A slice of 1950’s history in need of some tender love and care is for sale. The Omakau District Memorial Community Centre - known as the Omakau Hall - on the main street of Omakau has been listed with real estate business Raine & Horne.The 430sqm building, on 875 sqm of land, needs someone with plenty of do it yourself (DIY) skills according to real estate agent Rhys Chamberlain.Rhys has marketed plenty of Central properties with unique features in the past including a former flour mill in Oturehua, but this is the first time a community hall has been on his books.“It’s only been on the market for three days and I’ve had a couple of inquiries already.“It’s on [the market] over the Christmas period so we will catch everyone in town.”“We don’t know what it is worth at all, the government valuation is around $265K, but with an auction we’ll have to see,” Rhys said. “There’s a bit of chatter about it and the locals are all aware it’s up for sale.”The property will be auctioned on January 24 at Raine and Horne’s office in Omakau.Proceeds from the sale of the hall will go towards the Omakau Community Hub project. Rhys described the hall as “a bit tired”, it has multiple rooms, including main hall, stage and backstage area, two smaller meeting rooms, a kitchen and bathrooms. The retro ticket booth at the entrance. PHOTO: Supplied There are exits out of the building into an outside area. The property is bordered on either side by presently operating local businesses.Rhys said at one point the hall was going to be demolished and turned into a green space back in 2007.“That didn’t happen, I’m not sure why.”The hall could be reinvented under a new owner with a vision and practical skills, Rhys said.The New Zealand History website states the hall includes the First and Second World War rolls of honour. The names of the fallen in The Great War 1914 -1918. PHOTO: NZ HistoryThe roll of honour from The World War 1939 -1945. PHOTO: NZ HistoryFacebook group Omakau and Ophir Community News reminded local community groups to check all equipment had been removed. The hall used to be used for childcare and by other groups. To find out more about the property contact Rhys Chamberlain. Read more: Omakau community hub progressingCheck out The Central App’s real estate section hereRead more: Cromwell memorial hall build $760,000 into contingencyHave a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Merry and bright Christmas displays are popping in Central as a fun competition returns for a second time.The Central App, with the support from sponsors Aurora Energy, Tall Poppy Real estate, Jamie's Jewellers, The Harvest Hotel and Central Interiors is running ‘Light Up Central’ with prizes up for grabs for houses and businesses.Clyde School Year 8 pupil Jackson Hill (13) has worked hard on his display for his family’s front garden.He has designed a Santa and a sleigh complete with two reindeer, cut them out of plywood and painted them and mounted everything, with a little bit of help from his mum and dad. Jackson said it took a month to create the display. “I started by designing it on my phone using a photo of our house. The main feature is Santa in his sleigh with the reindeer, all made from plywood. My dad helped me cut out the shapes, and then my mum took me to Resene's in Alexandra to pick out the perfect paints,’’ he said.“I spent the entire last weekend painting, and then I got creative with an old bike light and a Christmas decoration to make Rudolf's nose glow.“Huge thanks to my mum and dad for helping fund the supplies and lights. I'm stoked with how it's turned out.”Malcolm Hill and Jackson (13) work together to create Santa and his sleigh. PHOTO: Lisa Hill Mum Lisa said she was incredibly proud of his creativity and hard work.Jackson painted the display by hand. PHOTO: Lisa Hill “The display looks truly magical at night when the lights are on.”Jackson was inspired by his neighbours on Dunstan St who were the winners last year.He said his favourite part of Christmas was spending quality time with his family.“I love how Christmas brings everyone together, and we can all share in the joy and magic of the season. It's a special time to spread love, kindness, and Christmas spirit!.''There are more than 10 residential entrants and 27 businesses in Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra and many are enjoyable to view during daylight hours as well as after dark.Some of the display at 10 Juniper Close, Alexandra. PHOTO: The Central AppTo enter you need to decorate your home or workplace with a festive display and then it will be added to a map, so residents and visitors can do their own self-guided tour of festive spots. It’s free to enter and you can sign up at any time.Light Up Central’s first prize is $1000 worth of home improvements, second place wins a night’s accommodation for two including breakfast, and third scoops $500 worth of jewellery.The business prize is a Business South membership.People need to vote online by January 4 for their favourite house and business. Winners will be announced on January 5. Alexandra’s Courthouse Cafe has an epic Christmas vibe this year. PHOTO: Supplied Read more: Joyful Christmas Trail at Jolendale Park this yearRead more: Sustainable Christmas tips for familiesHave a story to share?Contact [email protected] 

The streamlining of operations at two Cromwell aged care facilities will result in job losses and a reduction of caregiver hours.Several administrative and management jobs at both Ripponvale and Golden View Lifestyle villages have been displaced by the new owners Promisia Healthcare, as it moved to streamline its operations.The Christchurch-based company acquired both villages for $33million, taking over operations in August.Promisia currently operates other aged care facilities in Ranfurly, Feilding, Christchurch and Dannevirke.In a recent letter to families of residents, executive director Craig Percy said unfortunately, as they centralised administration and management oversight back to its Christchurch support office, there have been some staff losses.There were systemic issues with the way that Health NZ funded aged care in New Zealand, he said.