The Central Otago District Council’s Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy opened for public consultation yesterday.Council is giving people one month to give their input into the strategic approach for the provision, protection and enhancement of the Central Otago District public open space network, and how this will meet the district’s future growth predictions, for the next 30 years.This carries on from the pre-consultation to help inform the development of the strategy, which began through a community survey in 2022 and a follow-up survey in November 2023. The draft strategy provides the opportunity to do a final check in with the community to make any changes or additions while the document is still in its draft form. Council manages 162ha of parks and recreation land - 492ha of which is available to the public - with the remainder leased for specific purposes. A total of 260ha is actively maintained parks is managed by the Council.Thirty-four playgrounds are provided, however many of these provide poor play experiences for users. The draft strategy will set out a vision, objectives and key methods for managing the open space network including development of park types, minimum walking distance from open space to residential areas (500m), design guidance for the configuration of reserves, the types of facilities to be found on the different park types and provision guidelines for greenfield developments. It aims to address open space provision in residential growth areas and for the increase in visitor numbers predicted over the life of the strategy. New subdivisions and intensification of existing urban areas requires a qualitative approach to be taken by the strategy. What Council knows from the pre-consultation From the surveys, some respondents provided feedback on activities that have been traditionally outside Council’s capacity to cater for, such as horse trails, mountain bike trails and mixed-use trails. Other landowners and agencies have typically provided for these. It was noted that physical wellbeing (93 per cent) and mental wellbeing (85 per cent) are the key reasons that respondents get out and use public spaces, followed closely by social wellbeing. Respondents predominantly travelled by car to get to public spaces they use. Some walk, run or bike. When looking at the future, many respondents wanted the Council to focus on walking and cycling tracks, linkages and greenways.The provision of sports facilities also ranked highly and results showed many felt Council should be exploring ways to encourage more physical activity, including considering a wide range of new and innovative sports and activities that are offered elsewhere. To foster wellbeing Council was encouraged to maintain existing facilities, but also partner to support community activities and provide additional seating for picnics, events and green spaces. When looking ahead 30 years, respondents wanted to see a continued focus on protecting open spaces and increase native plantings where appropriate. Barriers to visiting parks and open spaces by foot or bike included inadequate trails and cycleways connecting those spaces, as well as living rurally although more than half of respondents reported satisfaction with the off-road connections to greenways in their area. Survey feedback provided important insights into the priorities of Central Otago and its open spaces for the future. To read the report and give feedback to the draft strategy, go to Let’s TalkFeedback closes 9 December.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

You may have read in the media over recent months about the case taken against Uber, where four Uber drivers who were engaged as independent contractors were held by the courts to be employees. Uber's appeal was dismissed. [More details on this case here].This decision has provided further clarity on how the courts will assess whether a contractor is, in all but name, in fact, an employee.To create more clarity on this matter, the government is proposing a new "gateway test" through an amendment to the Employment Relations Act.This test would be used by the Employment Relations Authority when a worker claims that they are an employee, not a contractor.A worker may wish to raise such a claim if they believe they are, in all but name, an employee and have missed out on minimum employment rights, such as minimum wage, annual leave, and other benefits afforded to employees.If the new test is adopted, it would mean that if a contractor challenges the true nature of the working relationship, you'd need to show:A written contract or independent contractor agreement is in place.The worker is not restricted from working for others.The contractor is not restricted to working set times, days, or for a minimum period, OR they can subcontract the work.The business cannot terminate the contract if the worker does not accept additional tasks.If any of these tests are not met, the Employment Relations Authority would apply the existing “real nature of the employment relationship” test found in section 6 of the Employment Relations Act, which would also take into account existing case law, such as the Uber case.This is still at the proposal stage, but it's worth noting if you currently engage contractors.At present, there are a number of industries where engaging contractors is the norm, however, it would be unlikely that a challenge would stand up to either the current test OR the proposed new gateway test.The possibility of such a challenge poses a very real financial risk for businesses. They could be liable for payments related to annual leave, shortfalls in minimum wage, unpaid taxes to the IRD, and any awards for actions (e.g., dismissal) that do not meet employment law standards.Additionally, there would be costs associated with legal advice, time lost from the business, and stress. Claiming "everyone else does it" would have no mitigating effect.If that sounded complicated, you're not alone!For practical and professional advice on how to apply the rules to your business, contact the team at EASI NZ. With our experience and expertise, we can help you find a tailored solution to meet your business needs, reduce your liabilities, and comply with employment law.So, perhaps it’s time to reflect—are your contractors really contractors?

