Annual rates in the Teviot Valley are predicted to increase by around 6.9% this year, with a loan to cover the new Roxburgh pool one source of increased cost.The value of the Teviot Valley walkway and Roxburgh Entertainment Centre also impacted the balance sheet for the area in costs and depreciation, the Teviot Valley Community Board were toldon Thursday.Growth, when factored in, may however reduce people’s rates bill slightly if there are enough new ratepayers in the area to help spread the load.The figures will go before the Central Otago District Council for further scrutiny before being included the council’s 2022 – 2023 Annual Plan.Average rates across the district increased by 6.7% last year and are predicted to go up around $7.4 to 7.5% this year and another 7.6% next year, bringing the total percentageincrease over three years to nearly $22%.Cavalcade DisappointmentThe board acknowledged the disappointment of many who had been working for months to prepare for hosting the 30th Goldfields Cavalcade at Millers Flat, now postponed due to therestrictions of the “red traffic light” pandemic setting.In October last year the Board granted the host town group $2500 toward the planned events which included welcoming around 400 horse-riders, cyclists and walkers in early March2022 for a country fete and evening hoedown. Much-loved entertainers the Topp Twins had beenbooked to entertain.Up to 4000 people had been expected to be involved over the whole event, which has been postponed to 2023. The board this week decided to not request a refund of the money, but to allowthe group to hold it over for next year’s event.Businesses, Sports and Building FeesThe council also reviews fees and charges across the district when preparing its Annual Plan and these were viewed by the board on Thursday, who met online.Amongst these are a new $400 bond being proposed to cover costs of potential damage to council property by hirees. Existing fees for some building control and consenting services are also beingreviewed and will likely increase in the middle of this year.Fees for environmental health inspections for hairdressers, funeral directors and some others will go up from $168 to $225 although follow-up inspections will drop by $18 to $150.Cancelling a building consent inspection on the same day will now have a cost - $150 – and inspections for alteration work valued under $5000 will cost $450, up $134.Many of the changes were to reflect the hourly rate and realistic time taken by staff to perform their duties, according to the report.A refundable $400 bond to cover potential damage to the area’s sports grounds is being included in the new fees schedule as well as a $200 end-of-season cleaning fee for Alexandra and Clyde sportsfacilities.Very noisy parties will continue give hosts more than just a hangover… non-compliance with orders regarding unreasonable or excessive noise costs $750 or $500 respectively. This fee is unchanged from last year.

Nasty surprises under the floor, budget blow-outs and pandemic hold-ups did nothing to deter volunteers in Ophir from completing a major bathroom makeover at their town hall.The Ophir Welfare and Hall committees successfully applied to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment(MBIE) for funding for their project but when work began it became evident the $210,000 granted was not going to quite get there.Working with Breen Construction and the Central Otago District Council, quotes were discounted, extras trimmed off and budgets squeezed.Council agreed to carry any further risk and added $10,000 gained from a surplus from a separate Ophir project, where a new pool changing room had been built and piping replaced.Ophir locals volunteered over 200 hoursThirteen volunteers rolled up their sleeves to assist the contractor but after the old bathroom was demolished rotten timbers forming the bottom of the walls were discovered. Additional work was also found to be needed with drainage and in the lobby connecting to the hall, while securing materials through Covid-19 induced delays created further headaches.The group pushed on, however, completing the project as efficiently as possible but still incurring a $21,047 budget overrun.“It is estimated that volunteers worked approximately 200 hours including the time spent preparing the funding application, assisting with design and negotiations, and coordinating the volunteers. Without the significant contribution by volunteers this project would not have been possible,”according to a council report.The Vincent Community Board yesterday congratulated the group, particularly hall committee chairperson Sam Leask and treasurer Malcom Topliss, for securing the funding grant and creating a facility the community could be proud of.Working with the Ophir community to get the project done was CODC’s Christina Martin.Council property and facilities manager Christina Martin told the board the groups had also established disability access and completed fire safety work as part of the project.“It’s a fantastic outcome and was such a collaborative project,” she said.The board approved the over-run be funded from the council’s Ophir Hall investment account.

Ratepayers across Central Otago can expect their annual bill to increase by around 7.5% from July 1 st - a tiny sliver less than expected, due to the district’s galloping growth.The Central Otago District Council are currently presenting draft budgets including proposed rating increases, to each of Central’s four community boards for consideration.Vincent Community Board were the first to look at the changes yesterday, with Teviot Valley’s turn tomorrow. Cromwell and Maniototo Boards will review the rates proposals later in this month, then the figures go before full council for further scrutiny before being included the council’s 2022 – 2023 Annual Plan. Rates increased by an average of 6.7% across the district last year and are predicted to go up another 7.6% next year, bringing the total percentage increase over three years to 21.8%.The predicted increases were recorded in the council’s latest 10-Year Plan - also known as a Long-term Plan (LTP) - which sets strategic direction and a work programme for the council for 10 years ahead. The current plan for 2021 to 2031 was adopted last winter but as with every LTP it will be rewritten and tweaked every three years to respond to what is happening in the district and wider economy.The council writes an Annual Plan covering more detail about current goings-on, in every year between the writing of an LTP. Calculations are based on the rating income needed to pay for works and services outlined in the LTP, then adjusted to reflect growth, according to a CODC finance department spokesperson. As the district grows the rates burden is shared across a greater number of people.When the budgets were prepared over 2020 and early 2021, this growth was predicted at 1.9%. According to a council report, actual growth has been recorded as 2.4% which allows the organisation to shave 0.3% off the predicted rates rise.Rates vary between property types -commercial, lifestyle or residential, capital and land values and areas but for example, if a property’s rates are now $1500 a year, it’s likely they could go up to around $1612.50.Policies around how rates are dealt with haven’t really changed aside from the removal of a 2.5% discount in the LTP that was applied when ratepayers paid their property’s annual rates in full on or before the first instalment. Council say this is “in line with many other councils given the low interest rates and also to keep rate costs down”.The council rating report was accepted yesterday during a meeting conducted online. The Board later excluded the public to discuss an issue where wilding pines are set to be removed from a reserve and to discuss issues at the council-owned Clyde Campground. The wilding pines issue is set to be publicly discussed at the board’s second meeting for the year on March 22nd.

