Latest news with #OtagoRegionalCouncil
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Good Response To South Dunedin Future Engagement
There is a clear mandate for change in South Dunedin, based on the results of the most recent public engagement on the South Dunedin Future programme. The community was asked to respond to seven potential adaptation futures for South Dunedin, as well as public tolerance of flooding and views on funding climate adaptation. South Dunedin Future programme manager Jonathan Rowe says , 'We're grateful to the many people who took the time to share their views. There appears to be a strong mandate for change, to move beyond the status quo, and to work together toward a safer, more resilient South Dunedin.' This phase of community engagement involved more than 1,200 individuals and organisations participating in a series of workshops, drop-in events, online surveys, and targeted stakeholder dialogue from 29 March to 11 May 2025. Key results included: Almost 73% of respondents indicated that Future 1 – Status quo (keep doing what we are doing) is taking South Dunedin in the wrong direction. Future 4 – 'Space for Water' (waterways and wetlands) was the most supported, with 59% agreeing this takes South Dunedin in the right direction. Future 7 – 'Let Water In' (large-scale retreat) was the least popular overall, with 47% indicating this takes South Dunedin in the wrong direction. When asked about risk and tolerance, 83% of respondents indicated that South Dunedin would become 'unliveable' for them if floodwaters entered their homes, even occasionally. In contrast, there was a higher level of tolerance for minor or 'nuisance' flooding in areas such as parks, streets, and open spaces. Two prominent themes emerged in the feedback across all Futures included that council should build more infrastructure in the short term to reduce present day flood risk, and that people want more information about any potential managed retreat process, including in regard to location, timing, and process for property buy-outs. 'The survey results show that people want action that responds to the scale of the challenge. This includes getting on top of present-day flooding issues, while also being open to large-scale change that might be required to tackle climate-change impacts in the future', says Mr Rowe. In addition to public engagements, targeted sessions were held with infrastructure providers, banks, insurers, developers, social service agencies, and government agencies. The results of these sessions showed a desire for a clear, long-term strategy to support decision-making and investment confidence. South Dunedin Future is a joint programme launched in 2020 by the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council to develop a comprehensive climate change adaptation plan for South Dunedin that is viable, affordable, and has broad support. Mr Rowe says, 'the engagement report being presented to both councils marks the conclusion of the current phase of community engagement. The feedback received will now be combined with more technical and economic work to identify a shortlist of three adaptation futures for South Dunedin.' The engagement report will be discussed next week by Councillors at the ORC Council meeting on Wednesday, 23 July and the DCC Council meeting on Wednesday 30 July. The South Dunedin Future programme remains on track to deliver a shortlist of three adaptation futures by early-2026, and following further community engagement, a final adaptation plan for South Dunedin is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Rabbit control operation to start
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Carrots laced with poisoned bait will be laid before a shooting operation starts to cull wild rabbit numbers on Cape Wanbrow and at two sites in Hampden. Last year, the Otago Regional Council issued a notice to reduce rabbit numbers on Cape Wanbrow. "While this was successful, this year council is being pro-active in its pest control to reduce the population once again," a Waitaki District Council statement said. It will also be reducing rabbit numbers at the Hampden Cemetery and a forestry block to the south of Hampden, near Worcester St. "It is also engaging with leaseholders of council land to ensure pest control takes place elsewhere in Hampden," the statement said. "Rabbit control has two main stages, first Pindone-laced carrot bait will be placed in the areas for control. These will be replaced over a period of around a month. "Then night-shooting will take place — and residents and the community will be informed of dates for night-shooting well in advance," the statement said. People and animals should not touch the baits and dogs should be kept on a leash a tall times in the operation areas. Should poisoning be suspected, phone the National Poison Information Centre on 0800 764-766. The operation will run from July 27 and through August. — APL
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Rabbit control set to begin