“The sector is dramatically underfunded; however, our services are in high demand and therefore we need to make our service delivery sustainable. Excellence in quality care and safety remain our priority.”Registered nursing hours would be increasing at Ripponburn and staying the same at Goldenview, and catering services would be merged.Ripponburn Hospital and Home will be operated together with Golden View under new owners Promisia. FILE SHOT A total of 110 caregiver hours would be cut at Goldenview to make the business more sustainable, and single person transfers would be used where appropriate, rather than two staff members, except for when using hoists.The activities programmes were also being reduced across both facilities with support from caregivers, the letter stated.However, in response to questions from The Central App, Craig said through natural attrition and the redesign of rosters, they did not envisage there would be a material loss of frontline roles. “There will be a reduction of four administration and management roles across the two facilities. The Christchurch support office will provide additional administration and resources aimed at streamlining processes and clinical care across the Cromwell facilities.”In the coming weeks, further discussions would be held with staff aimed at finalising the allocation of hours and rosters, Craig said.Golden View was a 79-bed care facility that included a specialist dementia unit and 19 serviced apartments; and 102 independent living units with a communal facilities building and amenities area. Construction of the village was completed in 2021 and the care facility in 2022. Across the road was Ripponburn with just 16 independent living villas and a 46-bed care facility. Construction of the villas was completed in 2016, with recent improvements made to the village site and roadways. The care facility building was built in the 1930s and was near the end of its useful life, with the company looking to expand onsite, including new accommodation and further investment in specialised dementia care.According to statistics, Cromwell has 20 per cent of its population aged over 65, and the number of people living with dementia was expected to increase from around 70,000 today to almost 170,000 by 2050. Many of these people would require specialised residential care and support, and Golden View is the only village offering specialised dementia care in Cromwell.Know more?Contact [email protected]

Contact Energy’s Manuherikia Landscape and Visual Amenity Plan (LVAMP) is progressing ahead of its July 1 deadline.As a requirement of its Roxburgh Dam resource consent obligations, Contact must develop a landscape and visual amenity plan to manage the impacts of its operations.The plan is re-assessed every five years and engagement with stakeholders has begun for its next iteration.Contact Energy environmental advisor Jenny Bullock said the company was working with local community groups, key stakeholders, mana whenua, and had engaged an independent landscape architect.“The LVAMP purpose is to identify the areas and actions to address landscape and visual amenity effects from Contact’s generation activities. “This includes the excavation of sediment from the riverbed in the Alexandra reaches, including the Linger and Die area.”The reassessment was an opportunity to build greater connections with community groups working in this area, alongside potential to elevate native biodiversity through actions such as indigenous planting and control of invasive weed species, she said.“Following initial consultation with key stakeholders, we will create a draft plan and then we will seek input from the wider community. We’re aiming for a first draft to be available in late January 2025.’’Past work to comply with the Otago Regional Council resource consent obligations had been carried out by Wilsons Contracting.In early 2023, 73,000 cubic metres of gravel and sediment from the Manuherikia River near Galloway Bridge and the confluence with the Clutha River at Alexandra was removed.The Manuherikia River alongside the Linger and Die reserve in Alexandra. PHOTO: The Central AppSediment was stockpiled and trucked to designated disposal sites (such as Dry Gully) and some material from river beds was processed and used in building and roading infrastructure maintenance and construction.  The Central App will keep readers updated about the LVAMP for the Lower Manuherikia as information on the plan becomes available.Read more: Central Otago, Gore district councils unified on water servicesRead more: Toxic algae warning at Butchers DamRead more: Freshwater gold clam spread to South Island could be devastatingHave a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Strong sales start with strong brand awareness.As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. No matter how great your products are, your brand needs visibility to grow, attract the right customers, and build trust.People need to know, like, and feel confident in your brand before they buy from you.So, how do we make that happen?Getting Your Brand NoticedBuilding brand awareness is like making new friends—you want people to recognise you, trust you, and feel comfortable with you.Here’s a simple analogy:Imagine your birthday is coming up, and you’re planning your guest list.Who’s on it?Likely friends you know and trust.Now, picture walking out onto the street and inviting a complete stranger to your party.What would they say? Probably, no thanks.Why? They don’t know you.They don’t know what kind of party it’ll be.Frankly, they might think it’s a bit weird.But businesses often make this mistake.They market to thousands of strangers, hoping one will turn up.It’s a waste of time, energy, and even worse—can harm your brand.Branding isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being remembered in the right way.Tip 1: The Secret to Sales? Brand AwarenessBuilding brand awareness is like planting seeds for future sales.As your brand becomes recognised and trusted across different touchpoints, sales follow naturally.It’s not just about selling a product—it’s about creating a connection and a buzz.When people start talking about your brand for the right reasons, sales roll in without you having to push too hard.Tip 2: Keep Advertising, Even When Times Are GoodHere’s a fun fact: 77% of people prefer to buy from businesses they know and trust.Why? It’s the same reason we like catching up with old friends—they’re familiar, and we’ve built a connection over time.Brands that consistently share their stories build that same kind of connection. Even when sales are steady, continuing to advertise keeps your brand in the spotlight and strengthens trust.Tip 3: Make Your Brand Top of MindKeep It FreshThink of your brand like a plant. The more you water it, the more it grows. Regular updates and content keep your audience engaged and make your brand the first they think of when they need your product or service.Be YourselfWhat’s your brand’s personality? Fun and quirky? Serious and professional? Let it shine! Share content that reflects your style so your audience knows exactly who you are.Tell Your StoryStories are powerful—they create emotional connections. Share your journey, highlight your team, or feature customers. When people relate to your story, they relate to your brand.Get VisualVisuals like pictures, videos, and infographics grab attention and stick in people’s minds. They make your marketing engaging and memorable.Ready to Take Action?Plan AheadCreate a content calendar to ensure your branding efforts are consistent and varied month to month.Craft a NarrativeChoose a story that aligns with your brand values and share it across your channels.Try New FormatsExperiment with videos, live streams, or interactive content like quizzes to keep your audience engaged.Building brand awareness takes time, but with consistency and creativity, you’ll become the brand everyone knows and loves.So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get your brand out there and make it unforgettable!P.S. If your sales are dropping or you’re unsure how to get more people excited about your brand, click here, and we’ll help you rediscover the best path forward.

