwell before being moved to their current location in the Wedderburn Cottages woolshed in the Maniototo.A section of the display currently open at the Wedderburn Cottages woolshed in the Maniototo.Here, huge mounted stag heads look down over the display, in what is a free exhibition running until Tuesday, April 19.From there it will move to the historic village of Ophir where it will occupy the Ophir Peace Memorial Hall until May 4.In the collection’s first outing beyond the South Island, The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt recently staged an ‘Eden Hore: High Fashion/High Country’ exhibition as part of its full-year 50th anniversary programme.This featured some of the most striking garments from the collection, some of the large-scale photographs and moving images.Eden Hore lived in Naseby all his life, aside from the war years, and was a successful sheep and beef farmer, tourism pioneer, world traveller and avid collector of plants, exotic animals, fabric, dresses, and many other objects.He had a huge formal garden and drew thousands of visitors to the area.His dress collection is considered to represent the best of what the country’s best were designing at the time and is characterised by luxurious fabrics and flamboyant styles.

One day soon, when you jump in the car to go to work, school or anywhere else around Cromwell, Alexandra, Clyde, Ranfurly or Roxburgh, chances are the roadtaking you there will have a new, slower legal speed limit.On one Central Otago road, however, there’s a small stretch where you will be able to go faster than before.Limits are set to reduce on 69 roads across Central Otago and while plenty of motorists have taken the opportunity to protest on social media, the Central OtagoDistrict Council say they’d be better off telling them any thoughts on the issue.The changes are not set in concrete yet and there’s still room for manoeuvre, but with just a week left to give feedback on the Proposed Speed Limits Bylaw, less than100 people have taken up the opportunity to have their say.In a council media statement, Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said it was a surprisingly disappointing response to date, given how engaged Central Otago hadbeen in recent consultations such as the Long-term Plan and the Waste Review.He encouraged everyone to use this week to find out more about what the changes were, why they are proposed, and give feedback via the official form that can befound online or at Council service centres and libraries.CAPTION: CODC Mayor Tim Cadogan wonders why the usually-forthcoming people of Central haven’t given more feedback on a current roading proposal that will bewide-reaching.“There isn’t a single person in the district who won’t be affected by the proposed changes in this consultation; that’s why it is really important we hear from as manypeople as possible.“Even if you’re not a driver, you might be a cyclist, a pedestrian, or you’re probably a passenger. This is going to affect all of us and we really want to know what youthink. This is all about safety.” “If you go into the consultation documents and wonder why ‘such and such’ street or road isn’t there, then let us know; or if you think ‘that’s a stupid thing to do, don’t change that road’, tell us, we need to know. Equally if you support the proposal and see changes you or your community have been calling for to improve safety around where you work, live or play, please make a submission to tell us you agree.” Mayor Cadogan said there had been a lot of Facebook traffic on the topic, a comment on a Facebook post did not equate to a submission so he urged people togo that step further and complete a submission.Councillor Tamah Alley lent her voice to the campaign to hear from the community about the speed limits, adding that they were “not just about how fast or slow carscan travel”. “Some areas have experienced significant growth in previous years, which changes the way walkers, bikers or riders interact and enjoy spaces, as well as trafficmovements. She invited people to “look to see if any roads you and your family travel are on the list for change and send council your feedback”.The changes only cover roads managed and maintained by the council. This excludes state highways which are looked after by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.CODC say the proposed bylaw, statement of proposal, and maps outlining current and proposed speed limit changes are all available on Council’s Let’s Talk KōreroMai engagement hub at https://lets-talk.codc.govt.nz or on request.Feedback closes on Tuesday 12 April 2022 and if necessary, a hearing could be scheduled next month, before the council review the changes this winter. Noimplementation date had been set.