Tarras residents want more engagement with local representatives, the Cromwell Community Board heard yesterday.In front of a packed public gallery, Tarras residents Rob van der Mark of Sustainable Tarras, and Tarras Rural Women member Billie Marsh spoke of their concerns for the future.Both raised concerns regarding the proposed Santana gold mine and the impact on the district.Rob said the big question on the cultural direction of the district was whether it wanted to be recognised for industrial gold mining, or continued like the last 30 years with tourism and environment.“This is a massive undertaking to keep on top of . . . and there seems to be a lack of awareness of this as a community board,” Rob said.Dialogue between the board and the Tarras community “was a bit wanting,” and he would like to see it stronger.Chairwoman Anna Harrison pointed out the community board didn’t have any great affinity to influence the outcome of the proposed gold mine.Community connection was important but it was more the Mayor, chief executive and councillors that would be tasked with a response to the proposal, she said.Board member Neil Gillespie said some of Rob’s points were very relevant and wondered whether a report from council to the community board on how things were shaping up would be helpful.“If we as a board can get this we can make sure our community is informed.”It was understood through the Fast Track process for the gold mine, some parties - including the Cromwell Community Board- may be stopped from making submissions.At the previous Cromwell Community Board meeting a Santana representative said it expected to lodge consent for the mine in February.Billie said the community wanted control over its own destiny, and this was reflected through the community plan discussions in 2023.“We want more engagement with council and elected members, and not to feel, “out of sight, out of mind’’, she said.The community wanted to feel heard on matters important to them, and Billie highlighted that under the Fast Track process, council only had 20 days to respond“So I hope they (council) will work with us on that.”Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

"Industrial-grade hypocrisy'' is how Dunstan ward Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws sums up claims by the Labour party that localism has been denied, with regard to the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).Cr Laws drew attention to the previous interventions from the previous Government on the regional council, including how the former chair Marion Hobbs back in 2022 asked Labour to sack the ORC and appoint commissioners if she lost the council vote.Four councillors - including the current chair Gretchen Robertson - wrote to Labour Minister David Parker seeking intervention when they lost the policy vote around the table.“And Labour have the hypocrisy to claim that elected councillors contacting government ministers is destabilising and an affront to local democracy,” he said.Other interventions by the previous Government included the appointment of Professor Peter Skelton to inquire into the regional council’s consent process, and two directives from Minister Parker to meet strict deadlines on the draft LWRP, including providing quarterly reports to the government.Dunstan ward councillor Alexa Forbes of Queenstown - one of the seven councillors in support of notifying the plan that was recently halted by the Government - said the Regional Council had been prevented from playing its part in democracy and its future.She believed the Government had made it loud and clear when it intervened, that if regional councils around New Zealand didn’t do as the Government recommended, they would suffer the consequences, But when prompted further on Cr Laws' latest allegations of hypocrisy she declined to comment.“I’ve got too much on to waste time on arguing with Michael.”In response to Cr Laws’ criticism, Labour’s environment spokeswoman, Dunedin MP Rachel Brooking said the two examples were very different, as one was following existing law to intervene, and the other was asking the regional council to stop work because the Government planned to change it.Meanwhile, an offer for the regional council to play a role in the review of the national direction for freshwater management remained on the table, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said last week.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Every year, thousands of people apply to the Employment Relations Authority to have it hear their employment disputes.In 2023, there were 2117 applications received, up from 1970 in 2022 but about the same number as in 2021. There were 1352 matters referred or directed to mediation.Five key reasons drove the majority of employment disputes, the authority noted in its annual report.They were:Personal grievancesThere were more than twice as many applications involving personal grievance than any other type of complaint.Within that, complaints of unjustifiable dismissal were most common, followed by complaints that an employer's actions had resulted in an unjustified disadvantage to an employee.In one recent case, a person was employed by a kitchen company until, he said, he was dismissed when he tried to return to work after taking leave.He said he was unjustifiably dismissed and wanted remedies to compensate him for lost income and injury to feelings.The employer argued he was not unjustifiably dismissed and had abandoned his employment by taking leave.The authority said the employer had not provided him with a written employment agreement that could have laid out what would constitute abandonment.It could not demonstrate its actions were justified and there was little or no evidence the employer had investigated its concerns about its leave, it said.The employee had not had the concerns put to him in a way that he could fairly respond to, and he was not given a chance to comment on whether dismissal was fair and reasonable."These were not minor deficiencies and they have resulted in [the employee] being treated unfairly - he was not provided a fair opportunity to understand [the employer's] concerns or provide comment. Even if [he] had taken leave as [the employer] describes - with two days' notice and in the face of objection - its actions cannot meet the statutory justifiability test."The former employee was awarded $23,100 in lost wages and $16,000 in compensation as well as $1848 in holiday pay.ArrearsArrears were the next most common reason for complaints.In one case, a man sought an order requiring his former employer to pay him arrears of wages. He said he was short paid when he worked as acting duty manager in an East Auckland bar and eatery.His employment agreement said he agreed to work a minimum of 40 hours a week.When he worked fewer hours he was not paid for 40. He said there had been a shortfall of 64.75 hours over a 25-week period.He said he was owed $1726.The employer argued the 40 hours were not promised.The authority said the employment terms meant the employee had agreed to reserve at least 40 hours a week for the business and required it to pay him for at least that number of hours."While there was some disagreement about whether he had been available to work all the hours referred to, the evidence was not sufficient to establish he had failed to be ready, willing and able to work the agreed minimum of 40 hours on days and times rostered."The authority said he was entitled to the shortfall.Breach of legislationThe third most common reason for the authority being asked to rule was an alleged breach of legislation.In a recent case, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's labour inspector took food companies to the authority over alleged breaches of minimum entitlements and standards. A worker was not consistently paid or given minimum entitlements under the Minimum, Wage Act, Holidays Act or Employment Relations Act.The authority said the employer had to pay $53,940 within 10 working days, including $18,124 in minimum wage arrears and $35,591 in annual holiday arrears, to be given to the worker.Breach of good faithA midwife who lost her position after being alleged to have misled Te Whatu Ora about an interaction with another midwife, and comments about the other midwife's role, argued she had been subject to a breach of good faith.She was one of about 500 applicants that made claims of that type.She said her employer had breached good faith by failing to advise her of a complaint and not giving her the opportunity to provide feedback on a finding that she was reluctant to work with another midwife, who felt intimidated.The authority said the employer had breached the duty of good faith but it said it was not satisfied it was at the level for which a penalty should be imposed.But the midwife received an award for payment of lost wages and compensation for other aspects of her complaint.Breach of employment agreementIn one case heard by the authority, a woman claimed her former employer had breached her employment agreement wen it failed to give her a healthy and safe working agreement.This carries a maximum penalty of $20,000.The authority said the breach continued even after she brought it to the attention of the management team. "To that extent I find the breach was intentional, it caused [her] ongoing stress and lead to her physical, emotional and financial suffering because [the employer] failed to take any steps to address or remedy it."

