Plans to deepen Port Otago's shipping channel, dumping the dredged material offshore, risks creating a "dead zone" which would threaten the income of local fishers, the Port Chalmers fishing co-operative says.
A 10-year court wrangle with the Queenstown Lakes District Council had probably cost more than $750,000, Remarkables Park Ltd (RPL) director Alastair Porter said yesterday, calling for a change of culture on the part of the council.
The Government's proposed national environment standard aimed at assessing and managing contaminants in soil has been labelled "narrow-scoped" and "limiting" by the Otago Regional Council.
It is a reasonable assumption to make that the Government has already lost the war of words over its hopes to permit more mining in the "conservation estate".
The Government will open up more protected land to potential mining beyond the first three areas announced yesterday, adding further fuel to criticism the plans put New Zealand's environment and green credentials at risk.
Instead of blundering about in the dark at home, supporters of Earth Hour in Dunedin will be able to enjoy an hour of family entertainment in the Octagon next Saturday evening.
Port Chalmers residents will hold a "transition town" workshop this weekend, to develop practical projects aimed at improving sustainability and building a more resilient community.
Wakatipu residents will be among the first in the world to mark Earth Hour 2010 on March 27, when cities, towns and districts across the world turn off their lights for an hour.
A move by three companies wanting to develop dairy farms in the Omarama and Ohau areas to delay a Government-appointed board of inquiry dealing with the effluent discharges has been rejected by Minister for the Environment Nick Smith.
"Voracious" wallabies could be making their way into Otago, raising fears the pest may establish in the region and threaten native plants, forestry, crops and pasture.
Dairy industry leaders have put farmers on notice to lift their game after a damning report showed many have substandard effluent management systems.
The amount of money being donated by people using the Speight's Brewery tap in Dunedin is only a drop in the ocean to what could be given, leaving an environmental fund short.
Long-serving Wanaka conservationist Stu Thorne has retired from his day-job of 40 years to volunteer for more of the same on a remote Pacific Island, 1000km away from New Zealand.
Didymo is spreading in the upper Waitaki canals, used by Meridian Energy to feed water to its power stations.
Eight Queenstown companies are taking their sustainable practices to new levels. They are taking part in a programme run through the Centre for Sustainable Practice at the Otago Polytechnic.
Frustration over Government proposals has prompted the face of the Department of Conservation, Nicola Vallance, to pack away her polar fleece and find a new platform for her environmental concerns. Shane Gilchrist reports.
The Government is unlikely to fully implement a report which recommends sacking the elected Environment Canterbury regional council, replacing it with commissioners and splitting water management from the other functions of the regional council.
John McGlashan College pupils (from left) James Phizacklea (10) William Archer (11) and Ryan Neill (10) work together to take a water sample at the Kaikorai estuary in Dunedin this week.
For the first time in 40 years, a train will stop to pick up passengers at the former Port Chalmers Upper railway station tomorrow.
New Zealand's first biodiesel refuelling facility was launched in Queenstown yesterday.