Repair or replacement of an aged bridge at Halls Ford should be prioritised by the Central Otago District Council, a Maniototo Community Board member says.Work on bridges damaged by a flood 15 months ago, and others that are aging, would be a slower process than people may have thought, the board were told on Thursday.Funding was only issued to the CODC every three years by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency for such projects and considerable amounts of information had to be gathered for applications, council’s infrastructure services executive manager, Julie Muir said.She said there was funds to fix one bridge – around $500,000 – as well as a maintenance budget for minor work, but other major works would have to go through an application process to NZTA.Funds from that round would be available in mid-2024.An “absolute shortage” of suitable engineers was continuing, she said.These specialists were needed to undertake inspections and gather information on weight limits, repair options, seismic screening and the like.Board member and CODC councillor Stu Duncan said Halls Ford – which connected a well-utilised public route before it was closed for safety reasons - should take priority.He said options for others such as Scott’s Lane where the bridge was destroyed, could follow.Halls Ford also links two halves of a sheep and beef farm belonging to the Paterson family.Across the whole district, bridges of all sizes and ages will be coming under close scrutiny by engineers, to gather data for a draft strategy.This would dictate maintenance and care of all the structures and was expected to be completed by council by the middle of the year.The public were expected to get their say on the strategy in early 2023 – or possibly late 2022 - and final approval was due mid-2023.Central Otago has 179 bridges, which council oversee and about a third of these are in the Maniototo.

An imminent $80,000 paint job of Cromwell’s iconic Big Fruit sculpture will soon add to the hive of activity at the town’s entrance.A painter willing to take on the task has proved elusive, but about a year after beginning the search, the Central Otago District Council (CODC) has engaged Naylor Love Ltd to spruce up the faded fruit.The fruit was last painted six years ago at a cost of $37,000, following a gap of 12 years between paint jobs.Without being lacquered for protection against the elements, the fruit had faded relatively quickly.Last winter the Cromwell Community Board somewhat reluctantly agreed to a staff recommendation to increase the council’s budget for painting the 8m high fruit from $50,000 every five years, to around $100,000.This was to accommodate the only available quote at the time of $94,500 and enable the job to be done.Staff later decided not to accept that quote and the work was tendered in February this year.Two bids were received, CODC parks and reserves manager Gordon Bailey said.The Queenstown-based firm planned to begin work in early April.It is expected to take about 10 days, weather permitting.The area is a construction zone at present, as Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) work on building two roundabouts and a pedestrian underpass, while across the highway at the Wooing Tree subdivision, earthworks and the building of dozens of houses continues.The NZTA roadworks are due for completion in May.