Some Central Otago orchardists have been hit by snow twice in one month this Spring, but the fruit appears relatively unscathed.Early predictions for the 2024/25 season have shown a strong crop across much of the summer fruit, and many orchardists are cautiously optimistic.Both 2017 and 2018 was the last time Central Otago experienced bumper crops with record volumes of apricots, in particular, and an early harvest.Last season was short and sharp for cherries, with orchardists experiencing everything from rain, hail, strong winds and eventually drought.Last month’s heavy rain event across Otago resulted in flooding along the coast, and did have some impact on inland orchards - Gourmet Summerfruit orchard in Roxburgh East experienced ‘blossom blight’ on some of the later flowering blocks.But manager Matt Tyrrell said the Teviot Valley completely missed the snow which dumped further north around Earnscleugh and Alexandra.Cromwell was largely unaffected as well.The Teviot tended to flower early but with cooler weather in October than the rest of Central Otago, resulting in a later season overall.Panmure Orchards in Earnscleugh was one of the orchards affected by the double whammy of snow that hit in October.Co-owner Jeremy Hiscock said other than a few broken wires on blocks that had started pulling nets out, there had been no immediate losses of fruit, with just some possible marking.He said temperatures stayed above zero in the last snow event, “and we were very lucky again not to have had severe frost.”“It was bloody scary though while it was happening,” he said.Cromwell grower Simon Webb said the two recent snow events certainly had them on edge, despite the white stuff not actually settling in and around the town.“We were really really lucky with just a few minor frosts out of it. But when you have got all of that snow on the mountains, you definitely get a bit nervous, and expect to get some rip roaring frosts…”This year Chinese New Year was early on January 29, 2025, which made it favourable for cherry growers right across the district.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Teviot Valley Community Board’s oldest serving member Russell Read has resigned.The 87-year-old first came onto the board for a term in 2015, and then again in 2022.He was currently a counsellor for the Cancer Society, a trustee of the Central Otago Arts Trust, and a committee member of the Central Otago Art Society.Russell Read swearing in as a Community Board member in 2022. He resigned from the board yesterday. PHOTO: CENTRAL OTAGO DISTRICT COUNCILChairman Norman Dalley acknowledged Russell’s service at yesterday’s meeting, saying he had decided to resign because he didn’t believe the community board could perform the same as it had done in the past.He believed the board’s powers of decision making had been significantly reduced over time, “and he deserves to be able to retire,” Norman said.The board agreed to fill the position rather than leave it vacant and put forward a motion that was approved, to have Curtis Pannett nominated to the role.Curtis wasn’t at the meeting but it was understood he came from a farming background and would bring new skills to the board table.In other board matters, Norman addressed two issues that related to board member Gill Booth.The first was the fact she still hadn’t filled in the members’ declaration of interest register.Gill said she had nothing to declare, no business interests in the area, although admitted she did have property.“If you can’t complete the declaration of interest I can’t be assured you have no conflicts of interest in any area of business we discuss,” Norman said.“We all have to do it, it has to be kept up to date, that’s all," he said. “There’s no point putting us at risk."Gill has been a member of Voices for Freedom since 2020 and one of a small number in the group nationally who successfully stood for office. In his chair’s report, Norman also addressed Gill’s negative comments towards the former Mayor Tim Cadogan, following the announcement of his resignation.Referring to her “good riddance” comment on the Teviot Valley Facebook page, he said there had actually been a lot of positive feedback on that page as well.New Mayor Tamah Alley attended the board meeting and said she was “looking forward to getting out in the traps a bit more to some of the more unique places.”Norman also thanked Tim Cadogan for his dedication to the job, and noted his support during the 2017 floods, when he said, “he was pretty much here 24 hours like everyone else.”

