Central Otago police are disappointed at the high number of drink drivers caught in and around Alexandra over the past four days.Senior Constable Graham Perkins said seven men have been processed for excess breath and blood alcohol levels since Thursday last week.On May 9, a 20-year-old man was stopped on Brandon St with a reading of 440mcg. He elected for a blood test, which took hours longer to process.Snr Const Perkins said because of his aggressive nature, Omakau Police were called to assist.And, while that was happening police also received a call to Fruitlands where a disqualified driver crashed into another vehicle and had an excess breath alcohol level of 508mcg.Because Alexandra and Omakau officers were busy in Alexandra, Cromwell police had to attend the incident.On May 10, the rural liaison team stopped seven drivers for speeding, and a 23-year-old man returned a reading of 400mcg after he was pulled into the Millers Flat Tavern.In Omakau on the same day a 19-year-old Alexandra youth was stopped by police and his excess breath alcohol level was 250mcg (the limit being 0mcg under 20).On May 11 in Ranfurly, following a rugby game, two men were stopped for drink driving, and both blew 400mcg and were given infringement notices.Finally, on Sunday night, May 12, a 42-year-old motorist who was seen weaving on the road by a member of the public, was stopped in Fox St, Alexandra, and blew 474mcg. He also opted for a blood alcohol reading at the hospital.Snr Const Perkins said what people didn’t realise was because alcohol takes a while to metabolise, a blood alcohol reading two to three hours later could actually end up being higher.The seven drink driving incidents were all from people from different ages and “all walks of life,” and were endangering people’s lives by being on the road, he said.“Police are out there, anywhere, anytime. Country people die on country roads. Our police are at random spots and are getting results that we don’t want to have. But, we’re getting people off the roads.”

A new Abbeyfield 14-bedroom shared house could be built in Alexandra by the end of 2026.The formal steering committee for the Abbeyfield housing proposal is now in the process of becoming a registered charity.Alexandra Council of Social Services (ACSS) secretary Carole Gillions said once the charitable trust is formed they can start with funding applications for the proposed $4 million elderly persons facility.“We’re building a membership and looking for key stakeholders,” she said.Land had been secured that was walking distance and within 1km of local services, but the committee was still working with the developer as it went through a subdivision process. ACSS secretary Carole Gillions looks over plans for the proposed Abbeyfield development in Alexandra. PHOTO: The Central AppAbbeyfield was an innovative housing model for older people wanting to retain their independence, but enjoy the company of others, including shared meals.Research showed elderly people were vulnerable living on their own as they got older, and the Abbeyfield concept enabled both independence and security.There were currently two other houses in the lower South Island - Wakatipu and Dunedin, with three in Christchurch and four in Nelson.The idea for the rental accommodation followed two community huis - the first one back in 2018, that identified a strong need for more elderly persons housing in the town.ACSS carried out a survey for over 65s in Alexandra in 2023 which showed 60 out of the 300+ people were interested in shared housing.Carole Gillions introduced the Abbeyfield concept to the ACSS in 2023, and once the steering committee was formed, it also gained consent from the parent body to go ahead with the proposal.The steering committee was made up of Cathy Wagstaff, Marie Roxburgh, Helen Adair and Dr Bill Kaye-Blake.Funding for the development would be both on a local and national level, and each of the 14 residents would have their own private space including an outdoor area.“Abbeyfield New Zealand have been amazing to work with and given us that support to get to the next step,” Carole said.

