Latest news with #RICHARDDAVISON
Otago Daily Times
05-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Funds for budding entrepreneurs
Clutha Development economic development manager Sarah Hayward is encouraging South Otago entrepreneurs to access the organisation's new microgrants scheme to kick-start their business idea. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON Officials hope a new "microgrant" scheme will help unearth South Otago's hidden entrepreneurs. Regional development organisation Clutha Development is making available grant funding ranging from $500 to $1500 to individuals or groups hoping to progress early-stage business ideas in the district. Project spokeswoman Clutha Development economic development manager Sarah Hayward said the scheme was part of a drive to form an "entrepreneurial network" in the district. "Our goal is to encourage people in the Clutha District to take action on those ideas that have been sitting in the back of their minds. Sometimes, all it takes is a small push to get moving — and that is what a microgrant is designed to provide." She said the scheme had already received applications despite only launching last week. "It's easy to apply online, and applicants will also have the opportunity to access activator sessions, in partnership with COIN South, the Southland business incubator." Activator sessions could provide guidance and practical support to help applicants shape their ideas, and prepare strong applications, she said. The scheme had been inspired by Start Up Dunedin's microgrant programme, which ran earlier this year. "Start Up Dunedin have shared their experiences in setting up their scheme, and really showed us how powerful these small grants can be for grassroots innovation." Ms Hayward said the grants could be used for a wide range of purposes. "It could be anything related to fostering a new business idea, for example prototype development, branding or market research. It's there to help get you over your first hurdle." Grants were "no-strings-attached", and no business equity was taken. She said she hoped the scheme would provide "real momentum" for locals with promising business ideas. "Entrepreneurialsm helps diversify the local economy, foster economic growth and create vibrancy within a community, setting off a snowball effect. "We want to unearth the entrepreneurs out there, including those who perhaps don't think of themselves as entrepreneurs. It's for anybody with ideas, passion and motivation." Full criteria can be found at Applications close on September 8.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Hazards mapped
Balclutha on the edge in 2020. A new Regional Council study has estimated numbers of people and buildings inside Otago's natural hazard hotspots. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON A new Otago Regional Council report has mapped out which parts of Otago are most exposed to natural hazards, including floods, earthquakes, landslides and tsunami. River and lake flooding events and liquefaction presented the highest risk across the region, and more than 30,000 people and buildings were potentially exposed. Tsunami and storm-surge disasters remain a risk for large areas containing communities close to the Taieri, Tokomairaro, Clutha-Mata Au, Catlins and Tahakopa rivers and estuaries, where population was a factor in estimating a lower exposure of about 500 people and 1100 buildings. Exposure means a person or building is located in an area where a hazard process might occur — not that they are guaranteed to be affected. The Otago Region Natural Hazards Exposure Analysis was the first to cover the entire Otago region. The analysis assessed exposure to nine key natural hazard types, using regional-scale mapping and modelling to estimate the number of people, buildings, and critical facilities such as hospitals and emergency services were located in areas potentially exposed to natural hazards. The report identified 90 critical community facilities across the region. Dunedin City had the highest overall exposure to flooding, liquefaction and seismic hazards, and joined Queenstown and Wanaka's urban areas with a relatively high exposure to landslides and alluvial fans. "This work is not about predicting when an event might happen," the council's natural hazards manager, Dr Jean-Luc Payan said. "It's about identifying where exposure exists so we can make smarter decisions about resilience, planning and investment." The findings provide a critical foundation for the council's natural hazards prioritisation programme, scheduled to begin in 2025-26 and will help guide long-term planning and land-use decisions, emergency management, regional policy development, Infrastructure and resilience-building projects. While no new hazard mapping was done, the report is based on years of the council's existing hazard data, available through their natural hazards portal. The council will now use the report to identify and prioritise the most at-risk areas for further study and risk reduction work. The natural hazards prioritisation workstream is scheduled to conclude by mid-2026.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Hall to receive extensive restoration
Stirling Athenaeum treasurer Kathy Baff is looking forward to a sympathetic facelift for the 114-year-old hall near Balclutha. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON A South Otago hall enjoying a rich social history is receiving some tender loving care. Stirling Athenaeum, just outside Balclutha, was originally founded in 1882 at a site across from the current hall in Baker St. Treasurer Kathy Baff, who is helping lead an extensive restoration and upgrade of the community-owned building, said the hall was rebuilt in response to an increase in membership, in 1910. The building had received several additions and alterations in the intervening years, and now required work to keep it standing for another century and more, she said. "An athenaeum was a library/reading room/men's club. There are several across South Otago and further afield. "Originally it had a billiards room, a reading room and a social space. In 1927, women were allowed to join for a yearly subscription of five shillings, men for 10, and it became the social heart of the town for several decades, as well as a hub for other aspects of local life." She said the hall frontage had contained a store for many years. The main hall, with an unusual double-vaulted roof, served for celebratory functions, regular dances, clubs and other town meetings, as well as retaining its library, which still existed in storage. "The hall held regular fundraisers to pay off its mortgage and keep it in good order. These were apparently called Bruce Auctions, which seems to be a local phrase meaning a 'bring-and-buy' sale, and were very popular." She said the hall had some grant funding to spend on refurbishments at present, and was also seeking donations of vintage building materials in keeping with its building style. "We advertised for wood-framed casement windows recently, and we've had some interest, but if anyone else out there has suitable windows of the right sort of style, we'd love to hear from them." She said the structure of the hall was essentially sound, although some decayed cladding required replacement, and its toilets and kitchen needed updating. "Immediately on entering you sense it's a happy building that's meant a lot to people over the years. "The floor is in amazing condition. "It could do with a repaint, but it's absolutely a building worth saving, for the community, and for its own sake."