Central Otago has a new leader. Tamah Alley, of Alexandra, was elected by Central Otago District councillors at a full council meeting this morning, to fill the role left vacant by now former mayor Tim Cadogan, who resigned on Saturday.Tamah was nominated by deputy Mayor Neil Gillespie, and is the district's first female mayor.The 39-year-old wife and mother of three comes to the role as a district councillor and now former chair of the Vincent Community Board.Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley wearing the mayoral chains after being sworn in. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APPEarlier this year she was appointed Zone 6 chair of Local Government New Zealand, when she replaced Clutha district Mayor Bryan Cadogan.Presented with the Mayoral chains by Linda Cadogan, Tamah thanked former Mayor Tim for leading the district, which she said was ‘’outstanding’’.Mayor Tamah said being in the “hot seat” was a very special thing, and the challenges they faced as a council were substantial.“We do have our work cut out for us… we do need to do the basics brilliantly,” she said. Some members of the public gallery weren’t impressed, wielding protest signs. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APPA small protest in the public gallery wielded ‘Sham’ signs as Mayor Tamah was being sworn in.Also a former police officer, earlier this year she said it was "much easier to get things done in the world if you’re a collaborator rather than a bulldozer''.Her proven capabilities in high stress situations and managing big ego’s has already come in handy in the world of local politics, after mixing with many different personalities at Local Government New Zealand - including Mayors from Waitaki down to Invercargill and through to Queenstown.

Almost $4.5 million earmarked for the Clyde museum redevelopment has been chopped by the Vincent Community Board (VCB), as part of a district-wide review.Central Otago district councillors will also decide today how the region's other museums will be supported in the future, since the introduction of districtisation.At its meeting in Alexandra yesterday, VCB deputy chair Jayden Cromb originally put forward a notice of motion the Alexandra District Museum at Central Stories become the ‘district-wide’ museum, but then rescinded that after admitting recent discussions in the community were not supportive of it.After discussions with Clyde Museum members, it also became clear that the redevelopment - $400,000 budgeted in Year 3 of the Long Term Plan and $4,130,300 in Year 4 - was no longer feasible - especially given the recent rate increases and general cost of living.After the meeting Jayden told The Central App there were a lot of questions around museums at the moment, “and after talking to museum staff it was realised that there is a lot more going on in the museum space than we realised’’.“Each one has a unique story to tell and so pulling that into one museum just isn’t right,” he said.A report to council from group manager - community vision Dylan Rushbrook outlined the costs across the museum sector - annually receiving $220,000 in grant funding combined from council and respective community boards. The Alexandra Districts Museum Incorporated (ADMI) at Central Stories received $82,000 from the VCB annually but the Clyde Museum Trust did not receive operational funding. The VCB wanted the chance to have its say on the Alexandra and Clyde museums before it was put to council, and has also recommended the community boards ability to fund museums not be limited by a resolution of council.Council has been reviewing the role of museums since 2020, and seeking to create a more coordinated approach to the telling of the Central Otago story through the museums’ activity. ADMI was previously charged with the role of coordinating Central Otago’s museums but that agreement ceased in 2020. In the 2021 Long Term Plan the majority of the community agreed that council should take on the role of coordinating museum functions in Central Otago.The Central Otago Museums Trust was established and has received ongoing support from council, including the development of a Museum Strategy, through funding from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.Jayden said since districtisation came into effect it changed the way museums would be funded and the community boards were all still coming to terms with how that would work.Have a story to share?Contact us at [email protected]

