David Bruce

A draft strategy for the development of Oamaru Harbour over a nine-year period is nearing completion.

The biggest owner of heritage buildings in Oamaru fears insurance costs may rise in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.

A North Oamaru resident has criticised the time it took police to respond to a running battle between young people last Saturday night which could have "gone pear-shaped" - and police agree it was not ideal, despite the fact they were short-staffed.

Irrigation companies using water from the Waitaki River have formed a collective, pooling resources to cope with future issues they might face, David Bruce reports.

Future irrigation issues in North Otago and Waimate do not daunt Elizabeth Soal, who has just been appointed policy manager for the newly-formed Waitaki Irrigators' Collective Ltd.

The family of Burt Munro are "absolutely astounded" a part from his World's Fastest Indian motorbike sold for $7000 in an auction to raise money for Christchurch earthquake relief.

Pupils at five North Otago schools get to have fun while learning about cycle safety and a whole lot of other things to do with bikes.

Oamaru's first Relay for Life raised $75,342 for the Cancer Society, but that total will climb as more money is still to come in.

A controversial new tourism rate has been delayed another year by the Waitaki District Council until it has consulted the businesses that will pay it.

Discounts on electricity bills were not the only benefits customers supplied by Network Waitaki received through owning the power lines company, Waitaki Power Trust chairwoman Helen Brookes said yesterday.

Development of Oamaru's historic harbour could get a major boost next financial year if the Waitaki District Council approves the proposed $1.4 million budget.

Debris wrapped around some of the 20 piers supporting the 129-year-old twin bridges between Kurow and Hakataramea is proving hard to remove.

The cost of flood damage in the lower Waitaki River has risen after an inspection by Environment Canterbury (ECan) Timaru-based river engineering staff this week, an issue that will have to be addressed by ratepayers along the river.

Changes to the gambling venues policy for operating poker machines may be made by the Waitaki District Council when it considers five submissions on a review it has just carried out.

Duntroon farmer Geoff Keeling has had enough of watching part of his farm disappear into the Waitaki River - yesterday he started emergency protection work to try to stem the damage caused by floods since the start of last month.

At last the waiting is over - the twin bridges linking Kurow and Hakataramea on SH82 have reopened, nine days after being closed because of floods in the Waitaki River.