Sofia Vergara’s coffee brand, Dios Mio Coffee, has taken the market by storm since its July launch, generating an impressive $222K in monthly sales—all in just four months!How did they pull this off? Other than Modern Family star Sofia Vergara being ambassador they used a mix of smart tools, creative engagement, and a focus on customer experience. If you're a small business owner, there’s plenty to learn from their journey. Let’s break it down:The Secret Sauce: Tools Powering Dios Mio’s Growth1. Crazy Egg – See Your Site Through Your Customers’ EyesThis heat-mapping tool gives a behind-the-scenes look at how visitors interact with your site. You can see where they click, how they scroll, and where they drop off.Why it’s useful:Identifies problem areas that might be costing you sales.Helps you tweak your website to improve user experience and boost conversions.Think of it as having a roadmap for turning curious browsers into loyal buyers!2. Octane AI – Engaging Customers Through Fun QuizzesQuizzes aren’t just for social media—they’re a great way to engage customers and guide them toward the right product. Dios Mio’s quiz helps customers pick a coffee that matches their taste and personality.Here’s why it works:Customers answer fun questions like their coffee-making habits and where they’d love to sip coffee with Sofia Vergara.At the end, users are prompted to share their email for a 10% discount, turning them into subscribers and potential buyers.This playful approach isn’t just entertaining—it’s strategic. The quizzes grow their email list and help convert one-time shoppers into repeat customers.3. Recharge Subscriptions – Turning One-Time Buyers Into Loyal FansSubscription models are perfect for products people buy regularly, like coffee. Dios Mio makes their subscription option crystal clear with a “Subscribe and Save” button right on their homepage.Why it works:Customers can choose their coffee type, roast, and delivery frequency.Subscriptions encourage repeat purchases, increasing the average order value (AOV) and building steady, recurring revenue.This system is simple to set up with Recharge and comes with top-notch support—no coding required!What If You Don’t Use Shopify?The good news is, you don’t have to use Shopify to implement these strategies. Many platforms offer similar tools and plugins that can help you:Track user behavior (like Crazy Egg).Engage with quizzes (like Octane AI).Introduce subscriptions (like Recharge).With a little research, you can find options that fit your platform and budget.Ready to Brew Up Some Ideas?Dios Mio Coffee’s success is proof that small, creative tweaks can lead to big results. Whether it’s using quizzes to engage customers, adding a subscription model, or improving your website’s user experience, there’s inspiration here for every business.Which brand will we be spying on next? 👀

Up to 250 jobs would be created for a proposed solar farm near Naseby during a two-year period, with public submissions now open on the resource consent application.The Central Otago District Council (CODC) has notified the application by Helios OTA to construct, operate, and maintain a solar farm at 48 Ranfurly-Naseby Road.The proposed solar farm - also known as the Māniatoto Plain Solar Farm - required multiple resource consents to operate on rural land currently used for sheep and beef grazing.Helios is a New Zealand company established in early 2020 when the founders recognised the potential for grid-scale solar developments to make a positive contribution to the existing New Zealand energy mix. Helios believed large-scale solar generation would make a meaningful and rapid contribution to New Zealand’s goal of reaching 100 per cent renewable electricity generation by 2030, and would democratise the country’s energy market to help deliver a more secure and affordable energy supply for the country. The application sought resource consent to construct, operate and maintain an approximately 300MWac photovoltaic solar farm, and associated infrastructure including battery energy storage, substation and transmission line infrastructure for renewable electricity generation.The proposed solar farm would be built on land leased from two local farming families and connected into the National Grid via the Naseby Substation on Fennessy Road.It would consist of approximately 550,810 solar panels, mounted on a tracking system. The panels would be aligned in north and south rows, and follow the movement of the sun throughout the day.When the sun was overhead and the solar panels were tilted parallel to the ground at their maximum site coverage, they would cover approximately 23.3 per cent of the site (155 ha in total). The solar farm has been designed to allow enough space underneath and around the panels for compatibility with sheep grazing and pasture growth, with a grass mix suitable for sheep grazing.The proposal would create enough clean, renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 70,000 typical New Zealand homes annually. Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Public transport options to shuttle workers from Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell to Queenstown and Wanaka for work is being explored by the Otago Regional Council.At its monthly meeting in Balclutha last week, councillors agreed to push on with a study of shared transport options, as part of a wider strategic direction on public transport across the region.Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws asked whether the study would be consulted on with the public, and chief executive Richard Saunders said that would depend on whether there would be significant changes.He said it was disappointing that the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) was not partnering with the regional council in supporting the work across the region.The initial proposal was for a public bus service just to Queenstown, but Cr Laws said given that Wanaka and Hawea were booming as well, particularly with the trades, that route needed to be explored as well.“Not all workers are turning left at the Cromwell turn off, they are heading right as well.”The Otago Regional Council already runs a subsidised bus service around Queenstown SUPPLIEDCr Andrew Noone congratulated Cr Laws on promoting public transport and connectivity, and said who knew what the communities would look like across the region in a decade’s time.Cr Gary Kelliher was the only councillor who voted against the transport study.After the meeting, he said he didn’t think it would be supported enough.“We have a public transport system that runs at a loss at the moment.”He believed what people wanted and what the regional council could actually provide were two different things.For example, not all workers would be wanting to leave at the same time every morning or returning at the same time at the end of the day. Unless it ran on the hour every hour it wouldn’t be sustainable, he said.“So we’ll end up with an empty bus.”With the cost of living crisis, he was not supporting the “nice to haves,” and said the regional council had to do better with its ‘must haves.’The transport team would now work with the finance team to understand the full rating impact on the decision, to inform future decisions on the Annual Plan.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected] 