A new councillor reference group has been formed by the Otago Regional Council in the lead up to reviewing its Air Quality Strategy next year.At a meeting in Dunedin last week councillors Alan Somerville, Kate Wilson and Gary Kelliher were appointed to the group to help guide staff on its decision making.Manager of strategy Hilary Lennox told the meeting that while the reference group made no decision or gave any direction on the air quality strategy, they would monitor milestones throughout the process ready for endorsement in August 2025.The old air quality strategy was last updated back in 2018, and whilst it provided a good foundation for the current work, the implementation had been strained when funding was exhausted, her report to council said.Regional council staff were engaging with counterparts from other regional councils to share and understand learnings, opportunities, and emerging expectations around improvements to air quality management in New Zealand.“It is well recognised that effective air quality management requires regional councils to understand and target the causes of poor air quality. “Often a combination of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches is used. For example, the success of a rule requiring the community to only burn dry wood depends on the community’s understanding of what dry wood is, and their access to dry wood.”The report said a certification scheme for firewood retailers to demonstrate their wood was dry had been successful in other areas. ORC was exploring these types of approaches as part of reviewing the strategy.Staff recommended the reference group consist of four councillors, preferably with representation from Central Otago where some of the towns with the poorest air quality were located.Cr Kelliher argued that direction would be better coming from all councillors than just three or four, and voted against the motion.This was challenged by Cr Bryan Scott who said they only had limited time and the point of the reference group was to keep council staff honest, “so they don’t go rogue” on the issue.

Alexandra Airport’s first commercial hangar is in progress.The hangar, leased by Tinshed Aviation Ltd, is a new purpose-built aircraft restoration and maintenance facility that will support the aviation industry, while also fulfilling a key aspect of the Central Otago District Council’s Alexandra Airport Masterplan.It is being built on a site leased from the Council and is hoped to be finished by the end of the year.Co-owners Bryan Jones and Arron Cooper have already been operating the business with permission from the Council on a temporary basis out of a private hangar at the airport.Since opening the business in October last year, work had been steadily increasing, and to see the new build underway was ‘awesome’, Tinshed Aviation company director/maintenance manager Arron Cooper said.“Alexandra was our preferred location . . . We are looking forward to continuing to grow and contributing to the local community.”The build of the purpose-built aircraft restoration and maintenance facility in progress at Alexandra Airport. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe masterplan specifically identified an area at the airport appropriate for an aircraft maintenance and repair company. Council had been aiming to attract this type of business to the airport, property and facilities manager Garreth Robinson, said.“The vision of the masterplan was that the Alexandra Airport would be a safe, user friendly and efficient facility for aviation related businesses, aircraft operators and lease holders.“The idea is that the airport will provide for the growth of compatible aviation activities that support tourism, innovation, research and training opportunities in a way that meets community well-being. ‘’Seeing operations like Bryan and Arron’s get established is helping make the strategic vision a reality.”The business also plans to offer flying training based out of the new hangar.The Airport runway surface is scheduled for reseal over the summer and council is working through the design and procurement process for this project.

I could be accused of breaking a promise to myself by having this last column on The Central App today as I had promised myself that, on ceasing being Mayor, I would not become one of those ex-politicians who clings to some self-delusion of continued relevancy by writing columns or Letters to the Editor well after their time is up.  But as I’m writing this while I am still the Mayor, I reckon I’m not breaching my own rule. As you read it though, I could well be in the skies already heading to our new life in Wellington.  I am sometimes a betting man, and I don’t reckon there is anyone would give me odds that I won’t be a bit of a mess, the only question is how much.  And that’s ok, because I am leaving a job and a place I love deeply. All week I have been having an internal battle between my logical brain and my emotional brain.  Logically, I know that leaving the role of mayor now is the best thing for the council and for me and my family.  For the council, having someone committed to running for the role of Mayor next year leading the LTP is the only thing that makes sense.  For Linda and I, it’s time for a new challenge, and some more time together.  And all that falls to pieces as soon as emotional brain perks up, but that’s who I am and there’s not much I can do about that. Thank you so much for the honour of being your Mayor and of being part of this magnificent community for the last 30 years.  Life has its ups and downs and I’ve been through my share of both in the three decades here, but along that journey, I have always remembered how fortunate I have been to face life’s challenges in such a great place with such great people.  I think that’s something all of us in Central Otago should remind ourselves of on a regular basis. Take care and see you in a few years.