The introduction of a new complaints procedure and policy at the troubled Clyde Holiday Park is being instigated by the Central Otago District Council after “communications” issues.The Central App has viewed numerous written statements from visitors to the camp complaining of being verbally abused, refused bookings and evicted for reasons they claim were unreasonable. All claim they were spoken to rudely – including being told to f**k off - and young people had been followed outside the campground at night by the camp manager.Some claimed the issues had been occurring for two years and most said they had found their experiences very upsetting and would not be returning to Clyde. Many had enjoyed family holidays at the camp for decades and some were third generation campers.Issues had also arisen, the documents show, where local sports clubs who share some facilities at the Whitby Street site, claim to have been inconvenienced and treated with hostility by camp management.The camp, owned by the council, was leased to Gary and Roslyn Ryan in 2019 for a 10 year term, Vincent Community Board chairperson Martin McPherson confirmed yesterday.He said council were working with the lease holders and hoped the situation could be resolved amicably.“We do acknowledge that there may be some communications issues. That’s why staff are in the process of working on a complaints procedure so those things can be handled in a professional manner. It is in our best interest to make sure the camp is run profitably and well.” He said it was the first time council had been made aware of issues involving patrons andmanagement.“There’s always two sides to a story. We’ve spoken to the complainants and the leasee. Council staff are working with the leasees, and as the lessor we have responsibility to both parties and to our residents, so… hoping that the situation can be resolved in an amicable fashion.”While many online reviews of the camp reflect positively about experiences, media reports document similar issues occurring at accommodation facilities previously managed by the Ryans.A spat reportedly erupted at a Winchester Campground involving an event owner referring in a public speech to Australian-born Mr Ryan as “Colonel Kookaburra” and claiming he had blocked access to event patrons. Other complaints were aired in a media story about Mr Ryan’s management of the North Rakaia Huts also in Canterbury. Mr Ryan refuted the claims at the time calling the complainants “a load of freakin’ old has-beens”.When contacted by the Central App yesterday Mr Ryan said he did not wish to comment. He said he didn’t think that there had been issues with patrons and claimed matters had been “blown out of proportion”.“The council has got my report on it and that’s where it stands.” When asked if he intended to stay managing the camp for the extent of the lease which expires in 2029, Mr Ryan said “I’ll be here for as long as that.”

Decisions about the repainting of the faded Big Fruit sculpture were made by council staff not the Cromwell Community Board, Central Otago District Council staff confirmed yesterday.Finding a contractor to take on the large-scale job has proved difficult and after a year of looking the work is about to be put out for tender.  Last winter the Cromwell Community Board agreed to a staff recommendation to increase the budget for painting from $50,000 to $100,000 to accommodate a $94,500 quote, in order to get the job done.According to a council report, it had been the only quote staff had been able to secure after considerable research. Some Board members were unhappy at the spend but saw no other option. Board member Tony Buchanan voted against the plan at the June meeting.Last week, as reported in our previous story, council communications staff advised The Central App that the Board had decided to not accept the quote. “The Cromwell Community Board decided not to accept the quote it received in early 2021, which was valid for only 30 days. Given the specialist nature of the job, the Board decided to put the job to tender to get the best price in the approved budget. The Council is working towards that and is working through the process of having its procurement method signed off”. When asked when the Board had made this decision, parks and recreation staff clarified it had in fact been council staff who had decided not to accept the quote.“This decision was not made at a meeting as such; it was an operational decision made by the Council, which was informed by the Cromwell Community Board’s move to approve an additional $50,000 in funding (at the June meeting in 2021) and was defined by the Council’s procurement policy for this project (with a budget of $100,000).”The sculpture was last painted six years ago at a cost of $37,000 and the effects of Central Otago’s harsh sunlight mean it is now ripe for a repaint.The 32-year-old structure symbolising the area’s strong horticulture industry, is photographed daily by visitors. Talk of adding cherries, grapes and even a chafer beetle has been reported for many years but no changes have been made.

