David Bruce

The pressure being placed on Hampden's public toilets is causing a headache for the town's hall committee and it wants help from the Waitaki District Council to resolve the problem.

Two North Otago dairy farming companies and their farm managers were fined a total of $55,000 in the Oamaru District Court yesterday, after two separate illegal dairy effluent discharges reached two creeks in the Waitaki and Waiareka Valleys.

About 50 clubs are taking part in a free community event to promote their organisations: the annual Club Day, in the Opera House tomorrow.

About 40 wells in the Waitaki Valley between Duntroon and Otematata are being surveyed this month by Environment Canterbury (ECan) as part of a groundwater study aimed at providing information on the state of Canterbury's water resources.

Timaru still wants water from the Waitaki River as part of a new irrigation scheme costing up to $200 million and irrigating up to 40,000ha.

A Waiareka Valley dairy farm company, one of its directors and the farm manager have been fined a total of $48,100 for illegally discharging dairy effluent and applying too much irrigation water.

Boats of all shapes, sizes and ages will be included in an Oamaru Harbour regatta being planned by a group of enthusiasts for this month, an event they hope will become a big annual attraction.

New Zealand Malt Whisky Company owner Warren Preston is not angry his company has been placed in receivership after a tumultuous three weeks.

"We're a tourist town and we should have them available," is Waitaki district councillor Peter Garvan's reaction to a proposal to close several public toilets in Oamaru.

Otago regional leaders are warning that "kneejerk" recommendations to split up Environment Canterbury could have major impacts regionally and nationally, and lead to a "fraught process" if replicated elsewhere.

Environment Canterbury could be split up by the Government and its elected 14 councillors replaced with a temporary commission.