The Dunstan ward will have an extra seat around the Otago Regional Council (ORC) table come the next local body election. At its meeting in Dunedin last week, the regional councillors voted 12-0 to increase the number of Dunstan ward councillors from three to four.The Dunstan ward - which covers Central Otago, Queenstown and Wanaka - is represented by Councillors Alexa Forbes, Michael Laws and Gary Kelliher.At the same time, the Dunedin constituency was stripped of one seat, dropping from six councillors to five.The change was made as part of the regional council's required representation review for the region - including how many councillors there are and the areas they represent - which occurs every six years.Population data supplied from Stats NZ indicated that following population growth since the last representation review in 2018, the Dunstan ward fell outside the +/- 10% margin of the average across the region, no longer meeting the legislative requirements for fair representation. Making up the full quota of 12 Councillors, there are two in the Molyneux ward and one in the Moeraki ward. The constituency boundaries did not change.The Otago Regional Council constituency boundaries. Dunstan Ward has gained an additional councillor while Dunedin has lost one in the latest representation review. IMAGE: OTAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said it has been an incredible privilege to serve the district over the past eight years, “and it’s hard to let go. But it’s time.”Reflecting on his tenure, Mayor Tim told The Outlet it had been a very strange feeling since making his announcement two weeks ago.“A lot of my time as Mayor I have looked at people who cling to privilege and I’m not going to,” he said.He’s had dinner with the Prime Minister and opened A&P shows, appeared on national media many times and chatted with little old ladies in the coffee shops - and enjoyed it all.“But I’ve started to become a bit of the person I don’t want to be and it’s grinding me down a bit,” he said.Mayor Tim said he’d learned how to handle criticisms and was always one for a good quote “only let the criticism of those you respect affect you."“But obviously there are those times I have got it wrong.”While blessed that he never had to declare a state of emergency, he said the Roxburgh floods came close and of course there were the tough times of Covid-19.It had been challenging working in a small council “that runs on an oily rag,” and admits they’d get a lot more done if they had more resources.There was only one person working in economic development, for example, and it was constantly a frustration for not only himself but the community, that things were done slowly.But he said Central Otago was blessed that it wasn’t involved in ‘party politics’ like other parts of the country, and people were willing to listen to others' points of view.“I’ve only had to use my casting vote once in eight years,” he said.Listen to Mayor Tim’s last podcast with The Outlet hereIf travelling this long weekend, keep an eye on Road report

A refresh of strategic direction is on the cards for the Otago Regional Council, as it signs off and releases its Annual Report this week.Chair Gretchen Robertson said it has been a busy year, but in looking to the future, the organisation recognises there’s more work to be done.“Our focus was not only on delivering efficient services to the people of Otago, but on supporting community-led environmental initiatives for positive outcomes,” she said.The Annual Report will be considered by councillors at a full meeting in Dunedin tomorrow.Cr Robertson said during the year council refreshed ORC’s strategic directions, setting clear goals and focus areas to realise its vision for Otago — "where our environment and communities thrive, ki uta ki tai (from the mountains to the sea).”“To the backdrop of a challenging economic climate, and with proposed Government legislative changes still underway, we placed a strong emphasis on delivering a long-term plan which achieves organisational efficiencies, ensuring we give value for ratepayers’ money while continuing to sustain healthy and connected communities.”The development of a new Land and Water Regional Plan had been a priority for the regional council, with a work programme in place to achieve a notification decision this month.However, a shock Government announcement yesterday stated the Government would add an amendment to the Resource Management Act Amendment Bill restricting regional councils’ ability to notify freshwater plans.The move saw ORC cancel today's voting on the matter.The Manuherikia River near Alexandra. More community-led environmental initiatives are on the cards for the Otago Regional Council in the next year. FILE SHOTIn ORC’s environmental monitoring and regulatory roles, Cr Robertson said staff completed 1411 compliance checks, including consent audits, dairy inspections, and forestry site visits, while the Pollution Hotline handled 1095 incidents, with 101 formal enforcement actions taken in 2023-24.She was “really pleased” that the annual ECO Fund was fully subscribed, again, this year, which supported targeted and general community environmental projects.“We’ve also actively fostered community-led catchment management initiatives in the Catlins and Upper Lakes,” she said.“Our valued partnership with mana whenua in Otago continues to underpin much of our work programme, with positive water enhancement work continuing through these partnerships.”For the year ahead, Cr Robertson said climate change remained a crucial focus area for the regional council.“This year, councillors endorsed the draft Strategic Climate Action Plan, and we’re now looking forward to seeking community input on this important initiative.”The regional council’s work on a variety of natural hazards adaptation programmes continued for South Dunedin, the Clutha Delta, and Glenorchy/Head of Lake Whakatipu, while climate resilience projects for its flood schemes have made significant progress, she said.Chief Executive Richard Saunders said that while he was pleased 48 targets were achieved overall, it showed there was more work for the organisation to do in setting its work programme and delivering those things for the community. “We did however achieve some great results in the face of challenging and changing times throughout the year, and especially in the Safety and Resilience sector, which met 11 targets, and missed none,” he said.He noted that under Safety and Resilience was management of Flood Protection and Emergency Management, both of which were under duress earlier this month around coastal Otago and some places inland, but both were reported to have functioned well and helped keep communities safe.He said of the 25 targets not achieved, a number were linked to the deadline for the final delivery of reports, reviews and plans, many of which had since been completed and were pending formal delivery.