Approval of a proposed closing date and demolition timetable for the Cromwell Memorial Hall has been put on hold until May.The move is aimed at allowing the Cromwell Community Board(CCB) to hear more information about what is going to be built in its place and what that may cost.The 62- year-old hall on Melmore Terrace was set to be removed in July to make way for a new facility and May 2 nd had been proposed by the Central Otago District Council as its closing date.Funding of $2.2M has been approved for the design project for its replacement, with the total cost for the facility set at $16M plus $6M for a new museum at the lakeside site.Yesterday the Cromwell Community Board decided to wait until concept plans and financial estimates were available for the new hall, before confirming a closing date.Board member Cheryl Laws said the CCB had been “somewhat excluded” in the planning process and had not heard enough detail from its advisory group before being asked to approve the closure and demolition of the hall.“It would be good to actually see the concept plan before making this decision,” she said. Deputy chairman Neil Gillespie agreed and while he said there was no criticism of staff processes which were being expediated to fit deadlines, he had concerns the community would be left with no hall, for longer than was necessary.“We’re being asked today to agree to closing the hall and the timeline for its demolition before we know what the new hall’s going to look like and I just don’t get that there’s any rush to do that, no matter what.”Central Otago District Council property and facilities manager Garreth Robinson told the board that what lay beneath the old hall could not be fully known until it came down and “potential issues” if there were any, could have a bearing on the new design. He also said staff were trying to get work done within funding timelines that had been set out in the council’s Long-Term Plan.Board member Nigel McKinlay, who is on the advisory group for the new hall, said a timetable proposing the sequence of the design process was “quite wrong”. He felt that until costings and designs for the new facility were clearer the old hall should not close. Planning for the new museum - which were not specifically mentioned in council’s report to the Board yesterday - needed to be discussed alongside the hall plans, he said.The report showed a preliminary concept plan from design company Jasmax was expected in May for the Board to approve, with the detailed plan available in November.No tenders have yet been issued by council for the demolition of the existing Memorial Hall.A workshop would be scheduled for next month to help members understand more detail around the plans.The May 2 closing had been proposed to allow the ANZAC ceremony to take place at the hall, allow engagement with current users, and give groups time to make alternative arrangements for their activities. It would have also given three months to carry out asbestos removal before the demolition phase which was planned to occur in July or August.The Board will now revisit the closing and demolition schedule after considering concept plans and financial forecasts for the new hall at its next meeting on May 9.Wooing Tree footpath plan questionedTwo slices of land needed for one of Cromwell’s two new roundabouts was approved for sale by the Central Otago District Council, to Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency(NZTA) yesterday for $184,000.The land is associated with NZTA’s plan to allow enough space for the single lane roundabout accessing the Wooing Tree subdivision to be later expanded.“Acquiring the extra land will future proof the roundabout by allowing Waka Kotahi to construct an extra lane at a later date,” a council report stated. A site plan showing the two land parcels(marked as A and B) that will allow future expansion of the Wooing Tree roundabout.The proceeds from the approximately two-thirds of an acre would be used for “the betterment of land within the Cromwell ward”, the Cromwell Community Board were told.Major roadworks around two new single-lane roundabouts and an underpass all being built at the same time have temporarily transformed the entrance to Cromwell.NZTA informed the council they will be building footpaths through the grassed area between the Big Fruit carpark and Barry Avenue, to link with an underpass also currently under construction.They requested permission to fence off this area while construction was underway. Board members were reluctant to approve the pathway fencing until the design of the pathways had been examined.Board member Bob Scott had concerns that proposed paths did not “line up” and others had questions around drainage, the clarity of the location of the underpass and desired travel routes of future Wooing Tree residents, including school children.Chairperson Anna Harrison said a plan was desired to allow members to be confident of all safety and design aspects.

Management at the Alexandra Rugby Club may soon be able to charge their glasses in celebration after a long-winded saga over a power bill at Molyneux Park took a significant step toward resolution this week.The club had been billed by the Central Otago District Council(CODC) for power usage of changing rooms and showers which had, for many years, also been utilised by other clubs and individuals.They had also been billed for power on a bunker and groundsman’s shed, all the while paying $1500 in annual rent to use the facilities.Electricity bills of $600 to $800 each month had secretary/manager Dai Johns scratching his head after he began his role but after trawling through 10 years of club minutes, the reason for the high charges were no clearer, he told the Vincent Community Board this week.Following various meetings and discussions, agreement for compensation from CODC was eventually reached in 2020, this being, he claimed, after 11 or 12 years of overpayment. New metering systems, however, first had to installed by council, they had advised the club, to assess the power usage for 12 months.For nearly two years, in what deputy chair Russell Garbutt described as “certainly not a well-handled process” the issue remained unresolved between the CODC and the Club, as accurate estimates for compensation were sought.The club originally estimated around $38,000 was owed, offering the figure “to start the ball rolling”, Johns said. Council’s monitoring gave up a figure of $16,460.55, which was agreed to by the club as a way of showing good faith and getting a resolution, he said.No payment was made and in March this year a subsequent figure of $7641 was put forward by council who had researched further the shared usage and apportioned the club’s usage to be responsible for 40% of the original offer.Alexandra Rugby Club secretary/manager Dai Johns speaks to the Vincent Community Board on Tuesday via video link.“We are really disappointed with what’s happened so far. We have one premiership team and over 100 kids that we try to mentor and also look after some high school kids. We haven’t been treated very well. We pay the council $1500 per annum to hire the park and showers which includes the power,” Johns said.He said the club didn’t understand the second offer, rejected it and favoured the original amount. Russell Garbutt said the process had gone on for an extremely long time and needed cleared up.“It’s been pretty loose on both sides. I would like an absolute assurance we don’t have this issue ongoing in the future.”Chairman Martin McPherson felt there was uncertainty around the figures and suggested “splitting the difference”.The Board resolved to recommend council pay the club $10,000 from the General Development Alexandra Reserves, intended as a full and final settlement.