Views on whether the Central Otago District Council should undertake an independent performance review yesterday ranged from a suggestion to “bin it” to requests to go ahead as soon as possible.Two members of the public suggested a CouncilMARK organisational performance review for the Central Otago District be adopted, stating they had dissatisfaction with service levels.Alexandra residents Hugh McIntyre and Don Sparks first asked the programme be adopted in November last year and while council staff recommended the council not adopt it, Mayor Tim Cadogan delayed the decision to allow time for him to get feedback on its possible merits from other mayors.CouncilMARK, widely used throughout the country, is designed to “improve the knowledge of the work a council does and support the council to further improve the service and value they provide”, according to a report presented yesterday.The $26,000 programme incorporates an independent assessment system, and the council receives an overall rating and commentary on their performance as part of the process. It focuses on governance, leadership and strategy, financial decision making and transparency, service delivery and asset management and how councils communicate and engage with the public and businesses.In a report to the council the pair raised concerns over how enquiries were dealt with by staff and said they desired a “change of culture”.“We want to identify that there are some practices undertaken by senior staff that are not acceptable to the community they serve.”They said they wanted to “encourage a change of culture in the organisation that promotes a “Can Do” attitude, alleging that the existing attitude appeared to be “why you can’t”.They felt a system was needed to properly deal with complaints and said a negative attitude was held by much of the business community toward council, which needed to change.At yesterday’s meeting Cr Stuart Duncan spoke strongly in support of council’s current performance and said the review was “a waste of time” and should be binned.The national guiding body for councils, Local Government New Zealand, had been consulted and advised that an election year was not the best time for such a review, with new councillors needing time to become familiar with processes.Mayor Tim Cadogan suggested the adoption of the review be discussed after this year’s local body elections. “There’s never a good time to do things like this but potentially right now there couldn’t be a worse time. I’m not talking about election year, it’s Omicron… the effect it’s going to have on this organisation.”Council CEO Sanchia Jacobs told the meeting the review was supported but an election year was not ideal and significant staffing challenges were also a current issue with workloads exceeding time available to staff even when all jobs were full.“A think review is good. At a philosophical level there’s no issue with it all. It is reasonable that we should want to do it. All staff should want it.”Some councillors wanted a firm commitment to going ahead with the review in future rather than allowing more discussion. A majority of councillors however voted to allow more discussion with a view to proceeding with a review from January 2023. Crs Calvert, Paterson, Tamah Alley and Lynley Claridge voted against this.

Painting four pieces of fruit would normally be a simple and enjoyable task but when it’s the fruit itself you’re painting and it’s 8m tall things start to get complicated.The Central Otago District Council(CODC) have spent that past year trying to source a painter to recoat the town’s iconic Big Fruit sculpture, to no avail.The sculpture was last painted six years ago at a cost of $37,000 and the effects of Central Otago’s harsh sunlight mean it is now ripe for a repaint.At a meeting in June last year the Cromwell Community Board were told the previous painter was nolonger operating and only one of a group of contractors approached had taken up the chance to quote for the job.A sticker left by a visitor on the bottom of the Big Fruit’s giant apricot.Gore and South Canterbury councils who had fish sculptures had experienced similar problems finding painters.The Board approved funds to pay the quoted amount of $94,500 – nearly half of which was for scaffolding – but the work did not proceed.Recommended cleaning and re-lacquering between paint jobs had not been budgeted for in the council’s outgoings, only $50,000 for repainting, the board were told.The council will now put the job out for tender to “re-test the market” and try and get the best price, communications staff said this week. They said the Board had since decided not to accept the quote given last year.The 32-year-old structure symbolising the area’s strong horticulture industry, is photographed daily by visitors.Talk of adding cherries, grapes and even a chafer beetle has been reported for many years but no changes have yet been made.

The focus of events that receive funding from Central Otago District Council grants will now be able to be on community rather than visitors.The council is reviewing how it distributes its annual promotional and community grants across Central Otago and at a meeting yesterday agreed with councillor Shirley Calvert that a change in definition was needed.With borders closed and visitor numbers low, groups putting on events could apply for funds now without having to prove they could “enhance visitor experience” to the area. The definition would be changed to enhancing “user” experience.Cr Calvert also asked that council allow more time for groups source information for applications, when it was requested by council during the process, to avoid more incidents such as one where group missed out on funds due to failing to present information on time.This would be considered by the council in addition to her third request that profits made by groups be permitted to be retained to allow them to be more financially self-sustaining in future.Unspent grant money that had been given for specific purposes currently is required to be repaid to council and goes back into the community and promotional grant fund but the rules around profits made was less clear.Cr Tracy Paterson suggested monies should be able to be held over by groups if unspent in the current pandemic situation when cancellations and postponement of events was frequently occurring.The council were working to simplify the application process for groups so it was clearer and easier to understand, the meeting heard. The new policy would be published on the council’s website once completed.The grants are distributed via the council’s four community boards in Cromwell, Maniototo, Teviot Valley and Vincent wards. The next round of applications begins in March.