The Central App has an interim editor Shannon Thomson during Alexia Anderson’s maternity leave.She hit the ground running, covering a plane fire over the weekend in Cromwell, and readers may have already seen her byline popping up. Shannon brings a wealth of experience as a journalist, photographer and editor as former Central Otago bureau chief for the Otago Daily Times and The News - Central Otago and Wanaka.Having lived in Cromwell previously, and her children attending Cromwell College and Dunstan High School - and with whānau residing in Clyde - Shannon has knowledge of the district and strong ties to Central.“There is an element of coming full circle, as I was employed by The Central App as a journalist when I returned to the industry six years ago.“I’m passionate about our community, its people, places and what matters to them.‘’Leading a team to deliver reliable and balanced news, tell cracking yarns and share the stories that resonate and matter to our readers is something I love to do.”Outside of her editorial role Shannon is a mum of two (her son Asher is in his final year of high school, while her daughter Charlize has just returned to Central Otago after two years overseas), she volunteers with not for profit organisation Red Frogs and enjoys spending time at the lake and beach as well as getting out in nature for walks.Shannon said anyone wanting to contact her about The Central App’s news can email [email protected]

After a decade of protecting Lake Dunstan, the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust will move into hibernation this summer. The move comes after trustees decided to step down with nobody new to replace them.Originally the Guardians of Lake Dunstan, the group was successful at lobbying and tightening up regulations of Lake Dunstan, using $1million in Government Jobs for Nature funding to tidy up the lake shore.Their work prompted new resource consent obligations on Contact Energy, which operates the Clyde Dam - with much of the work focused on the Kawarau Arm of the lake, from the Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn.For years silt and driftwood had clogged the Kawarau Arm and combined with invasive weeds, made it difficult for boats to use the area.The Trust's Bridge to Bridge project focused on restoring native species and improving recreational access/use from Lowburn Bridge to Deadman’s bridge.Former chairman Duncan Faulkner said the Trust put the call out for new trustees recently however nobody had come forward and as a result would have to wind up operations for now.That also meant this year’s annual spring clean, which would’ve prepared the lake edge for this coming summer, was also cancelled. The clean up had been happening since 2010, but relied on new volunteers to help.A lakeside clean up at McNulty Inlet in Cromwell. PHOTI: SUPPLIEDDuncan said the trustees had fulfilled their five-year commitment and now with the Jobs for Nature funding finished, it was a perfect time for them to step back.“The hard work’s been done really. The commitment to LINZ (Toitū Te Whenua - Land Information New Zealand) was a four-year project, so naturally we wanted to see that through to completion.”All of the trustees were from professional backgrounds and had different skills to offer to the Trust, so were able to make change quite quickly, he said.But with no new fresh blood to step up and take over, the group would go into hibernation for a year.He said the trustees all had family and work commitments that were now more of a priority.Looking back over the past few years, Duncan said there had been some surprising challenges within the community.When the 12,000 natives were planted around the lake shore, some of them began to be ripped out and go missing and initially the Trust couldn’t understand why.Then they realised it was certain “retirees” who were upset about the potential of losing their lake views, and the Rural Fire Service got involved.The logic from the residents was the trees were a fire risk, but Duncan said the fire service told them they’d done a really good job of the plantings with a good choice of species.After negotiations between the fire service and affected residents, the Trust replaced some plantings in areas in front of those properties with other species that were less of a risk.“In reality we just saw it as Tall Poppy Syndrome, which is a shame really,” he said.Contact Energy began its Kawarau Arm beautification project in 2023 to co-design improvements to the Old Cromwell area, as part of its revised 2019-2024 Landscape and Visual Amenity Management Plan.Further engagement has been underway with Linz, the Central Otago District Council and local iwi.Read more about this in our follow-up news story next week.Read more: Old Cromwell beachfront on the cards 

