Latest news with #SouthlandDistrictCouncil
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Pub denied licence up for sale
A Southland pub described as "putrid" by patrons is up for sale after being banned from selling alcohol. Colac Bay Tavern, near Invercargill, had its applications for new liquor licences declined over concerns which included the "unsanitary state" of an adjoining campground. The campground was ordered to be cleaned, and a car sales business operating from the tavern's carpark was also cited as an issue by Southland's district licensing committee. Owner Rajesh Batra, who bought the tavern in February last year, confirmed it had not been selling alcohol since the committee's decision in February this year and it had since been placed on the market. "[The] committee did not leave any [other] option for myself other than to sell the business and property," Mr Batra said yesterday. Patrons reacted with dismay when the pub announced it was no longer serving alcohol in a social media post in March. One commenter said the cleanliness was "totally the pits". "They should lock its doors and sell to someone who actually knows what [they're] doing." Another said a urinal in the men's toilet smelled "putrid". Others said the new ownership had done "a real disservice" to locals and out-of-towners, and they had "never seen a business go down the s...... in such record speed". In its decision, committee chairman Paul Duffy said evidence was presented by Southland District Council licensing inspector Bernadette Paisley at a hearing in January that showed Mr Batra had "ongoing issues" with compliance. That included the named duty manager not being on site on two occasions and the need for a "cleansing order" under the Health Act to have the associated campground brought up to an appropriate standard of cleanliness, Cr Duffy said. The committee also heard from Dunedin City Council chief licensing inspector Tanya Morrison and Joanna Case of Immigration New Zealand. They indicated Mr Batra had previously applied for liquor licenses in Dunedin which were opposed due to his suitability, but he had withdrawn the applications before they could go to hearing. "Ms Tanya Morrison spoke about the flaws in the applications that were submitted to the council and Ms Joanna Case spoke to the applicant's inability to obtain the correct visas and to comply with the accredited employer scheme." The matters raised by both licensing inspectors highlighted a shortfall in systems and staff training regarding signage, keeping incident records and awareness of compliance requirements, Cr Duffy said. "The breach of the Health Act related to the unsanitary state of the campground facilities that resulted in an order to clean being issued. "A further legislative breach of the Southland District Plan regarding the location of the car sales business in the Colac Bay Tavern carpark was also noted." Mr Batra believed the committee was "being biased" and had not made a fair decision on one of the applications. Many of the compliance issues were first enforced after he took ownership, and compliance with new fire safety requirements had not been asked of any previous owners. An infringement notice from Immigration New Zealand had been revoked, and he hoped that had been shared with the committee for future reference, Mr Batra said.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Amendments discussed
Changes are coming for the way the country handles waste, but will the potential changes leave smaller councils in a tough spot? Central government is asking councils for feedback regarding proposed amendments to the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and the Litter Act 1979. These amendments would cover changes to the way the water levy is allocated to territorial authorities and what they can spend money on, clarification of roles, improved tools for compliance and other controls for littering and other waste. WasteNet Southland, a joint initiative between Southland District Council, Gore District Council and Invercargill City Council, compiled a list of submissions put forth to the Gore assets and infrastructure meeting last night. The submission was noted as generally supportive of the proposed amendments. However, it asked for a few changes — for example, an adjustment of the method of allocation in funds for the Waste Levy, to account for and reduce discrepancy between councils. Cr Hovell put his hand up in support, stating traditionally the 50% the government had taken, it had put back in to the waste sector. Discussion between councillors ensued. Cr Hovell explained the 50% was similar to recycling schemes, where businesses could apply for funds when applicable due to the minimisation of waste. Cr Hovell also mentioned the importance of a local voice being heard in Wellington, and said there was a distinct way Southland did things. "I think it's important to reinforce to government we do things slightly different here and that needs to be recognised," he said. Cr Fraser seconded this, and said it was important to be vocal despite being a minority compared to larger councils. "When you're fighting numbers, we need to be quite the best we can be," he said. Cr Phillips put a recommendation WasteNet speak to its submissions, which was seconded by Cr Fraser, and the call to approve the submission was carried unanimously.