The beautiful Fraser River flows quietly through Earnscleugh unseen by most. It’s been good to those who’ve earnt a living from its waters over the decades, although not always without detriment to its own health.The Earnscleugh Irrigation Company(EIC) secured solutions to those water challenges twenty years ago and have since “fixed” the river, Company manager Tony Lepper says.He’s pleased the days when it would run dry six out of every seven scorching Central summers, are long gone.Now the company want the public to enjoy the Fraser’s ambient charms by creating attractive walkways and fishing spots planted with thousands of native plants.The bulk of work and ongoing maintenance would be provided by EIC but paying for the plants was the tricky bit.He reckons over 100,000 might be needed and that was beyond what the company could fund. “We are a co-operative, we take money from our shareholders to run the irrigation company. We haven’t got money for this.”The river banks are overseen by the Department of Conservation as ‘marginal strip’ and DOC had already agreed to the company’s restoration plans. Fish and Game NZ and iwi were also in support of the scheme, as were the Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust who were keen to supply the plants.“We’ve done a plan, we’re all ready to go but we haven’t got the resources to buy all the trees,” Tony says. “We can look after them and make the tracks and it’s a real easy strip of land to do. I live out here so I see how beautiful it is everyday now, but I think bugger it, it could be better than this.” Funding requests had so far been knocked back…Otago Regional Council, Central Otago District Council and the Ministry for Primary Industries among those unable to oblige.The company now hope people from the wider community might become involved to assist and possibly help find the right fit for a funding source so work could begin.Because the Fraser River links onto public roads, access to the proposed walkway is not seen as an issue, Earnscleugh Irrigation Company manager Tony Lepper says.He says the entrance to the walkway could start at a bridge on Earnscleugh Road between McPherson and Blackman Roads.The first stage may require public access at its end point through a new apple orchard on what was formerly part of Earnscleugh Station, but further work could link the track through to Laing Road. Downstream, maybe one day, says Tony, walkers could stroll on under the willows right down to the Clutha River.The gentle Fraser River today provides good fly-fishing for brown and rainbow trout, Tony says, It is easily waded and the area could become a family-friendly asset accessible to everyone, within a short drive of Clyde or Alexandra.It runs at full capacity all year round and has done for 20 years since the company installed pipes to draw water from Lake Dunstan. The lower reaches carry this water to the highly productive stone and pip fruit orchards and farms.Prior to that connection which helped the businesses secure a cheap, long-term supply, both frost fighting sprinklers and summer irrigation all came out of the natural river.When the river ran dry, the fish died and Tony recalls those times as being “pretty ugly” and something that probably shouldn’t have been allowed to happen.As he told the Central Otago District Council in October, he believes the project is a way of giving back to the river and an investment in a positive future.“We are made up of 130 shareholders, we all own land here and most of us back onto the river. We owe a debt to the river for our businesses that we generate out of the water.”

Is it the lengthy suspended bridges, the rounding of another bend in mid-nowhere to discover a floating burger bar, or just the affronting appeal of Central Otago’s raw landscape?Whatever that x-factor of the Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail may be, it’s creating a bicycling buzz that has blown expectations clean out of the water.Over 56,000 riders have passed over the track’s clicker-counter since its May 2021 opening, including a daily-high of 774 on December 29.Executive trustee for the Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust, Janeen Wood, says 8276 cyclists clicked over last month alone and numbers so far have far exceeded predictions.With thousands now enjoying it each month, one of the instigators of the Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail, Janeen Wood, is among those delighting in its huge popularity.She has been involved with the project, which links Cromwell to Clyde, for 13 years, initially as a volunteer. Janeen insists she’s only one of many who’ve put 1000s of volunteer hours developingthe trail from concept to creation.She says riders are predominantly Kiwis, who seem to be delighting in the variety, surprises and challenges of the Grade 2 to 3 trail.“We haven’t completed an in-depth analysis yet but it would be fair to say our target market of 55-year-old-plus social riders would make up a majority. It’s great to see New Zealanders exploring their own back yard.”Temporary traffic lights were even installed for the holiday period on the one-lane road bridge at Clyde, partly in anticipation of the volume of cyclists on both this and the Otago Central Rail Trail.Geotechnical constraints around Lake Dunstan – i.e impossibly steep and gnarly terrain – presented a few headaches but the solutions ensure there’s a nice element of challenge, Janeen says. Somesections narrow to 1.5m and it pays to keep left and heed the signage advising riders to ‘dismount when passing’.“We have had a few people who want to ride from Clyde to Cromwell as they don’t want to be on the outside.”The swaying ‘Hugo’ suspension bridge challenges a few riders who don’t have a head for heights but there is a detour – albeit rather steep and scrambly - if it’s too much for some.Sixty-eight percent of the traffic goes from Cromwell to Clyde and the use of bells also helps riders avoid collecting each other around tight corners. Accident statistics were not available due toprivacy but there have been less than five “extractions”, she says.The journey takes about three hours end to end and Cromwell Heritage Precinct is a popular starting point. Everyday fluoro and lycra-clad cyclists gather at the pretty lakeside setting, downing coffee and admiring their metal steeds, as they get pumped for the 42km of adventure ahead.Some have read about the trail in media and advertising, but Janeen says it’s word of mouth now bringing the majority here.The notion of building a track through the rugged Cromwell Gorge emerged around the time John Key’s National government proposed the nationwide ‘Great Rides’ initiative.The Cromwell and Districts Community Trust(CDCT) recorded in it’s 2008 Community Plan a note to investigate the possibility and Janeen and fellow CDCT member Shirley Calvert starting asking around for funds for a feasibility study.The Otago Regional Council eyed the terrain and laughed the idea off but independent funding agency the Central Lakes Trust took the punt, later convincing the OtagoCommunity Trust to follow suit.The network of linking trails idea evolved and this gave enough backing for a growing group to successfully approach government, securing $26.3M through Key’s New Zealand Cycle Trail project.In 2019 the two-year construction of the Lake Dunstan section began. Today one kilometre of urban cycle track can cost $8M so the group are understandably proud of the trail’s $7.2M construction price tag.A handful of landowners and residents resisted – some rather angrily – at the impact on their privacy but support grew as the idea progressed, Janeen says.“Landowners who have given easements have been marvellous and I believe we now have an asset that is a benefit to all.”The construction-generated scars on the formerly fairly-untouched hillside have also drawn a bit of comment but seem predominantly to be an acceptable side effect. With a few climbs and 330m of bridges wrapping around the mountainside, the trail is never short on interest and variety.Tourism Central Otago General Manager Dylan Rushbrook describes the new track as a feat of engineering and is equally amazed by its popularity.The economic benefit, helping make Central one of the few regions to actually grow its visitor economy during the pandemic, was “hugely significant”, he says.For Janeen, who lives a stone’s throw from the trail on the outskirts of Cromwell, there’s daily satisfaction in hearing and seeing excited bunches of cyclists crunching over the new gravel as theyhead out.“I am proud, and also amazed at the streams of people. I love hearing their chatter and enthusiasm and seeing them stop to take a photograph of our view.”Hearing stories of disabled users in wheelchairs and the like, who can finally get out and enjoy a jaunt along the lakeside also warms her heart, Janeen says.The Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust are currently creating 127km of new routes and upgrading 47km of existing track. It will bring the total length - combining that of the Otago CentralRail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge, Clutha Gold and Queenstown trails – to around 500km.Consenting is underway for the next bit through the Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown and Consenting is underway for the next bit through the Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown and landownernegotiations on a Wanaka link have only “3 more links in the chain” to go.