Santana Minerals Bendigo-Ophir gold mine is one of the 149 projects selected for the government’s one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill.However, not everyone is happy with Sunday’s announcement, with one Tarras community group vocal in their opposition.The Bendigo-Ophir project is an open pit and underground mine on Central’s Bendigo and Ardgour Stations, with completion and remediation expected in 2065. Regional development minister Shane Jones said the 11 mining projects would make a major contribution to the government’s resource objective of doubling the value of mineral exports to $2billion by 2035, extracting coal, gold, iron sands and mineral sands. “They will deliver measurable benefits to regional and national [gross domestic product] highly-skilled and highly-paid jobs in the regions, and other associated benefits like the retention of regional infrastructure,” he said. Sustainable Tarras, a small advocacy group of people from Tarras and across New Zealand, has been outspoken in opposition to the project.Boil water notice for Omakau and OphirSpokeswoman Suze Keith said the group was dismayed but not surprised the project was included in the list. “This is a development with a lifespan of 150 years and a perpetual liability in a toxic tailings dam. As a community we have many questions about the mine that we fear will be left unanswered and that the local community will be excluded from any decision-making, despite being those most impacted.”Suze said information presented to date had a long way to go before the local community could be confident the benefits outweighed the mine’s environmental, social and reputational impacts and long-term risks.She said concerns were impacts on the local aquifer system, the tailings dam facility which likely contained significant levels of arsenic, and electricity and diesel use that would generate emissions. Time pressure to meet the fast track approval submission timeline was another factor Sustainable Tarras said “hugely exacerbates potential long term risks”.“This is in a place which New Zealanders prize for its natural beauty, its dark skies and tranquillity. “In return it’s promising a little over $1 per person each year in return in royalties and a toxic tailings dam which will loom over the Tarras Primary School and village for the next 100 years. “No one is marching in the streets demanding a gold mine – how about fast tracking the Dunedin Hospital? Or the remediations needed to protect South Dunedin from the next massive downpour?”The inclusion of mining projects was applauded by industry pundits with mineral and mining industry association Straterra saying mining did belong on the fast track list.Straterra chief executive Josie Vidal said when manufacturing and processing plants were closing in the regions, mining brought much needed jobs and money into regional communities, and exports to boost trade deficit."We urge people with any concerns about mining or the fast-track bill to do their research, talk to experts, and think about life without mining those minerals in New Zealand. We don’t have an economy to sustain importing everything.The Fast-track Approvals Bill is currently before the Environment Select Committee which will report back to Parliament by October 18.The Bill is then expected to go before Parliament for its second reading in November, and passed into law before the end of the year.Once the Bill is passed the fast track projects can apply to the Environmental Protection Authority to have an expert panel assess them and apply conditions.The Government is recommending to the Environment Select Committee that expert panels have the ability to decline approval for projects.“The expert panels will include members with technical expertise relevant to a project, expertise in environmental matters (and where relevant, conservation), and the Treaty of Waitangi.”Santana Minerals is holding community drop in sessions in Tarras and Cromwell during the next few weeks. Find dates and times on The Central App’s What’s On page.Read more: Santana Minerals supporting three Cromwell initiatives. Read More: Sustainable Tarras submits against Santana Minerals.

Deadline day is looming for the Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) contentious Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).On October 23, Councillors will vote whether to notify the plan, or consider a new option of delaying until the new national policy statement for freshwater management (NPS-FM) was underway.Water NoticesAt another extraordinary meeting late last week, the council shared the latest option from Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds, to pause its plan and instead become part of initial planning in the new Government framework.The option is a huge change from the stance Minister Simmonds and others took on September 12 when ORC representatives met with them in Wellington.Ministers restated their strong preference for the regional council not to notify its LWRP, and the new option of becoming involved in influencing policy direction, has been described as extending an olive branch.The recent letter from the Minister following the Wellington meeting, proposed that ORC participate in targeted engagement on the review and replacement of the NPS-FM between October and early 2025. This would also provide ORC early access to the direction of the new NPS-FM, and allow that to be incorporated into the ORC draft plan (LWRP).But the regional council would also have to delay notifying its own plan (LWRP) until at least early 2025, and up until now a majority 7-5 split have continuously voted to push on with it.In her letter, Minister Simmonds said the Government understood there could be unintended consequences, particularly for water take and discharge consent holders if the ORC delayed its plan."The Government will work with you to make sure unintended consequences do not negatively impact resource users or unnecessarily burden ratepayers,” the letter stated.Cr Gary Kelliher said the olive branch from the Ministers recognised that the ORC was quite advanced with its plan.But he said the regional council was putting themselves at huge risk if they didn’t take up the offer, and pause all work on the LWRP immediately.Some councillors were dubious about the offer and said they weren’t sure they could trust the Government to be true to its word.Chair Gretchen Robertson said what she got from the meeting in Wellington was that they all needed to understand each other and have trust.But Otago had significant issues that the council was trying to address through its LWRP, “and that is costly, and not getting it right is costly,” she said.The council voted 7-5 to consider the Minister’s new option and adequately consider all of the advantages and disadvantages as part of the decision-making process at its October 23 meeting.