Rebecca Fox

Continuing to dump dredged spoil from Otago Harbour's shipping channel at existing sites will not negatively affect the protected nationally significant surfing breaks at Aramoana and Whareakeake, Port Otago specialists say.

An application by Port Otago to continue disposing of material from its maintenance dredging programme will be heard today.

Otago freshwater scientists back the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's call for a ban on commercial fishing of longfin eels.

A shortage of water meter installers and qualified hydrologists in Otago is making it harder for landowners to meet new regulations.

The Otago Regional Council is a finalist in the Green Ribbon Environmental Awards.

A rare combination of good bird numbers and a ''scruffy forecast'' should mean duck shooters ''gain the upper hand on the game birds for a change'', Otago Fish and Game Council operations manager Ian Hadland says.

A campaign to get Douglas fir trees removed from a plantation neighbouring Te Papanui Conservation Park continues with a meeting on the site today.

With 48 hours until annual plan submissions close, the Otago Regional Council has received only 27.

A discount of $7.60 has marred the Otago Regional Council's proudly held three-year record of meeting resource consent processing time frames.