Andrew Ashton

Motorists in Waitaki have been left rattled by a perceived lack of progress in fixing rural roads damaged by two weeks of heavy rain and floods.

After posting huge financial losses last year, the Oamaru Licensing Trust Board has bounced back with a much improved performance this year.

North Otago has finally been given a respite from the prolonged drenching that caused flooding across the district in recent weeks.

Tourists in Oamaru will soon be able to get a taste of life in the Antarctic, after an original hut from Scott Base in the Antarctic was yesterday given a new home in the town.

The Waitaki Ski Club's Awakino Skifield has finally opened, and a club member says the skiing on opening weekend was "worth the wait".

A five-year wait for Te Runanga o Waihao came to an end yesterday, after the Government approved the creation of a new mataitai reserve that would allow the runanga to exercise more control over traditional Maori fishing grounds in Waimate.

The Waitaki District Council is still not sure how long it will take to repair the damage caused by this week's floods, which it estimates may cost at least $500,000.

Preparation work for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project to modernise and increase capacity at the Iona Home and Hospital in Oamaru began this week, and the project is expected to be finished in a year's time.

Farmers, residents and businesses in North Otago and East Otago start a massive clean-up today, following two weeks of rain which caused an estimated $1 million in flood damage, but the MetService has warned more wet weather is on the radar.

All rural roads in Waitaki are effectively off-limits to motorists today, after the Waitaki District Council issued a no non-essential travel notice.