A spectacular unveiling for one of New Zealand’s most spectacular birds is promised, once it alights on its hilltop perch above Clyde.A huge recycled-metal sculpture of this country’s only native falcon is planned and volunteer group Historic Clyde Inc. are keen to get on with the $74,000 project, group member Marnie Kelly says.With a wingspan of 5.5m the public artwork will be transported from Glenorchy in one piece, once completed by renown sculptor Dan Kelly. “This area is rather bereft of art pieces so we decided this would be a good sculpture to have. I think it is a recognisable statement of your community. Every little town needs a statement.”There’s around $8,000 in the fundraising pot already thanks to two cycle businesses and private donations, Marnie says, with considerably more pledged.Clyde businesses will soon be canvassed for support and fundraising events include a steptoe auction at Easter and a dinner with live entertainment later that month.  The group has around 15 members and projects over the past 20 years have included raising funds for the restoration of the town’s historic railway station, instigating the original market days, and running masterchef and house and garden events. “It is a very enthusiastic group, we don’t have a chairman or a treasurer or anything like that, we just pool our ideas.”An artist’s impression of the bold artistic statement in sculpture planned for ClydeShe said the group had been wanting to replace dated signage at the top of the Clyde hill for sometime and would take the opportunity to tackle this alongside Project Karearea.The Karearea, sometimes known as a sparrow hawk due to its small stature, can fly at over 100km/hr and take down live prey larger than itself. They are extremely nimble and attractive birds who fearlessly guard their ground-based nests.Both the northern and southern form are considered to be at risk of extinction “in the medium term”, according the Department of Conservation.Marnie says Contact Energy have approved the highway-side site above Dairy Creek. A positive response to the idea was received from the Central Otago District Council at last year’s community grants funding round, although the project was not deemed as fitting the criteria to receive any monies.Marnie, who operated Clyde’s ‘Touch Yarns’ business for 27 years, said the group hope to have the sculpture in place within a year. A special unveiling would be held to celebrate the artwork, whose wing feathers will be crafted from aged flat warratahs sourced in the Maniototo.

Replacement of a closed bridge at Halls Ford on Maniototo Road, estimated at $540,000, looks the likely solution after engineers recommended the existing structure be removed.The aged and damaged wooden bridge was closed nearly a year ago and inspections had been delayed several times due to river levels and Covid-19 lockdowns, according to a Central Otago District Council (CODC) report.The 93 year old structure links the two parts of the Paterson family farm as well as being a public route running the length of the plain.It was one of three bridges closed in January after severe flooding but, like the Scott Lane Bridge at Kyeburn, had already been weight-restricted due to age-related cracks and damage existing before the floods. Engineering consultants Beca recommended to the CODC that access to the structure be removed to prevent further unauthorised use prior to any replacement being built.Residents have expressed frustration over the time taken to address the problem, which was costing businesses and the public time and money in detours.A solution for the Scott Lane bridge which was destroyed in the floods was also going to be costly even without building a new structure, the council were told yesterday.Due to the dynamic nature of the riverbed which changes and carries a lot of debris during floods, a series of box culverts across its bed was seen as the best option.Estimates for the installation of these was between $650,000 and $750,000. Councillors questioned whether those creating debris, eg tree clearances by the Otago Regional Council and farmers whose fences and vegetation washed downstream, should be involved in helping fix issues.The third bridge at Linnburn Runs Road, whilst old was still a possibility for repair and may last another 20 to 30 years if work is carried out, particularly in adding additional support to rotted abutment beams.A report to council stated that the cost to complete this would be around $80,000-$100,000 and could be accommodated within existing roading renewal budgets.The costs were estimates only and more detailed costings would be reported to the council in late January. Decisions would then have to made on what would occur at each site along with design and planning work.The council is currently undertaking an assessment of all 179 bridges in Central Otago to enable them to assess and prioritise work. Many bridges were aging and the Maniototo in particular was home to the greatest number that would soon start to require attention.

