The Waimate fire which burnt 178ha has been contained, but could be months away from being officially declared out, unless there is a lot of rain despite long-term predictions of a dry, windy summer.
Spare a thought for the Dudleys - they had 70 people for Christmas dinner in Oamaru yesterday.
A strategy setting out a 10-year tourism development plan which could inject $12 million into the Waitaki economy has been put in place by the Waitaki District Council.
Meridian Energy Ltd will spend up to $190 million between now and 2016 upgrading power stations in the Waitaki Valley, to generate more electricity with the same amount of water.
Applicants wanting to use water in the upper Waitaki catchment have been declined a final say on the issue - at least at this stage - by an Environment Canterbury panel.
Refuse disposal charges might be reduced at the Oamaru landfill in Tamar St because of increased competition from outside the Waitaki district.
The Waitaki Resource Recovery Park in Oamaru might have to put off staff or close down because of a financial crisis.
A dirty trick by a faceless bureaucrat in Wellington" was how Waitaki district councillor Craig Dawson describes a cut in the mileage rate reimbursement on council duties, which he says threatens his ability to represent his rural ward.
Coming from Auckland Super City Council to the more diminutive Waitaki District local body, Carolyn Carter has no regrets.
Until recently a costly relic of what was once a thriving port, the Oamaru Harbour is again vital to the future of Oamaru, David Bruce reports.
Waitaki Lakes campers have been warned to watch lake levels after heavy rain in the Southern Alps over the past week.
The Waitaki district is still below the maximum numbers of gambling venues and gaming machines - and is likely to remain that way, with no changes proposed to limits imposed by a Waitaki District...
The community will have a bigger say in managing water in the Upper Waitaki catchment with the appointment of a new 13-member committee.
Civil Defence was the ideal answer for Doug Walker, who wanted to use his skills doing community work.
A six-year project costing $4.8 million to upgrade Waitaki District Council rural water schemes to meet drinking water standards will not get any financial help from the Government's revamped subsidy scheme.
Only one nomination for a vacancy on the Waihemo Community Board has saved the Waitaki District Council about $12,000, the cost of running a full by-election.
A team of up to seven firefighters was patrolling the Hunter Hills above Waimate last night keeping a close watch on a big fire which started on Tuesday night and by yesterday had burnt 178ha of mainly broom, gorse and scrub.
Firefighters have managed to contain a fire in Waimate, in South Canterbury, which ignited in scrub yesterday afternoon and spread into forest.
Technical assistance from the Ministry of Health has been promised to help resolve contamination of Reidston's privately-owned water scheme.
A committee which will help Environment Canterbury (ECan) manage water in the lower Waitaki catchment and Waitaki district will be chaired by Glenavy farmer Robin Murphy.
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