"Business as usual is no longer an option." This was the message from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown at our meeting this week in Wellington. I want to highlight what he had to say about Local Water Done Well, which is National's plan for Councils to deliver clean, safe, reliable drinking water. As part of this council needs to develop a Water Service Delivery Plan (WSDP) which will outline how we are going to meet the government's direction in the water space. There is a very strong expectation that councils will work together, at a regional level, to achieve this.CODC is currently in conversations with some of our neighbours about what a joint Council Controlled Organisation to take care of water services could look like. We will be discussing this at our council meeting this week. Minister Brown acknowledged that we have inherited pressing issues. He highlighted some new tools – one being Regional Deals. All councils have now been invited to pitch for a regional deal, with the focus areas being economic growth, infrastructure, housing and transport. These are areas that Central Otago could really use some forward progress in, and we have started this work with our neighbours. Interestingly, Minister Brown and Minister Shane Jones said councils who are shown to be collaborating in the water space, and taking on board the government’s direction, will be viewed more favourable when regional deals are assessed. The key point for regional deals is that it won’t come with any money from the government. It is more about the levers, legislation and influence that they control that can help regions to get things moving. The other really interesting comments were from presentations from two Australian states (Victoria and New South Wales) on rates capping.Chalk and cheese presentations. Victoria started rates capping in 2017, and it seems to be going “OK so far.” They cautioned maintenance was one of the first things to be reduced, and the impact on people ‘at the bottom’ was more significant when it came to cutting services. Waste is excluded from rates capping so whatever waste increases by is still passed on the ratepayers. NSW has had rates capping for 50 years. There was a very stern warning from them – ‘proceed down this path with extreme caution’.The cap does not apply to waste, water or wastewater, and sometimes what is left is not even keeping pace with inflation.They said NSW currently has a significant backlog for asset renewal, maintenance and adaptation to climate change. Councils can apply for an “exemption” to the cap – including up to a 51% rates increase that was approved in recent times. Certainly food for thought as we go forward, and highlights the need for councils to diversify their income streams so we’re not just relying on rates.

Peregrine Wines has appealed its Bendigo Loop Road subdivision that was declined by the Central Otago District Council (CODC) in June.A hearings panel agreed with planning consultant Olivia Stirling the receiving environment, which was currently characterised by its open space natural character, would be compromised by further incremental subdivision in the location. Peregrine Wines first started a three-lot subdivision at Bendigo Loop Road back in 2021, then subdivided a 30ha lot into a further two lots a year later.The initial piece of land subdivided was 38.9ha - split into three lots (5.46ha, 4.29ha and 29.17ha).The 29.17ha lot was then split into a further two lots (3.47ha and 25.72ha), and now the company wanted to split the bigger piece that was left into a further 23.7ha and 2.005ha.Stirling recommended in her planners report the subdivision be declined as the surrounding landscape had already reached a density that was unable to absorb any further fragmentation without significantly undermining the rural character, amenity and open natural landscape values of the Rural Resource Area.Although no change of land use had been made, nor any residential activity proposed on the bare land, one submitter said the application was sending mixed messages in recognising the possibility of future housing on the sites.The panel also considered that while the applicant had indicated there was no intention to establish residential activity on the site, in separate ownership there would still inevitably be multiple buildings or structures of some sort on both sites. Peregrine noted in its application that viticulture use of the site was more productive than its current agriculture use, and confirmed it had already purchased Sauvignon Blanc vines to plant within one of the new lots.Peregrine appealed the Council’s decision for various reasons including the belief the decision incorrectly placed significant weight on the precedent consent might set for residential development if granted.“This is speculative without evidence regarding what residential activity, if any, was planned by the appellant, and should have been treated as such by the hearings panel.”The decision also did not sufficiently recognise that buildings, if any, could support rural production activities (for example, in providing accommodation to rural workers), the appeal submission said.“The decision did not take into account the positive effects that dwellings, if any, would have on reducing the need for rural workers to travel to the site daily, some for a substantial distance.”Lawyers also criticised the panel for relying “heavily” on a peer review of the productivity of the site – prepared by James Dicey of Grape Vision, who was a competitor to the appellant and did not propose any alternative productive use to viticulture or a comprehensive economic assessment. “The hearings panel placed significant weight on the peer review prepared by Mr Dicey, that the site, once subdivided, would have a small but appreciable loss of productivity. “However, the evidence of the applicant – as an experienced viticulturist and steward of the site, and which concluded that overall the application would allow for a more sustainable and productive layout and use of the site across two allotments – should have been given more weight and been preferred.”Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has decided not to fill the vacancy left by Bryan Scott after he resigned last month [October 25] following the Government’s intervention on the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).The decision follows the same path the Central Otago District Council (CODC) took after councillor Tamah Alley moved into the Mayoral role, also leaving a vacancy around the table until the next election.At its monthly meeting on Wednesday, regional council chair Gretchen Robertson acknowledged Cr Scott’s contribution to the council the past two decades - coincidentally the meeting was also held in his home town of Balclutha.With his recent resignation, Cr Scott left a significant gap in the team and they would feel the absence of his insight, experience, and unwavering dedication to Otago’s future, Cr Robertson said.