A request by the developers of Cromwell’s Wooing Tree subdivision for the Central Otago District Council(CODC) to help fund a new roundabout and underpass was strongly rejected yesterday.The majority of councillors voted against council staff recommendations that ‘developers contributions’ – fees paid to help council provide services and infrastructure for increased population associated with new subdivisions – be waived to the tune of $630,000.Speaking for the developers, Veros Property Ltd director, Duarne Lankshear, told council at a livestreamed meeting yesterday it was a condition of their consent that a roundabout and underpass be provided. Waka Kotahi(NZTA) had, however, designed a 40m diameter roundabout in order to provide for growth. The developers considered this to be “oversized” in relation to what was required to serve the subdivision. They were now facing a $4.4M cost for this and the underpass.“We have had to spend more than we thought. We have a funding issue and need to bridge the gap.”Wooing Tree subdivision spokesperson Duarne Lankshear speaks to Central Otago District Councillors via livestream from Tauranga yesterday.He said cycle and walkways would be provided to a high standard within the now-360 lot subdivision so people could traverse through to trails and this had added to costs.The original subdivision contained 210 sections, consented through the council’s publicly-notified process but the developer had then reapplied to extend this under a government Fast Track scheme aimed at addressing a nationwide housing shortage.The process overrode previous agreements between the developer and council, neighbours, other submitters, allowing section numbers to increase to 360, the meeting heard.Cr Neil Gillespie rejected the developer’s request, stating they had accepted that providing the facilities were part of their consent conditions and now had 360 sections to sell to help fund this. Council had to provide infrastructure and the purpose of developer’s contributions was to help fund these.“I don’t see any reason or scope why we would forgo developers contributions. They are going to cause growth to the roading network outside of Wooing Tree that this council and ratepayers have to fund. There is no sound reason why we should offset a developer’s cost. If their budgets don’t line up that’s an issue they have to face, it is not a problem for this council.”Cr Nigel McKinlay said the increased number of sections would provide more income for the developers.“They have vastly increased revenue and profit and they are legally obliged to meet their obligations of an underpass and a roundabout. It just defies belief that their budgets don’t accommodate it. I can see no reason whatsoever why this council should support this recommendation.”In support of the recommendation to assist the developer, Cr Tamah Alley said such projects bought in new residents who gave substantial financial benefit to the community and work was provided for many in creating the subdivisions.Underpass Location QuestionedThere had historically been discussion at council about providing an underpass for cyclists prior to the Wooing Tree subdivision being proposed and this had initially been considered for inclusion in council’s Long Term Plan. This had not, however, proceeded to a stage where funds had become available to be allocated and no potential sites were identified.Some councillors felt if an underpass were to be built, a site closer to Shortcut Road and the existing trail could be more suitable than into the Big Fruit area, as is planned. Cr Shirley Calvert felt an underpass to the Big Fruit area would create a “hole” in the grassed area where events were held and council would have to fund new landscaping around it. She believed cyclists using the proposed underpass would have to move through built up and residential areas to reconnect with the trails which was not ideal.“In terms of connectivity it makes absolutely no sense at all and are we just going to have a great big hole in the middle of a reserve where there are festivals and people have stalls. How much of the reserve is going to be a big hole and an entrance to a tunnel.”Cyclists were currently able to pass under the highway where an existing trail ran below the Cromwell Bridge, the meeting heard.

Work began yesterday on preparations for one of Cromwell’s two new roundabouts, with Fulton Hogan being awarded a $3.3M tender for the first project, at the crash-prone intersection of SH6 and SH8B.Between 2010 and 2019, there have been 23 crashes at this intersection with one crash resulting in two people dying.As well as the construction cost there was also design, consenting and property purchase bringing the total cost closer to $5 million - $3 million less than earlier estimates.Waka Kotahi(NZTA) announced the contract today and will fully fund the project through the NZ Upgrade Programme (Regional Package), says Principal Project Manager Brendon French. The single-lane roundabout will replace the current T-intersection.“When completed in the second half of 2022, this project will help reduce the rising number of serious injury crashes at this busy intersection,” says Mr French.The project is funded through the government’s $6.8 billion NZ Upgrade Programme. The NZ Upgrade Programme projects are designed to improve safety at crash-prone intersections. Given the increasing popularity of Cromwell, the Government-funded roundabout will be built to enable it to increase to two lanes in each direction in line with traffic projections, in coming years.Construction preparation work, including relocating a watermain pipe, is getting underway this month, Mr French says, setting up the SH6/SH8B site ready for the New Year.The second roundabout, being funded by the developers of the Wooing Tree subdivision, will be located at the entrance to Cromwell near The Gate Hotel. A pedestrian underpass, also funded by the developers will link the residential and new commercial areas to Cromwell township.The Central Otago District Council will tomorrow consider a request from Wooing Tree Estate for a contribution toward this cost, in light of its benefits to the wider population.Council staff have recommended CODC contribute to funding the underpass through a reduction of the remaining roading development contributions associated with the development, up to $630,000.

