A larger area of the North Otago volcanic aquifer could soon be allocated to water users after an Otago Regional Council study identified restrictions were not effectively managing groundwater resources.
One of the new runs of the Otago Regional Council's improved bus system has been described as a "crashing failure" by Cr Michael Deaker.
Four Otago regional councillors have a new view on what it will mean to build a Green Star-rated office building, after a trip to Wellington to visit similarly rated buildings.
One of the two companies to lodge an appeal with the Environment Court over the Otago Regional Council's proposed pest management strategy has settled its concerns through mediation.
A royal albatross chick being banded by Department of Conservation staff yesterday at Taiaroa Head broke its leg and later died.
Two Otago projects have "won the lottery", with more than $5 million coming to the region from the Lottery Significant Projects Fund.
It is now "full steam ahead" to complete the Orokonui Ecosanctuary's visitor centre after a $1.5 million Lottery Significant Project Fund grant topped up the funds already raised in the community.
Dunedin City Council's vision for the harbourside scheme is "a little optimistic" and should be limited to the area directly around the waterfront, council urban design consultant Janet Reeves says.
Effluent discharge at Dunedin International Airport has dramatically improved since its new sewerage scheme became operational, an Otago Regional Council report says.
A Government proposal could require property owners to get a three-yearly warrant of fitness on their septic tank.
A gold-miner who wants to build a gold suction dredge to work a section of the Clutha River has been granted resource consent, but says its conditions could severely restrict or even end his plans.
A breakthrough in predator control in the habitat of Otago and grand skinks at Macraes Flat has led to a dramatic recovery in numbers of the lizards, which had previously been believed to be "doomed" to extinction.
Bluff's 2008 oyster season has been a "vast improvement" on last year, with some industry players suggesting it has been good enough to warrant looking at reducing the voluntary quota reduction by 15%.
Te Whaka, the near derelict resident of Otago Harbour's wharves, was moved to a new home at Fryatt wharf this week, but the move was short-lived.
Dunedin was the driest of New Zealand's five main centres last month, with less than 50% of its normal rainfall.
Hector's dolphin protection measures will slow their decline, but more are needed if the populations are to recover, University of Otago Associate Professor Liz Slooten says.
Dolphin campaigner Liz Slooten has been awarded the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society's highest honour for her outstanding contribution to marine conservation.
Funding for the maintenance of Otago and Southland roads will increase by $10.8 million, to more than $90 million, in the final round of annual National Land Transport Programme funding.
Dunedin's very own "yellow submarine" will give a deep-sea experience like no other as it takes people on a virtual trip to the depths of Saunders Canyon, off the coast of Otago, surrounded by sharks, giant squid and fish.
Seeing the crowds of people huddled around two vehicles yesterday, you could have been forgiven for thinking they were looking at the latest model cars - instead they were a mini and a ute converted to run on electric power.
