Civil defence training for councillors, boards

Civil defence training is on the way for Central Otago district councillors and community board members.

The district council's emergency management officer, Hamish Keith told the Vincent Community Board this week it was essential communities could look after themselves, as a disaster could overwhelm emergency services and civil defence.

Public information centres will be set up at council offices in Alexandra, Cromwell, Roxburgh and Ranfurly and local civil defence committees established in February, followed by civil defence training for committee members, councillors and board members.

• The board will pay $8680 to fund the "Gold Coin Bus" to operate between Clyde and Alexandra during the peak summer holiday period.

Promote Alexandra is providing the service and asking for a gold coin donation from the passengers. Last year, the service was free and it was used by 563 passengers, an increase of 214 people over the previous year.

Promote Alexandra member Melanie Eade said the service would be properly marketed and advertised this year and would benefit local businesses, promote the area, and offer a service to locals and visitors.

• The Clyde Community Plan group has asked for extra toilets to be provided in the town. The Central Otago District Council owns toilets at the Briar Herb Museum, which are in the buildings leased to the Clyde Historical Museum Inc.

The museum committee has agreed to allow the toilets to be open for longer hours (10am-5pm), during the peak holiday time, and the board will pay the extra cleaning costs of $305 a month.

The trial will be assessed at the end of January.