Design work is beginning in earnest with just over six months to go before construction is due to start on Cromwell’s $16M cultural centre project.The first gathering of what is being called the ‘external stakeholder group’ was held on Friday. The representatives from five community organisations will meet regularly and work with the Central Otago District Council’s Project Advisory Group to discuss design ideas and progress.Representing the Cromwell Town and Country Club, Fine Thyme Theatre Company, Cromwell Cultural Centre Trust, Cromwell Museum and Cromwell RSA, their role was to provide expertise in relation to hall activity and be a ‘helpful sounding board’ during the project, according to a council report.James Dicey has replaced original nominee architect Jess Sutherland on the group, after her bid with Christchurch-based firm Jasmax was successful in securing the $2.2M design tender for the project. The pair represent the Cromwell Cultural Centre Trust, a volunteer organisation set up to progress the long-awaited hall project.The formation of the stakeholder group did not preclude targeted meetings with other hall users, trust members and community groups to help in the scoping and design process, the report stated.Jasmax will now develop detailed concept plans to be adopted by the Cromwell Community Board. Following that process, funding agencies would be contacted and funds applied for. Next a construction firm would be sought, detailed design developed and approved, and physical work started.The first major construction task is expected be the demolition of the existing hall which was built around 1960 by the community of the time.

From Friday next week visitors aged 12 and over will have to show their government My Vaccine Pass on arrival at all Central Otago District Council(CODC) pools, libraries and council-run i-sites. The move is one of many COVID-related organisational changes local government are having to deal with. New ‘orange traffic light’ settings are being introduced across the south from today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at allowing people to carry on everyday activities but with restrictions. The council has also had to manage public access to meetings – none of which have been cancelled this year due to COVID-19 - and the vaccination status of its staff.  A new policy was currently being developed to manage vaccination considerations of council’s own staff. Most had chosen to get vaccinated already, CODC chief executive Sanchia Jacobs said. “We already know that the majority of CODC staff have chosen to be vaccinated on their own accord. We are working to develop a vaccination policy to determine our position on the requirements for staff regarding Covid-19 vaccination. We will be consulting with staff on this before we make any determination.” All council meetings, which have been publicly livestreamed and recorded since August, will continue to be closed to the public to attend in person. A council spokesperson said a decision, however, will be made following next week’s full council meeting on how future meetings would be managed. Vaccine passes at pools, libraries and i-sites would not be required immediately.  “We will be phasing this in to allow time for us to get systems in place for this new approach and to allow the community to prepare for these changes,” she said.  At all other council offices and facilities council will be working within the traffic lights settings (the Covid Protection Framework) – requiring people to mask up, keep their distance, scan or sign-in, and observe capacity limits, according to a council statement released yesterday  Sanchia said she encourages “all people to consider getting vaccinated for themselves and for their community”. “We are in a very challenging and dynamic environment and things can change at short notice. I have made decisions I believe to be balanced for the risk profile specific to Central Otago and staff at CODC, conscious that some our facilities require intermingling of people in close proximity, and that the school holidays and increased domestic travel is fast approaching.” She said staff were committed to helping all residents access services and help was available.   “We will endeavour to find workarounds where we can do so, while keeping our staff and our community safe. Council recognises this is a dynamic environment and health protection measures are subject to change. Rest assured any changes to the way we operate will be communicated.” Many local places were offering assistance to people in getting their Pass organised, including local pharmacies, Central Otago REAP and Central Otago Libraries.

After twenty years of toil the future of an innovative Cromwell business is now uncertain after the owner was told his lease wil not be renewed.Robbie Dick says when he started Central Wormworx, Central Otago district councillors praised his idea as being ahead of its time, due to the environmental benefits.  Getting established had been hard yakka with “a lot of shovel work”, he says. It was a bit less manual now but still often demanded attention seven days a week. He had, however, been buoyed by the enthusiasm, support and growth in the number of customers, and has been sending tiger worms and soil conditioner all over New Zealand for many years.The soil conditioner or worm cast is highly prized as being better than compost at improving soil quality and pasture. The worms themselves are sold by the kilogram to allow people to create their own wormcast and for breaking down waste such as in composting toilets.Thousands of tonnes of organic waste was diverted from landfill to feed the worms with local supermarkets, farms and orchards supplying the bulk.The plot the business occupies is owned by the Central Otago District Council who informed Robbie the lease would not be renewed when his current term expired next year.Robbie says the business had been supported in its early days by the council via a $17,000 loan to help set up infrastructure like piping and buildings. Private businesses inspired by its green credentials also supported Wormworx, with discounted freight costs and the like.The cancelling of the Wormworx lease was unexpected and no reason for the move had been given by the CODC, Robbie says.He was offered an alternative site off Richards Beach but this was not a practical option due to the cost of setting up again from scratch.“I don’t know why its finishing, we pay market rent here. It is a huge job picking up a worm farm and shifting it. To shift the sheds alone would be huge, they’re sitting on concrete and I’m a bit long in the tooth for all that now.”Trying to find a buyer for the business who was willing to take on moving it, was proving equally daunting, he said, as they would be faced with relocation costs and have no income until the farm was operational again.Financial implications aside, Robbie says he’s saddened by the thought the business may not continue.“It is a great pity as we’ve done a good service for the district over the years and a lot of people have supported us. I’ve worked at it seven days a week and I’d like to see someone take over and be successful to keep the initiative going.”Neighbouring business, Otago Metals Central have been told their lease will expire in 2024 with no certainty of renewal. Part owner Graham Rollo said the prospect of having to move the business was a worry with the yard space required as well as a central location.He said council had been supportive but had not been able to give any certainty as to what their intention was, due to future plans not being yet confirmed.“I can understand council wanting to plan but when you’re a business you need that direction where you go to.”The business, based in Dunedin has been recycling metal in Central Otago for 45 years. He intended to contact council again next year to try and obtain a firm decision on the lease.Lease worries ongoing…Cromwell Mini-golf owner Shona Rae.Last month the Central App reported a Big Fruit reserve business, Cromwell Mini-Golf, was facing uncertainty after the term of its lease was shortened considerably to allow for possible developments associated with the Cromwell Masterplan.The Central Otago District Council had not responded to the Central App’s questions by deadline yesterday.