Carrots laced with poisoned bait will be laid before a shooting operation starts to cull wild rabbit numbers on Cape Wanbrow, including areas near the penguin colony and Waterfront Rd, in Oamaru and at two sites in Hampden in late July and August. Last year, the Otago Regional Council issued a notice to reduce rabbit numbers on Cape Wanbrow. In a statement, the Waitaki District Council said this year it had decided to be "proactive in its pest control" to reduce the rabbit population again. Rabbit control work will also be carried out at the Hampden Cemetery and a forestry block to the south of Hampden, near Worcester St. The council spokesperson said there are high numbers of rabbits in these areas that cannot be controlled with night shooting alone. Council officers will also be engaging with leaseholders of council land to ensure pest control takes place elsewhere in Hampden. A spokesperson said the rabbit control programme has two main stages, first Pindone-laced carrot bait will be placed in the areas for control. The control work will involve two drops, a week apart (with a third if required), using hand-laid carrots coated with Pindone, deposited in areas where rabbits are most active. The council statement said residents and the community will be informed of dates for night-shooting well in advance. Property owners in the area will be provided with letters detailing the work to be done, and maps of where the rabbit control will take place. The council advises people and animals should not touch the baits and dogs should be kept on a leash at all times in the operation areas as Pindone is poisonous to people and animals. The rabbit control operation starts on July 28 and runs through August. — APL
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Hollyer's hoping for ORC seat
Queenstown's Matt Hollyer, who's seeking election for Otago Regional Council. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Queenstowner Matt Hollyer's hoping to enter politics. The 51-year-old, who's lived in the Whakatipu for the past 30-odd years, is announcing his run for Otago Regional Council (ORC), standing for one of four seats in the Dunstan regional constituency. While much of his background's in tourism, Hollyer's been more sharply focused on conservation over the past five or so years, and it's sparked his desire to help "on a larger scale". His experience includes management roles at Tourism Holdings Ltd, almost 15 years as Shotover Canyon Swing's general manager, and six years as Destination Queenstown's board chair. Since 2019, he's been AJ Hackett Bungy NZ project and innovation manager and, since 2020, ops manager for GSD Workforce, a subsidiary of Bungy, created during Covid to support community conservation groups through Jobs for Nature funding. He's also been ops manager for Southern Lakes Sanctuary since mid-'21 and has been working with ORC, including through the Catchment Action Plan (Cap). He also helped "get the ball rolling" for a targeted ORC rate to assist large-scale conservation projects throughout Otago. "I realised through Covid when we got involved in helping out community conservation groups there are awesome people that are making a great difference to the environment, but it's all boot strapping. "It's sausage sizzles and trying to keep themselves ... volunteering, but you really need to have scale ... to actually make a big difference." He believes there's huge opportunity for ORC to work more closely with community groups and businesses "for the good of everybody". "What I've seen with the people and the engagement they're trying to do through the [Cap], the connections they're making and wanting to [build] with the community, I think is really impressive. "Now it's about starting to deliver that stuff ... we can do better, we can make a difference, and if the community works together, that's possible." Hollyer also thinks should the regional deal eventuate, involving Queenstown and Central Otago district councils and ORC, it's important to have local voices around the ORC table. "I think I can bring a really good understanding of tourism, and what it takes to get conservation projects done." He notes, too, Queenstown, in particular, has a "big responsibility" as it pertains to the headwaters. "What we do up here, that goes into the water and ... goes into much of Otago. "We need to step up and acknowledge that, and get better connected with the whole region." Nominations trickle in As of yesterday afternoon, Glenorchy's John Glover remains the only official Queenstown mayoral candidate, while first-term councillor Melissa White's officially seeking re-election in her Arrowtown-Kawarau ward. Fellow first-termer Gavin Bartlett's again been nominated for the Queenstown-Whakatipu ward, as has local lawyer Stephen Brent, who's seeking election for the first time. Nominations close on August 1.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Oamaru Meeting For ORC Next Week
The public in North Otago are being encouraged to attend an Otago Regional Council meeting in Oamaru next week, on Wednesday 23 July. The meeting will be at Waitaki District Council, Council Chambers, 20 Thames St and is scheduled to run from 10am - 5pm. ORC Chair Gretchen Robertson says there will be a wide range of subjects being considered at Wednesday's meeting and is looking forward to members of the public attending. 'We like to take as many full Council meetings as possible around the regions each year, not only to reflect on work being done locally but to engage with communities in their home districts and better understand what is most important to them,' Cr Robertson says. Agenda items will include a recovery update from the floods of 2022, 2023 and 2024, an update on the South Dunedin Future programme, including community engagement results and also Remuneration Authority recommendations around pay rates for Councillors. 'Many of these topics will give people a good idea of the wide-ranging environmental work which ORC undertakes for communities around Otago,' she says. The main Council meeting will start with a public forum and Cr Robertson encourages anyone interested to call the ORC as soon as possible to secure a speaking time. So far those scheduled to make presentations include a representative from Extinction Rebellion and a ratepayer talking about waterways and river maintenance. The meeting's full Agenda will be available online from Monday morning.