Central Otago is now more accessible, safer and resilient thanks to the installation of three culverts on State Highway 8 near Roxburgh just in time for winter.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has completed the project, with the final culvert installed at Black Jacks Creek, each designed to help the area cope in extreme weather events.The new culverts are up to eight times larger, making the road much less likely to become flooded or damaged by debris during heavy rain.NZTA thanked the community via social media for its understanding while construction work took place.“ . . . your support meant the road workers were able to finish ahead of schedule on each of the three culverts - and thanks to the workers for their tremendous work.”Roxburgh, in recent years, had been at the mercy of extreme weather events.A flash flood in 2017 was among the more recent events, which closed roads, cut power and water to the town and forced several people to evacuate their homes.The three areas where work was done was at Black Jack’s Creek, Golf Course Creek and Pumphouse Creek.A statement by NZTA at the time of the Black Jack’s Creek work noted that all three creeks had an ongoing risk of flooding, and the larger culverts now installed would help channel flood flood waters and gravels under the road down to the Clutha Mata-Au River.

Tourists are continuing to ignore New Zealand road conditions and rules throughout Central Otago, frustrating local police.Senior Sergeant Graham Perkins said usually it was campervan drivers holding up traffic, but lately it has been more the other way with many speeding offences.“And, we’re getting a large number of complaints coming through.”He said highway patrol on State Highway 85 around Ranfurly were writing out tickets flat stick and the Lindis Pass was another problem area.“They’re not allowing enough time to get to places and then they expect us to just give them a warning.“It’s become quite noticeable and they seem to have no regard for our conditions,” he said.Four young men from Bluff, Gore and Invercargill kept highway patrols busy last weekend after two reckless driving incidents around the Devils Staircase.The driver was clocked going 147km/hr heading towards Queenstown, but the patrol car couldn’t locate him, and then later in the day the same carload of men swapped their driver and returned south, and he was eventually caught speeding at 158km/hr.Police radioed ahead to Lumsden where the police officer managed to put out road spikes by the bridge to stop them.One driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving and failing to stop and the second driver was charged with dangerous driving and was breath tested.Snr Const Perkins said the other passengers were released, but then proceeded to start smashing letterboxes around Lumsden.Alexandra Police are also reminding motorists to drive to the winter conditions now that it was frosty, and make sure your windows are all defrosted.“Leave a couple of minutes earlier, it’s an offence to drive with a lack of vision.”Driving with lights on automatic could also be a problem because they don’t switch on in foggy conditions, he said.Southern road policing manager Craig Brown said a lot of the crashes they see in winter involved people driving like it was still summer.“Rain, snow and ice make it challenging to stop quickly if required so it's important to allow a little bit more distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead."Inspector Brown urged drivers to consider ‘what would happen if…’, and put themselves in the shoes of the motorists around them."Anticipating how you would react if something were to happen can help readjust your driving behaviour."He said that included asking yourself: Can other drivers see me? Can I stop in time if the car in front slams on the brakes? Is there likely to be ice on this patch of road?"Black ice is particularly terrifying for any driver that hits it."If a patch of road looks wet or damp, assume it’s black ice; let your car slow down on its own, and brake gently before you get to a curve."That’s why it’s so important to drive to the conditions and anticipate what’s in front of you, he said."If you’re unsure, drive slower; we’re not going to ticket you for driving to the conditions."But if you’re driving like an idiot, don’t expect an apology when we pull you over."Before getting on the road this winter, check out conditions via The Central App's Weather & Reports link.