“Bryan’s diverse background, including his training as a chemical engineer, has brought an analytical and evidence-based approach to the council,’’ she said.“His focus on factual accuracy and his insistence on measurable outcomes have been instrumental in shaping council decisions.”Bryan Scott  PHOTO: SUPPLIEDKnown for his matter-of-fact approach, Cr Scott judged success by actions and impacts rather than accolades or adornment, encouraging those around him to keep focused on what truly mattered, she said. “His dedication to a data-driven approach has set a high standard for decisions that balance long-term environmental and community wellbeing, reflecting his steadfast commitment to securing Otago’s future.”Beyond his technical skills, Cr Scott’s deep love for the outdoors and his commitment to conservation had greatly influenced his contributions to Otago. His property above Otago Harbour, where he planted more 3500 native trees, stood as a testament to his belief in conservation through action. Otago Regional Council chair Gretchen Robertson acknowledged the work of outgoing councillor Bryan Scott at a meeting on Wednesday. FILE SHOTCr Robertson said whether out tramping the rugged Te Araroa Trail or working on integrated catchment management across Otago, Cr Scott’s focus had always been on creating a resilient environment for generations to come. “His dedication goes beyond self-advancement, centring on securing a thriving, sustainable region for all who call it home. ‘’Bryan’s years with the Otago Regional Council reflect a rare blend of resilience, tenacity, and passion for both people and the natural world. “From supporting projects that protect rivers, forests, and wetlands to fostering strong partnerships with mana whenua, his legacy will be felt across the region for years to come. “On behalf of the Otago Regional Council, I extend our deepest gratitude to Bryan Scott for his invaluable years of service, and for the lasting impact he has made on Otago’s environment and communities.”General manager strategy and customer Amanda Vercoe said due to the resignation taking place within 12 months of the next local body election - set for October 11, 2025), they could leave the vacancy unfilled.Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws moved the vacancy be left open and it was seconded by Cr Kevin Malcolm.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Central Otago’s new mayor Tamah Alley says she has the “best job in the world’’.The newly appointed mayor spoke to The Outlet about her unique journey from a decade in the police force to leading a rapidly growing region. Mayor Tamah said her career in the police taught her invaluable skills such as developing a thick skin and making courageous decisions. The transition from law enforcement to governance was fueled by a strong service drive - and the mayoralty had not been a consideration.“When I first put my hand up to become an elected member this is not where I thought my path was heading, but you know, things change, opportunities arrive.‘’I try to be the first one . . . to take up opportunities and kind of push yourself out there and be challenged and be interested in the role that you’re doing, and I think that’s what lots of us want from our day jobs,’’ she said.The dual nature of rapid growth in Central Otago, seen as both a challenge and an opportunity, and there were complexities in engaging the community in decision-making, given the vast amount of information council members must process. “I think the biggest challenge has been bringing our communities on a journey - I think loads of people feel shut out of the decision making around the council table and their ability to have a say and influence the decision that we make,’’ she said.Listen to the full interview on The Outlet,

Clutha district Mayor Bryan Cadogan welcomed the Otago Regional Council monthly meeting into the ‘Big River’ town on Wednesday, with councillors travelling from throughout the region to attend.The regional council held the majority of its meetings in Dunedin but several times a year also took it out to the regions, including Central Otago - its July meeting was held in Cromwell.The recent intervention by the Government to amend the Resource Management Act prohibiting regional councils from notifying their freshwater plans (LWRP) has resulted in ongoing correspondence between the regional council and Ministers.RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop recently said publicly there was still opportunity for the regional council to play a role in the review of the national direction for freshwater management, with the national policy statement for freshwater management (NPSFM) on track to be replaced mid-2025.The expectation was staff would work with ministry officials, and a report to the meeting said there may be an opportunity for involvement at a governance level alongside staff input. Council would now accept the offer for staff to work with ministry officials, and also request to have specific councillor level engagement as well.This would enable the regional council’s experience and expertise and the region’s needs to properly inform the review process. Cr Michael Laws thanked chief executive Richard Saunders “for encapsulating that view,” on behalf of the council, in the draft letter to ministers. It was also noted from staff involved in the LWRP that the delay in notifying it had created some issues that would need governance direction before a replacement was notified.Staff intended to report back to council in early 2025 on the issues identified, and some potential solutions, if required, to respond to the issues.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Motorists travelling between Alexandra and Roxburgh should factor in delays as work to install a new culvert at Gorge Creek begins on Sunday.Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) will close the main highway each night from November 24 to December 6 to conduct the work.People who travel on that section of State Highway 8 (SH8) would need to build in extra time and be ready for short delays, journey manager for NZTA in Otago Nicole Felts said. The highway would be open to clear the traffic at the top of each hour, and by doing the work at night, would minimise traffic disruptions.Maintenance contract manager for Central Otago Peter Standring said the pipe running under the road – the culvert – collapsed a wee while ago due to its age, and due to the broken concrete material filling up the pipe, the water capacity was reduced. “Given we were about to renew the highway surface, it made sense to replace the pipe with a solid one at the same time."NZTA would be also resealing SH8 near the creek in early December, from Monday, December 9 for up to ten weeks to early March - that work would be carried out during the day.