Latest news with #CentralOtagoDistrictCouncil
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Council rejects mobile sauna's trading permit
A plan to operate a mobile sauna next to Lake Dunstan in Cromwell has hit a bureaucratic brick wall. Businessman and sauna-fanatic John Ryan has failed to get the go-ahead from the Central Otago District Council or Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (Linz) to periodically park his travelling sauna on public land beside the lake. Mr Ryan's sauna is 2.5m by 3m, can fit 15 people and sits atop a trailer pulled by his Land Rover. "One side has a big open window, so you can look out to the lake," Mr Ryan said. Several weeks ago, Mr Ryan had a trial run of the sauna at Alpha Street Reserve, offering free use of it to members of the public. "I parked up near the swimming platform there, so people could have a sauna and have a dip," he said. "Seventeen people turned up and they all loved it." However, Mr Ryan's application to the district council for a mobile trading permit for the venture has been declined. "Their excuse was they want to protect the reserve", he said. He also took his idea to Linz, which administered some of the lakeside land in Cromwell, but staff there "knocked it back". "I don't think they fully understand what it is or how it runs." District council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey confirmed the reserve-land status of the spots Mr Ryan wished to park at was the reason his application was declined. The land in question was governed by the council's reserve management plan — which specified what could and could not go on reserves — as well as the Reserve Act 1977, he said. The commercial rather than recreational nature of Mr Ryan's activity meant it "was not consistent" with the plan, nor the Act. Meanwhile, although Linz had no official record of a conversation with Mr Ryan, head of Crown property Sonya Wikitera told the Otago Daily Times her staff received many inquiries about the use of Crown land for commercial businesses and were always available to talk through a person's plans before any official application to Linz was made. "When providing advice or assessing formal applications, Linz considers the potential impact on the Crown land, public use, impact on other businesses already operating in the area, other applications which may have already been made, feedback from other agencies and the public, as well as impacts on existing infrastructure like toilets, rubbish bins and carparking," Ms Wikitera said. Mr Ryan's sauna is wood-clad, has a chimney out the top and is heated by a "Sweaty Meg" — a custom-built wood burner sold through his other business, Roaring Meg Fires. "They're like traditional Finnish wood-fire heaters," he said. On the trial night, Mr Ryan had hand-held lanterns ready outside the sauna for people to take to guide them down to the lake in between stints in the sauna. He reckoned a one-hour session was about right — 15 minutes in the heat, five minutes for a cool dip, then back to the sauna and repeat times two. Mr Ryan is a sauna convert. "They're amazing; good for your health. I've 'sauna-ed' every night for, oh, I don't know how long," he said. "They help fight cardiovascular disease. They're good for sleep. There's so much research been done on saunas now." Mr Ryan's case is not the only one where a mobile sauna has faced consenting challenges. The Marlborough District Council has gone back and forth on its decision to reject a proposal to allow a similar set up on reserve land beside a beach in Picton. Mr Ryan has launched a petition in an attempt to persuade the Central Otago District Council to reconsider his proposal.
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Supercars future chance optimism
Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley says it is disappointing Cromwell's Highlands Motorsport Park missed out on hosting a V8 Supercars round, but she is optimistic the opportunity may arise again. "It is a bit disappointing as obviously Cromwell offers a premium location for that type of event." Ms Alley did say despite missing out, having a round of racing in the South Island was great for those in Central Otago who would like to go watch Supercars as Christchurch was not too far to travel to. Supercars organisers had approached the Central Otago District Council for $250,000 to help secure the event, and the proposal for funding was presented to the public as part of the council's long-term plan consultation document. Ms Alley said the feedback from the public as part of the consultation was not in favour of granting Supercars funds. "But a lot of that was around people just thinking that Supercars kind of had enough money." If Supercars was to make a similar request in the future about having a round in Central Otago, the council would be open to seeing what people could bring to the area, the mayor said. "I guess every conversation is an opportunity for a new start. So we'll wait and see what the future might bring." Ms Alley said she believed there would be future opportunities, if not for Supercars then another type of event. "We know that they do bring benefits for our communities, but also not every event is going to be the right fit for us. "So I guess we'll look at things on a case-by-case basis as they crop up," she said. Cromwell Community Board member Wally Sanford said missing out on Supercars meant that the council, in the short term, had been spared some difficult discussions on financial priorities for the district. "Now is a good time to reconsider how our tourism money should be gathered and spent, and what tourism markets or ventures we as a district should be focusing on," he said. Tourism Central Otago head of destination Anthony Longman said Central Otago hosting the Supercars would have brought the region direct positive economic benefits, as well as a wide range of non-economic benefits. "Attracting an event at the size and scale of Supercars could have attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Cromwell, Central Otago and our neighbouring regions," Mr Longman said. It was estimated an event like Supercars could have brought in over $20 million in economic benefit to the wider Central Otago district, he said.
