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Otago Daily Times
08-08-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Snow prompts road warnings around the South
The Danseys Pass Road is closed owing to snow on Friday. Photo: CODC Crews are out clearing snow from Southern highways as a series of cold fronts moves up the country, sending temperatures plummeting. The Central Otago District Council early this afternoon said snow was falling in the Maniototo and Manuherekia areas, as well as in the high country across the district. MetService has issued road snowfall warnings for State Highway 8 between Omarama and Fairlie and Fairlie and Tarras (Lindis Pass). There are also warnings is place for SH6 between Kingston and Lumsden, and SH85 between Ranfurly and Becks. The Danseys Pass Road is closed. Elsewhere, snow has been falling on the Crown Range Road, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council advised late this morning that chains were required to be carried by anyone travelling on it. The snow will be welcomed by skifields in the South Island. A number of club skifields have yet to open, or have opened only to close again, while many commercial fields have relied on snow-making to open. "No snow in August on many skifields. This could be the first time in our lives that local club fields do not open at all," Christchurch City Council climate resilience advisor Tony Moore noted on LinkedIn. MetService said the cold fronts would see temperatures drop on Friday heading into the weekend, heralding the return of widespread frosts. Snow was expected down to 800 metres for the North Island ranges, and as low as 500 metres across the Canterbury High Country and Southern Lakes. Snowfall warnings were in place for higher parts of the alpine passes for later today, from 5pm to 9pm on Arthur's and Lewis passes. Mt Cheeseman said it was "still hanging out for snow" on its social media, Broken River was yet to open, while Craigieburn posted "a lean July and leaner start to August has meant we are not yet in a position to open the field for skiing." Mt Lyford was closed on Friday, as was Mt Dobson, Mt Olympus, Hanmer Springs Ski Area and Fox Peak, though all have opened earlier in the season. Last year was New Zealand's third warmest winter on record, according to NIWA data, and earlier this year the organisation predicted a milder winter, with air temperatures expected to be above average across all New Zealand regions for the season, and fewer frequent cold snaps and frosts. Five of New Zealand's six warmest winters have occurred since 2020. - Allied Media/RNZ
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Something in the water makes Maniototo a caring place
We live in a caring place in Maniototo and no-one is more caring than the Central Otago District Council. Sure, the rates have increased by 47.95% over the past three years, more than any other Otago or Southland local body, but look what the council is prepared to spend on our welfare. One option was to spend $15 million to upgrade Patearoa's water supply but with only about 40 ratepayers in the township kindness had to be tempered with some sort of fiscal responsibility so, in the end, there's a scheme costing about $1.7m. Still not a bad return for the locals and probably more than they've paid in rates in spite of that 47.95% rise. Patearoa's water comes from the gentle Sowburn which meanders through the settlement, but its clear waters are deceiving, the council tells us. They could suffer from high turbidity, and you don't need me to tell you that turbidity is cloudiness caused by suspended particles of silt, clay and organic matter, particularly after heavy rainfall. Thus, while heavy rainfall is almost unknown in Patearoa, we're under instructions to boil water for the next few months while the new scheme is installed. But the caring council don't just give orders, it explains why. The full story came in a letter from the council. Now, my letters from the CODC usually touch on unpaid rates, the urgent need to register the dog or a plea to return library books, so I opened this one with trepidation. What a relief it was to find it was about water. I learned that protozoa in the water was the culprit and that it would soon be filtered out of our water. As you know protozoa are microscopic organisms such as cryptosporidium and giardia, which can enter the water from animal faeces. I didn't show that part of the letter to the dog who, although he never uses the river as a toilet, is sensitive about such slurs. To make sure we are on side with all this, the council pulled no punches in describing the effects of cryptosporidium and giardia. They can cause gastrointestinal illness such as vomiting and diarrhoea. We were warned that babies, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems are more at risk of illness and that just about covers the entire population of Patearoa, apart from a few young blokes, who although they drink only Speight's or DB, have been known to produce at least one of the symptoms of giardia ingestion. But just scaring the wits out of us is not the role of a caring council. It also provides practical advice and that's essential if boiling water is something you don't do too often. My letter spelt it out: "Boil all water used for: Drinking water, Brushing teeth, Preparing food, Washing fruits and vegetables, Making ice, baby formula, juice and cold beverages." When it comes to cold beverages, I never put water in whisky so that was a relief. Car washing and watering the garden weren't mentioned so we'll have to risk cars vomiting or cabbages with diarrhoea. Most useful of all were the instructions on how to boil water. They went something like this: first find your water and place it in a non-leaking container capable of withstanding high temperatures. Bring water to a rolling boil (where bubbles appear and do not disappear when the water is stirred) for one minute or boil a full electric jug until it switches off. Cool the water (do not use ice cubes to do this) and pour it into a clean container with a lid. Refrigerate until needed. I tried the method, but my first go was not entirely successful as I hadn't twigged that "freeze" and "refrigerate" are not exactly the same thing. To be honest, I was also a bit confused about the "rolling boil" business. But the council came to the rescue for those who can't boil water properly. Just across the road they've parked a tank labelled "drinking water" and its free. The tank is also labelled "Gore District Council". Carting water from Gore to Patearoa for six months will certainly make a hole in that $1.4m but that's the way it is with big jobs. The work itself will provide entertainment in a village where watching other people work is a well-ingrained pastime. Although the treatment equipment is being prefabricated elsewhere, I foresee regular gatherings at the top bridge to watch the filtration and ultraviolet treatment systems being added to the humble shed which is the present "treatment station". While we're looking at these modern marvels, we'll wonder how the gold miners of the 1800s, sweltering in summer heat by the Sowburn, ever lived to their 90s as so many did. I guess they never took water with their whisky either. — Jim Sullivan is a Patearoa writer.