“We are taking the opportunity to replace the culvert before completing the road rehabilitation. The current one-metre diameter culvert is an older concrete pipe that was on our list to be renewed so we are using this opportunity to combine both into one package of works,” Nicole said.A lot of work had been done on culverts in the area since 2021, following the devastating 2017 floods which blocked the highway.NZTA, in conjunction with the Otago Regional Council, replaced a culvert at Golf Course Creek eight times bigger than the original one to improve road flooding resilience.The Pumphouse Creek culvert was replaced in 2021 and at Black Jacks in 2023.NZTA has also been working with the regional council to complete a catchment study of the area. A detailed hazard assessment on 13 of the 22 river catchments was in progress to understand future flooding scenarios.Regional council staff presented councillors with its Roxburgh Natural Hazards report last week, which outlined details of the study that would be completed by the end of 2025.Diggers work to clear a culvert in Roxburgh after the 2017 floods. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APPThe 2017 flooding event caused significant impact to property and infrastructure, and the regional council needed to plan for the impacts of future ones, as a result of climate change.The upcoming evening culvert work would stop on December 20 and restart January 14. Around 1.3km of highway would be reconstructed north of Gorge Creek. The seal would remain intact in the lead-in to Christmas with full reconstruction underway from mid-January. There would be delays of up to ten minutes around this work with the highway operating as a single lane with traffic lights controlling movements. “We know this work runs through the Christmas holidays so thanks to all drivers coming into Central Otago on SH8 being ready for short daytime delays and, if travelling at night in the lead-in to Christmas, aiming for the top of the hour to get through at Gorge Creek,” Nicole said.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Inland Otago lakes and rivers are at risk from the potential spread of freshwater gold clam - and a surveillance programme is underway to monitor the new invasive species.The Otago Regional Council (ORC) said last week numerous freshwater systems in Otago were considered suitable for Corbicula fluminea colonisation.  But so far none have been detected in the South Island.  A report from staff to councillors outlined that the region’s lakes and rivers provided the temperature and nutrient conditions conducive to their establishment.The new-to New Zealand freshwater clam was found in the Waikato River in May 2023 and in March 2024, a second species of exotic clam at the Lake Taupō Aqua Park. “These species are considered to be highly invasive as they can spread quickly in rivers using water flows and are easily transported to new waterways via human activity,’’ the report said.“They can out-compete and displace native and taoka[treasured] species, compromise water quality, clog and damage water infrastructure, such as hydroelectricity and municipal water, and impact tourism and recreational values,” the report said.Regional council staff have proactively implemented a surveillance programme using water sampling for environmental DNA (eDNA). Locations of eDNA water sampling for freshwater clams around Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe report said there was also competition with and displacement of native species such as Kākahi/Freshwater Mussel (Echyridella menziesii) and exacerbation of water quality issues by reworking sediment and releasing nutrients.Dunstan ward councillor Gary Kelliher said it would be a disaster to have the clams in our waterways “as we have enough biosecurity issues currently blocking up screens for intakes, etc.”There was also the potential of spread into South Island waterways from rowing crews taking their boats away to regattas and returning them, he said.Other surveillance efforts included briefing the divers, engaged by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to manage invasive lagarosiphon in some of Otago’s high-risk lakes, to look out for Corbicula.Freshwater clams could produce 400 juveniles per day and up to 70,000 juveniles per year, resulting in infestations reaching extremely high densities in optimal conditions and smothering benthic habitats with shells.This has given Corbicula a reputation of one of the most prolific freshwater invaders worldwide.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

A gold mining company with a fast-tracked expansion project has a poor history complying with consent conditions, a regional council audit shows.The audit of OceanaGold's Macraes mine by Otago Regional Council, completed in October, found "continued or repeated non-compliances" with several resource consent environmental monitoring conditions between 2019 and 2024.It also found a trend of declining aquatic health in the surrounding ecosystem, but did not deem this a breach by itself.The council did not take enforcement action against the company, which said it was working proactively with the council to improve compliance.The Otago gold mine has been in operation since 1990 and an expansion project set for inclusion in the fast-track legislation, which passed its second reading in Parliament on Wednesday, will extend the life of the mine by a decade, from 2026 to 2036.Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham said the company's past performance was disappointing."The fact that this level of non-compliance is going on with companies that have been put through in this fast-track process will be hugely concerning to people," Pham said.She said the fast-track legislation's purpose - to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits - will give expert panels little choice but to approve projects.Environmental considerations are not included in the bill's purpose, although panels will be able to suggest conditions of approval.But even with stringent conditions in place, there was no guarantee these would be adhered to, or if breached, councils would take action to stop environmental harm, Pham said.Green Party MP Lan Pham Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonOceanaGold's poor results at Macraes mine included higher than allowed chemical and algae levels in water, gaps in monitoring, non-notification of when levels were exceeded, and a lack of reported action taken when limits passed a trigger point.OceanGold also submitted most quarterly and annual reports to the council late, with one report submitted almost a year late and more than half submitted five months after they were due.OceanaGold's senior vice