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Initial demolition work set to begin
Demolition of Wyndham museum will start next week. PHOTO: ODT FILES Demolition of the Wyndham museum building is set to start next week. Initial work starting next Monday will involve the establishment of site facilities, fencing, traffic control in front of the building and protection of the overhead power lines before scaffolding is put up, the Southland District Council said in a statement last Thursday. Demolition of the building will start from June 3 and involve a combination of mechanical and manual deconstruction, using both long-reach excavators with specialist attachments and, where required, hand tools primarily on boundary walls close to existing buildings. Total demolition and site reinstatement is expected to be completed by June 27. Southland firm Ryal Bush Transport successfully tendered for the project. Home to the Wyndham and District Historical Museum, the building was closed in 2017 after it was deemed earthquake prone. The museum boasted an extensive collection relating to the wider Wyndham area, including family genealogy, sheep and dairy farming, dairy factories, horse racing, household items and histories of local clubs and societies. Following the building's closure, the collection was digitised with the assistance of Project Ark, a collaboration between the Invercargill City Council and the Southland and Gore district councils to catalogue every item in the region's 12 museums which started in 2018. Items are available to view online at Dedicated volunteers continue to actively fundraise with the aim of establishing a new museum on the site in the future. — APL
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
‘Important community has say' on housing, development
The Invercargill community now has an opportunity to share its feedback on the future direction of housing and development. The Invercargill City Council's district plan is up for review and the council wants to hear from its ratepayers on what they wish to change or implement. Council consenting and environment group manager Jonathan Shaw said early public consultation on changes needed to the district plan was sought last year and had played an integral role in shaping the council's preferred approach for the upcoming plan change. The second stage of public consultation on potential changes to the district plan opened last Monday, he said. "It's equally important that the community has their say once more, and lets us know what they think of our preferred approach to the proposed changes to the district plan. The decisions we make regarding the district plan quite literally shape the future of our city, so it is really important our community's voice continues to be heard throughout this process," Mr Shaw said. The council's preferred approach to changing the plan aimed to enable greater density and diversity of housing in Invercargill, promote well-designed housing to provide greater social and environmental outcomes, enable papakāinga (traditional communal living on ancestral Māori land) and separate the code of practice for land development and subdivision infrastructure out from the district plan. The code of practice was developed with the Southland District Council, and set out engineering and technical standards for land development and subdivision activities. Separating the two documents would mean the code of practice could be updated more quickly and easily, without requiring a change to the district plan, he said. "The district plan guides how our city is developed. It sets out what kind of activities or development can happen throughout Invercargill, so that both developers and residents can do things while at the same time we can protect important values and amenities for the wider community." The proposed changes to housing density applied to most of residentially zoned Invercargill. However, the proposed rules for papakāinga were likely to apply throughout the district, in residential and rural zones, he said. Once this phase of consultation had closed, the council would use this feedback to inform the drafting of the plan change. The plan change would then be notified in October, and the community would have an opportunity to make formal submissions on the specific policies and rules proposed at that time, Mr Shaw said. Feedback would be open until 5pm on Friday, June 6, he said. — APL
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Ex-mayor favours district re-think
No to amalgamation but yes to a reorganisation, says a former Gore mayor, who believes it is time for organisation of districts to start making a bit more sense. Southland District Mayor Rob Scott has been pushing for the amalgamation of the four Southland districts into two unitary authorities. This year, Mr Scott and the Southland District Council submitted their proposal "Southland Local Government. Together, for our Future" to the Local Government Commission. Former Gore district mayor Tracy Hicks said he had a different view. "I hate the name 'amalgamation'. I think there's lots of opportunities for reorganisation, but amalgamation has a bad track record. "I'd challenge anyone to point to amalgamations that have saved money and kept services at a similar level, or improved services." However, there was room for a reorganisation of districts to better suit the region's geography, he said. "Let's work in units where we naturally fit, as opposed to trying to force communities together that don't have a lot in common with each other. "If you overlay that with a unitary authority, it would be good. You could have two in Southland, plus the city council." Mr Hicks said his experience in the retail sector had led him to believe the Gore district should be expanded out to all who would seek out services in Gore. "The people who came to shop at The Warehouse were from Lumsden, Browns in the west, Clinton, Wyndham, and as far down as the coast. "That's the natural catchment for a district council based in this part of the world and I think it would work really well," he said. How rural districts and their catchments were organised did not make much sense to him and it was worth looking at, he said. "At the moment we have Waikaia administered by Southland District Council based in Invercargill. It's a long way away. "The likes of Tapanui, most of the business people do, if they can't do it there, they'll come to Gore. They won't go to Balclutha, yet they're a part of Clutha." Mr Hicks said the Southland District Council's proposal had its merits but it required more scrutiny and more options. "I think the time is right. I'm just not sure the scale of what's been talked about so far is one that would deliver value for the community," On the promised savings for the district, Mr Hicks said he was sceptical of the amounts promised, and also it should not just be around saving money. "Could you promise cost savings? I don't think there would be anything like what people believe there might be. "If you're only doing it to save money, I think we'll all be sadly disappointed with what we get." It was about finding the best fit for communities and he wanted more common sense when determining districts' borders. When Gore first amalgamated to include Mataura, Mr Hicks was a staunch opponent, but said he now believed there were benefits to be had with councils joining and reorganising. "I'm very in favour of having the debate, having the discussion. But let's not rush to one option first."