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Long-term plan approved; 12.47% rates rise confirmed
The Central Otago District Council has approved its long-term plan, confirming an average rates increase of 12.47% — slightly lower than the 13.01% originally proposed. The decision was made at an extraordinary council meeting held in Alexandra yesterday. Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley and chief executive Peter Kelly said the final version of the plan reflected the feedback of residents and demonstrated the council's willingness to listen. Mr Kelly said adjustments were made as a direct result of public consultation. "A number of things changed as a result of the consultation, which reinforces that councils do listen and that's really important in today's day and age." Ms Alley said it was important to note society was the sum of its parts and councils were not just about roads, water and rubbish. "We are pools, we are parks, we are libraries, we are blossom festivals and this long-term plan, in particular, is not CODC's long-term plan — this is Central Otago's long-term plan." People did not move to Central Otago just to be able to flush their toilet or turn on their tap; they came for the "nice-to-haves", she said. However, there would be people for whom the rates increase would be a bitter pill. "There are people who would like us not to be doing anything more than roads, rubbish and water — but I think a record number of submissions supporting the facilities we have chosen to retain is really an important thing for our community." After hearing submissions from more than 1200 residents, including just over 300 from under-18-year-olds, councillors met on May 20 and made their decisions on the shape of the long-term plan. Among the changes made after consultation were the retention of 12 council-owned properties that had been proposed for divestment; keeping the Alexandra outdoor swimming pool open with a review in the 2027-37 long-term plan; and the council taking over the Ida MacDonald Roxburgh Pool Punawai Ora. The council is usually required under the Local Government Act to produce a long-term, or 10-year, plan every three years and one should have been produced last year. However, due to uncertainty around the delivery of Three Waters — drinking, storm and waste — councils were given the option to defer, which Central Otago accepted.
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Board backs draft land strategy
CODC building. PHOTO: ODT FILES A strategy to guide how the Central Otago District Council deals with endowment land in Cromwell has been signed off by the ward's community board. After approval by the Cromwell Community Board at a meeting last week, the draft land investment strategy will go to district councillors for adoption. In a report presented to the community board, CODC staffer Saskia Righarts said the document would "underpin all future land developments in Cromwell", and could be something of a template for the development of other council land assets across the district. CODC elected decision-makers were expected to be presented with a proposed plan for council land in Bannockburn Rd shortly. That land was rezoned under Plan Change 18, with an aim of development, the revenue generated to be earmarked for the Cromwell hall project. The draft strategy said its goal was to "create an enduring framework" for making "strategic investment decisions that are based on evidence, are clearly tethered to agreed principles and which achieve desired outcomes". It outlined the "principles", under the headings CODC mission, purpose of the endowment land, longevity and consistency, stakeholders and community, and decision-making — and the "investment outcomes", under the headings sustainable growth, economic resilience, prudent financial management, and a healthy community. The issue of Cromwell's endowment land came to a head last year. Some Cromwell opponents to council moves towards district-wide funding claimed an "asset grab" was at play. Although it was difficult for anyone to put a figure on its worth, some claimed the value of Cromwell's endowment land was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. During the meeting's discussion, deputy mayor and Cromwell councillor and community board member Neil Gillespie pushed for inclusion of a review cycle for the strategy, and one was decided on and included. The wording of the strategy also noted it was intended to be a "living document".
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
CODC to sign on for assessment programme
CODC building. PHOTO: ODT FILES The Central Otago District Council is set to have something of a report card produced to see how it stacks up against other local authorities and pinpoint room for improvement. District Mayor Tamah Alley confirmed her council will take part in Te Korowai, run by Local Government New Zealand and formerly known as CouncilMark. Te Korowai is an independent assessment programme designed to support continuous improvement, the mayor told The News. "It includes an integrity survey, assessor site visits, and feedback with action plans." The Central Otago District Council's review will cover four key areas of council performance — governance; leadership and strategy; financial decision-making and transparency; and service delivery and asset management — and comes with a $35,000 price tag, although any site visits by assessors would bump that cost up. However the mayor said receiving "honest, constructive feedback" was worth the investment. "I fully expect there will be areas to work on, and that's the point — we're here to learn and improve. "The timing also works well, as the new council in October will be well-positioned to act on the findings." The idea for such an assessment had been raised several times in recent years, including by ratepayers interested in benchmarking how the CODC compares to other councils, the mayor said. "Unlike private businesses, councils often take on roles others won't, making success harder to define. Te Korowai offers a structured way to identify strengths and areas for improvement. It gives us a clear starting point and a road map for enhancing our systems and processes." The LGNZ assessment comes as the Department of Internal Affairs conducts its own inaugural benchmarkng programme for local councils — but the mayor thought there were key differences between the two. "Te Korowai goes well beyond DIA's benchmarking," she said. "While DIA's data, due out at the end of June, compares publicly available metrics across councils — often 'apples with pears' — Te Korowai provides tailored insights specific to CODC. "It focuses on what we can improve, making the findings more actionable and accessible for staff, elected members, and the public."