Colourful flags depicting produce from the Teviot Valley may brighten Roxburgh’s main street in future.The Teviot Valley Community Board praised an idea put forward yesterday by a resident, to create brightly coloured flags showing images of fruit and other local produce.The resident, who told the Central App she did not wish to be named and preferred for the community to lead the project, offered to pay for a trial flag depicting an apricot, at an estimated cost of $500.The aim was to take the opportunity to promote local fruit to passers-by to encourage sales and celebrate the valley’s produce.Board chairman Raymond Gunn suggested the whole street could be supplied with the new flags which could be taken down over winter to promote their longevity.Others suggested sheep and local scenery could also be shown as a way of promoting the valley’s wider attractions.Teviot Valley Community Board member Cushla AitchisonBoard member Cushla Aitchison favoured fruit and other produce being featured on the flags, which she felt would liven up the main street.Raymond requested that Central Otago District Council staff look into how the idea could be progressed and how council’s regional identity branding could be effected or incorporated.Council had already indicated they would not wish for the council logo to appear on the flags, the meeting heard, although some members felt it would help to associate the promotional message with the rest of Central Otago if district-wide branding did appear.

A new garden border to be developed near the historic Vallance Cottage is expected to provide visitors and residents with a showcase of the natural biodiversity of the Manuherekia catchment.The Alexandra Garden Club’s plans for a long border on the embankment at the front of the cottage reserve, bordering Tarbert Street, were discussed yesterday by the Vincent Community Board.The group hope to create a sanctuary for rare and endangered plants from the area. This would illustrate the resilience of these species which thrive in dryland environments, according to a Central Otago District Council report.The council had some concerns over the harshness of the site and had suggested that riverside areas where similar plantings already existed, could be more suitable.Club president Ray Wright explained, however, how the steepness of the bank would lend itself to displaying the tenacity of the plantings. The site of a proposed dryland garden near Vallance Cottage(site highlighted in green). The cottage is highlighted in blue. Image CODC“The sequence of habitats from the sub alpine tops down to the riparian wetlands would provide interest and an educational dimension to the plantings, each specimen would be entered into a data base, telling whose land it was sourced from and the contribution that remnant makes to the diversity of the catchment.”The highly-visible site would allow people to easily view and learn from the display, he said. The Board yesterday approved a five-year agreement with the club which will allow the project to go ahead.The council-owned cottage land is already home to a community orchard and a collection of heritage lilacs. Members of the public can book the reserve for community events, and the cottage can be opened on request. Clyde Holiday Park Rule AmendmentA revamp of the lease agreement covering the Clyde Holiday Park will now include provision for any complaints against management to be forwarded to the landlord – the Central Otago District Council.The Board yesterday approved a new set of rules and procedures aimed at managing visitors and processing complaints. These followed a flurry of complaints from campers, one of which is now the subject of a police enquiry and another, as mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting, a possible Official Information Act request.The council leased the facility to Gary and Roslyn Ryan in 2019, issuing a 10-year term to allow the couple “a decent time to invest in capital”, council Chief Executive Officer Sanchia Jacobs said.Rugby Club power bill compensationA long-winded saga over who was responsible for paying a power bill at Molyneux Park was resolved yesterday with the Alexandra Rugby Football Club being reimbursed $10,000.The club had been billed for power usage of changing rooms and showers which had, for many years, been utilised by other clubs and individuals. They had also been billed for power on a bunker and groundsman’s shed.For nearly two years, in what deputy chair Russell Garbutt described as “not a well-handled process” the matter was discussed between the CODC and the Club to try and find accurate estimates for compensation owed. These dated back to between eight and 10 years.The Board resolved to pay the club $10,000 from the General Development Alexandra Reserves as a final settlement.