president of legal and public affairs Alison Paul said there were acknowledged issues with the sampling and reporting systems, which the audit highlighted. The company had been working proactively with the council to adhere to the conditions of consents, she said.The company corrected issues as they arose so it could comply with consent conditions, Paul said."Ongoing improvements to how we manage water at Macraes reflect this commitment, with the recent audit confirming a strong track record of maintaining water quality standards at Macraes."Otago Regional Council did not take any enforcement action against OceanaGold despite the repeated breaches.Council compliance manager Carlo Bell said not all non-compliance resulted in enforcement action."It depends on the type of non-compliance that has been identified, effect of the non-compliance and the seriousness of the non-compliance."The compliance levels in the quarterly reports ranged from a low level of non-compliance to a "significant" level, which is the highest level of non-compliance, where there are significant environmental consequences.An action plan was put in place to improve the company's performance, Bell said.Bell could not say if all tasks which were due to be completed had been done, but said the council was monitoring progress and meeting with the company.The council's audit said staffing issues at OceanaGold were believed to be part of the reason for late reporting. A change in management in 2023 had improved matters.Pham said the council had cut the company "a lot of slack"."This isn't just someone being away from work and there being absences. This is sustained, ongoing non-compliance and then we have these companies rubber-stamped under fast track to not only continue, but expand their activities," she said. "That's the real concern."A Flourish data visualisationHistory of consent breachesThe recent audit showed a water quality limit was breached 29 times, including a recent seven-month period where sulphate levels at one monitoring spot were higher than the allowed amount. The highest level included in the audit was more than double the limit of 1000mg/l.Non-compliance of the quarterly water quality reports ranged from a ranking of low non-compliance (five reports), moderate (eight reports) and significant (two reports). Another five reports did not have a grade assigned.The audit said the reporting showed a trend of declining aquatic ecosystem health.This was not considered a breach in of itself, though, as conditions in the consent were focused on monitoring.Ecologist Mike Joy said that was "bizarre"."Unbelievable and obviously wrong, because we should be looking at effects. The RMA is about effects, not whether you are monitoring correctly or not."Carlo Bell said the decision on what conditions should be applied to the consents was made by an independent hearing panel."The compliance and monitoring schedule for the consents says that the consent holder has to investigate and implement mitigations if the aquatic biological values degrade and council's role is to make sure that this happens in line with the wording of the condition, which has been completed through the audit process."Investigations by OceanaGold had been completed, but these could not "conclusively" attribute the decline to mining as there were other activities taking place in the area."Work on this is ongoing by the consent holder,"Bell said.The company said it was making changes to how it managed water at three locations where sampling showed declining trends in stream conditions.A Flourish data visualisation

Dunstan ward Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws claims payments totalling $5.3 million made to iwi through its partnership with local government have been kept secret from the public.However the regional council disputes the claim saying there has been no secrecy - the payments came from a wide range of sources, including Government funding for various work carried out with iwi over the past five years. Following Official Information Act (OIA) requests, Cr Laws questioned on his The Platform show this week, why the regional council hadn’t included these payments in its annual plan or annual report.“Each year I have gone through the annual plan process for a breakdown of the funding and became increasingly concerned about the financial information to make an informed decision,’’ he said.Having been on the regional council for the past eight years, he described himself as “usually a voice in the wilderness,” but was pleased in recent months other councillors had started to support him.Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws has questioned the transparency of local government’s partnership with iwi and its payments over the past five years. FILE SHOTChief executive Richard Saunders said the $5.3 million was made up of $3.48million ‘actual’ payments, including $1.5m of grant funding from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Department of Conservation (DOC) with the approximate balance of $1.76m being largely proposed spending out to 2027.For the $1.5m of grant funding there was no cost to the ratepayer, “this was for Jobs for Nature/Essential Freshwater funding across two key projects,” he said.The payments weren’t visible to the public as they were part of the overall project costs across different business areas. “A number of these payments are for input to activities across the ORC’s business and coded to different projects, for example the Land and Water Regional Plan, biodiversity planning, consenting, cultural values inputs to natural hazards planning.”In a statement released this week, Cr Laws said that he had always opposed the concept of the regional council entering a “self described partnership” with local iwi – calling them a small group of Maori folk provided with especial favours and influence as a consequence.Cr Laws believed that the financial payments also suggested a clear conflict of interest relating to those iwi representatives being included on council policy-making committees.But Richard said the funding deeds between MfE and DOC was for direct services to be provided by iwi such as planting, weeding and pest management.“These deeds of funding were approved by council. We don’t provide detailed project level budgeting in our planning documents, which is why these payments aren’t visible. However they were budgeted for, and provided for as part of the overall project costs.” The Long-term Plan 2021-2031 included a service level measure ‘’Build Mana Whenua participation in Council decision making through a treaty-based partnership approach in our engagement. With a measure of work done in partnership with iwi; increase the number of outputs and groups working together on projects'’.  “We also include a summary of iwi activity in each year’s Annual Report. So while the line costs aren’t reported, we actively talk about the work we’re doing together in public and it’s not secret,” Richard said. 