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Construction of off-road cycle link set to begin
ODT GRAPHIC Construction is due to begin on another connection to Central Otago's trail network with an off-road cycle link from Kāmoanahaehae — Riverside Park to the Linger and Die Reserve in Alexandra. A Central Otago District Council spokesperson said the trail link would take people off Rivers St and along the toe of the bank of Manuherikia River, as indicated on the map. The project is funded by Wairoa Manuherikia, a project of the Manuherikia Catchment Group and the Ministry for the Environment. Manuherikia Catchment Group general manager Clare Hadley said the Waiora Manuherikia project was about connecting the community with their awa, so the whole community could appreciate the Manuherikia River and the recreational, cultural and economic connections many have to it. "It's exciting to see this part of the project come to life," Ms Hadley said. The recreational users' group was enthusiastic in its support for the trail, Ms Hadley said. Construction of the trail at this stage would cost $120,000. Once construction of the trail was completed, native plants would be planted along the riverbank to replace the willows that were removed late last year. — APL
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Communities go to bat for public halls
The smaller communities of Central Otago have come out fighting for their council-owned halls and buildings, with some challenging elected members to push back at central government demands they say are putting rural ratepayers in impossible situations. The Central Otago District Council heard on Thursday from submitters on its Long Term Plan, which includes a controversial proposal to divest a selection of council assets to save $284,000 (0.54% per ratepayer) in year one of the nine-year plan and eliminate the need for future borrowing for earthquake strengthening. Michelle Bisset, of Patearoa, told the mayor and councillors it was her view the council proposal was driven by economic drivers while social ones were being ignored. Ms Bisset called earthquake risk the ''elephant in the room'', having ''such an impact on small communities''. Despite smaller towns having a relatively lower risk to life from buildings flagged as earthquake-unsafe, they were being treated the same under legislation as more populated areas, she said. ''The onus is on local bodies to start putting the pressure up the chain back to central government so that central government is funding you adequately to do the jobs you are asked to do.'' Ms Bisset, along with other speakers, expressed a wariness at the urgency with which they claimed the council was moving forward with the proposal. Deborah Dons, speaking in support of the Miller's Flat Hall, urged the council to hold off making any decision regarding their local facility until other funding models could be explored. ''At the very least we're asking for a stay of execution.'' A group of Poolburn School residents brought at least one councillor close to tears as they collectively put forward a case alongside principal Melissa Gare that their hall was ''a keeper''. One of the young people who spoke, Charlie, said her parents had hosted their wedding dance in the local Poolburn-Moa Creek Community Hall, while she had celebrated both her fourth and fifth birthdays there. She argued the hall had great ''sentimental'' value to her and to others. Other pupils spoke of the importance of the building for hosting school discos, productions, sports teams, and prizegivings, with their principal saying all schools needed such spaces, but Poolburn's size made Ministry of Education provision of one unattainable. Maniototo ward councillor Stuart Duncan asked those around the council table, ''Did we get the list right?'', suggesting it felt inappropriate for representatives from the district's smaller communities to have to turn out and plead for the future of what were so obviously vital community assets. Mayor Tamah Alley said the discussion was not about the value such assets brought to the community they were located in, but simply whether the council should own them. She said she had sought advice on the part private ownership might play to fill the gap that council increasingly could not because of budget constraints. But Naseby Vision spokesman Dave Brady did not see that as not a good option. ''Council, in our opinion, needs to support the community to do what the community needs to do. ''Private enterprise, by its very nature, will take and maximise the gains from these types of properties, which may not necessarily be in the best interests of the community,'' Mr Brady told the mayor. The council is scheduled to deliberate on its plan on Monday.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Getting set to tackle water services myths
One councillor is hoping consultation on how water services are provided across Central Otago will deal to the many "myths" circulating in the community, while another has suggested the outcome of the consultation is already a "fait accompli". The Central Otago District Council is considering teaming up with three other local authorities to deliver and maintain Three Waters infrastructure. The council now wants to hear the view of residents and ratepayers. In a virtual meeting last Thursday, elected members signed off on a consultation document. Cr Cheryl Laws said it was a matter of "how we get our message out now to the public and avoid all of these myths that are out there". Branded as "Southern Water Done Well", the topic was canvassed in the just-closed long-term plan consultation. Collaboration with neighbouring councils and the status quo were among options mooted. Council Three Waters head Julie Muir told elected members at Thursday's meeting initial analysis of submissions received in response to the long-term plan showed close to a 50:50 split in sentiment regarding the creation of a new water entity versus retaining the status quo. However, much of the discussion at last week's meeting centred on the status quo being a red herring. "The word status quo implies that we can continue as we are, with the same costs, and we know legally that's not achievable," Ms Muir said. "There's no such things as status quo — it's 'status quo' that we continue to deliver in-house, but it's at a higher cost and higher level of service." Cr Sarah Browne said people she talked to were confused as to why any change was needed when, on the whole, the district was already delivering water services well. "I'd say the public feedback at this stage is that we absolutely should just be doing the status quo, keep it in house," Cr Browne said. "That's the crux of the conversation I've had with everybody that's interested in it." However, it was not that the council did not want to maintain the status quo; rather, it "can't do it". "I think that's the key issue ... the status quo isn't an option; it isn't sustainable." Mayor Tamah Alley said people needed to "wrap their heads around" the proposal. "There are challenges coming in this [Three Waters] space that we are aware of, but perhaps the general public aren't quite across," she told councillors. Cr Martin McPherson called the paper in front of elected members an "educational document" rather than a "consultation document". However, there was silence when he went as far as saying: "We're not really seeking any feedback, because this is a fait accompli. We're going ahead with this come hell or high water because we don't have a choice." Ms Muir said the latest consultation, zeroing in on water, would move the discussion on. She said the consultation document was "well put together" and "easy to read". "I think this gives people a greater depth of knowledge and understanding of what's proposed." Council chief executive Peter Kelly said the other three councils — the Clutha, Gore and Waitaki District Councils — signed off on similar consultation documents last week, with only minor amendments. According to the Central Otago document, combined debt for the four councils is projected to rise from $236million to $598m by 2034, with $760m invested in water services over the coming decade to ensure compliance with national expectations. The month-long consultation started late last week and will conclude on June 6. Public information sessions are planned.