Interest in re-creating a Chinese gold mining-era village, which could link the Cromwell Heritage Precinct to the new cultural centre area, has been rekindled.Cromwell and Districts Community Trust(CDCT) members Janeen Wood and Ali Ballantyne said fresh discussions had been held and fresh enthusiasms raised on the plan, which has been talked about for over 10 years by various groups. It had even been mooted in plans for the heritage area as far back as 1992, Janeen said.A lakeside area below the Victoria Arms Hotel, near where an angled path leads to a cycle trail, had earlier been marked as the ideal spot for the “replica Chinatown”. The site is above where the original Chinatown village was located during the goldrush.It housed general stores, grog shops and gaming rooms from around 1870, was deserted by the end of the century then demolished in 1930, according to a Cromwell Museum article. The article states that the site was excavated in 1980 by a team of archaeologists from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Remains of the town had earlier been destroyed as part of the lakeshore works associated with the formation of Lake Dunstan. Janeen says the idea to re-create the town is now being discussed by Old Cromwell Inc who look after the Heritage Precinct, and long-time Cromwell resident and history enthusiast Terry Emmitt. Mr Emmitt had gathered historical material relating to the original Chinese miners’ activities in the area and created plans.As a trustee of the Cromwell & Districts Community Trust, she says she was aware the idea was mentioned in the group’s 2013 Cromwell Community Plan. The latest Community Plan released in 2020, states that plans exist and there is community interest in re-creating the Chinese section of old Cromwell town.Speaking via video link at a recent meeting, the pair requested the Cromwell Community Board look into including the project in its future planning.CDCT chairperson Ali Ballantyne(left) and Trustee Janeen Wood speak to the Cromwell Community via video link last week.CDCT chairperson Ali Ballantyne urged the Board to consider adding the project to its 2021/2022 annual plan document.“We don’t want to see any more time be lost. We think that it’s quite timely with the work being done on the cultural and community centre and I think this would only enhance the area and be a good tourism opportunity as well,” Ali said. The Central Otago District Council produces an annual plan in each of the two years between its Long Term Plan. This allows a fresh look at budgets and work programmes outlined in the longer-term document. 

Despite both visitor numbers and donations dropping by over 50 percent, the Cromwell Museum has plans aplenty and has gained wide support from funders to help carry them out.“It was a difficult year with Covid, numbers dropped significantly. Numbers of visitors last year were just over 4000 compared with over 10,000 the year before and our donations were $3800 compared with almost $10,000 the year before. "This year has been similar in terms of numbers and donations,” Cromwell Museum Trust chairperson Martin Anderson said.It had been a busy year, however, with the majority of exhibitions continuing and over $45,000 being raised in external funding.A recent tour of four southern museums had provided much inspiration, Martin told the Cromwell Community Board on Tuesday, particularly on modern and different approaches to displays. More would be visited over the coming year to gather further ideas.Pupils from Waitahuna School Get up close with rare Chafer Beetles at Cromwell Museum on Wednesday, supervised by volunteer Irene Wallace.Museum director Jennifer Hay said a live chafer beetle display was proving popular with visiting school groups. This was improved after some extra beetles were delivered who proved much less shy than the first batch, who chose not to come out and interact with the children. The Otago Museum photographic display was currently running and new exhibitions were planned for the new year.Jennifer has joined a group having input to the planning of Cromwell’s new lakeside hall, museum and cultural centre as well as the Tu Tonu regional museum initiative at Otago Museum, a Covid-19 response programme aimed at identifying challenges and opportunities of museums throughout Otago and Southland.Martin told the Board community involvement in new museum projects was very important and thought had to be given to how to effectively get people involved. The issues of operational funding and reliance on volunteers would also be ongoing for the organisation, he said.The Central Otago District Council provides an annual operational grant to the museum which increased from $36,000 to $40,000 during recent Long Term Plan budget reviews for 2021 to 2031.How museums are funded and supported throughout Central Otago is currently being reviewed.