Trigger Warning: This story talks about, firearms, hunting, firearms laws, mental health and suicideIf you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or out-of-sorts, here’s some numbers to connect you 24 hours a day to people trained to help:Free call or text 1737Lifeline 0800 543 354If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, please call 111New charitable trust Mental Hunts, is promoting better mental health and well-being among hunters - and their work is gaining traction.Wānaka’s Glen Thurston, together with hunting guide Sam Manson has launched a website, YouTube channel with episodes, while advocating with stakeholder groups including Te Tari Pūreke Firearm Safety Authority New Zealand, New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA), the NZ Police, local hunting groups and health organisations. Glen returns as a podcast guest today, and talks with host Brent about how he got involved in helping hunters with their mental health. LINK: add link to podcast please Back in October 2019, Glen was struggling with mental health challenges of his own. He tried to get help and had his firearms removed, which as he was farming at the time he said “made life really difficult”. This experience uncovered a significant issue within the firearms community: the fear of seeking mental health support due to the potential threat of losing one's licence.“You think if someone's got a firearms license and they're not well, we all know the suicide rate and mental health [challenges in] the farming industry [are] pretty high,’’ Glen said.“If they have that fear of losing their firearms, they're not gonna get help. “If you have every single farmer not getting help, just because they don't [want] to lose their firearms, because they need their firearms to do their job. “Long-term, I see this being a massive crisis for the country. We're doing all this good stuff about breaking the stigma and men's mental health . . . but in the background, there's this hidden barrier and no one's talking about it, no one's doing anything about it.”“I thought it was time to step up . . . I'm doing this for everyone else and it needs to change. Otherwise, people will die and it won't be the guns doing it. It'll be the fact that they haven't had the help they needed early.”Glen said he was creating resources specifically to help hunters, and he recognised hunting was almost meditative and good for people's wellbeing.“If you do have a successful hunt, the feeling of that is just incredible. The fact that you're about to go and harvest an animal, take it home and have your kids help you cut that animal up, put it on the table and cook it on the barbie."It's just a nice feeling, especially in a time like we're in now where the cost of groceries is killing people. It's literally, it's, it's out of control. So to be able to put one deer on the table, you're saving yourself [almost] a thousand bucks worth of meat for months and months. “[There] is nothing you can compare it to, it is mountain medicine. It is meditation in the hills. It's what I do for meditation. I've said it before, but I love the concept of meditation and sitting in my room and meditating, but I'm just really crap at it. My mind wanders, but you get out hunting and you are, you're in that moment.”Listen to Glen’s perspective on the stigma around mental health, the importance of getting help early, rural life and how disclosing counselling or medication for mental health can mean licence holders can keep their guns on today's episode of The Outlet.Find helplines and mental health information on The Central App’s  Health section. Hear more: Glen was interviewed about his ‘Turn the Corner’ mental health campaign. Breaking barriers and building communities, June 2023 Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

One of Central Otago’s biggest District Plan changes has been signed off - despite wracking up 15 appeals to the Environment Court.The majority of Plan Change 19, which will eventually see infill of inner residential towns across the district, is now officially operative meaning many landowners with large sections could now start subdividing.Hearings panel chair Neil Gillespie, who led the process, said 15 appeals out of 170+ submissions was pretty good, “because it just wasn’t possible to give everyone what they wanted.”The message from some submitters was not to intensify small towns such as Bannockburn, Lowburn and Tarras, and those appealing through the Environment Court ranged from individuals to groups, in both Cromwell and Alexandra.Pisa Moorings Vineyard and Pisa Village Developments, along with North Cromwell Society were among the 15, as well as Fulton Hogan, and One Five Five Developments in Alexandra.Plan Change 19 opened up the market for a wider range of housing typologies, for developers to try different things.Central Otago deputy mayor and Cromwell ward councillor Neil Gillespie led the hearings panel for Plan Change 19 FILE SHOTCr Gillespie said it also meant people trying to get into a house of their own, or a rental, would have different choices and options available in the near future.  Enabling smaller sized sections provided more people with certainty, and with plenty of spare private land across Central Otago, the district council was just the ‘enabler’ of the plan change.The process was about making sure that the district had a plan for residential land being available for the next 30 years, he said.The council had worked hard with communities to understand where they wanted the growth to happen.“There will always be conflicting expectations from the community, but considering what we went through, the vast majority will be happy.”Preliminary discussions were already underway with the parties appealing some of the changes.Read the appeals here