Central Otago police stopped 40 vehicles over duck shooting weekend and carried out breath screening tests, with only one person caught drink driving.Alexandra Police Senior Sergeant Graham Perkins said one man was stopped early on Saturday morning on his way to the maimai at Idaburn and had an excess breath alcohol reading of 654mcg.Twelve speeding tickets were also issued and Otago Fish and Game checked seven ponds, reporting no concerns with alcohol, and only one breach of licence detected.For the entire Otago and Southland area there were only three breaches overall and no injuries reported, with “mixed success” on the ponds.“There was a lack of water in the Maniototo,” he said.“We’re very pleased with people’s behaviour and everyone was responsible.”Also on May 4, a Christchurch man was processed for drink driving (789mcg) after an ATV accident on a farm at Wedderburn.Police and St John were called to the property after a passenger broke his leg when the bike started to tip and he put his foot out.He was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital, and Snr Sgt Perkins said emergency services will also ring police in situations like that, when an injury occurs on private property in a vehicle, and they can undergo breath screening tests.The day before, on May 3, police were called to a business in Ranfurly after a person with a firearm was reported to them by a member of the public. Police identified and seized an air rifle, which was removed from the premises.In Cromwell, on May 4, a small Fuso tip truck was reported stolen by the owner, who had left his keys inside.The truck was located on Pinot Noir Drive later that day and police found a distinctive baseball cap inside. It was currently being DNA tested to identify the offender. And, back in Alexandra on the same day, a man on home detention who was allowed out for one hour of fitness, decided he’d also take himself to the kebab shop for dinner.Police were alerted when they realised he was outside of his dedicated route. He was arrested and given a date to appear in the Queenstown District Court.He was released with a ‘certified breach’ of his electronic monitoring conditions.

Financial pressures are continuing to hit home for many Central residents, with many faced with rising costs and changes to their employment situation.Central Otago Budgeting Services has been busy supporting individuals and families as a result, and that workload is expected to increase, co-ordinator Pam Hughes said.She said health issues were another aspect affecting some people, which was adding to what was already a challenging and stressful time for people.In other cases, some people’s circumstances have changed, due to job loss, reduced work hours, or a growing family, which often meant less money coming into the household.A lack of childcare throughout the district also means some parents have no choice but to stay home instead of going back to work.Increased mortgage rates are another challenge many people have to work through.“In some cases, people’s mortgage rates have tripled.”However, Pam said there could potentially be help at hand for some people, which is where her expertise and knowledge comes in.“Some people don’t realise they might be able to apply for a rates rebate. They might not get the full amount, but they could get something towards it, but people don’t know these things.”She said people are having to think about where their money is going - not overspend or over-indulge.“It’s so easy to put things on tick.“You do have to stop and think about what are these costs, have you got two cars when you could really get away with having only one car.”She also suggested people talk to their employer to see if there were any avenues of support they could offer.In some cases workplaces might be able to assist by way of a fuel card, a phone or vehicle for work use.“It’s all about talking,” she said.Central Otago Budgeting Services has recently put together several pamphlets to provide people with practical financial information, including for those planning ahead, or in regards to money and practical matters after a death.The Ministry of Social Development also has a page on its website called 'check what you might get', which supports people to better understand their entitlements.To find out more tune in to this week’s The Outlet podcast where Pam talks more about the situation in Central.For more information email [email protected] or phone 03 448 8072.

From an orchard packhouse to an icecream and chocolate factory, Patagonia has been given consent to convert Denny’s Orchard into a new Earnscleugh enterprise.Dennis and Denise Paulin have sold their business to Far Away Property Ltd, and the company was granted consent two weeks ago to extend and convert the packhouse to manufacture ice cream, chocolate and roast coffee.Patagonia Chocolates was started by Argentinian owners Alex Gimenez and Lorena Giallonardo in 2005. They now have five cafes in Arrowtown, Queenstown, and Wanaka.The company will use fruit products grown onsite in Earnscleugh, as an important condition of the consent, and will set up another office and cafe as well.This will complement the cafe and country store at the other end of Earnscleugh, opened by Roberts Family Fruit earlier this year.The former Dennys site on the corner of Earnscleugh and Fraser Road, is 6.95ha and the development will involve an internal fit-out to include space for food production.Orchardist Dennis Paulin up on his new land on the foothills of the Dunstan Mountains. PHOTO: The Central AppThe Central Otago District Plan allows for a ‘rural selling place’ as a controlled activity in the rural resource zone, when using fresh fruit/vegetables, nursery plants, nuts, eggs, etc.But, some of the retail activity was non-complying and a resource consent hearing was held in March this year to consider the application.Far Away Property Ltd will employ six people in roles of manufacturing, making food and serving customers in the cafe. The company’s main office will remain in Queenstown.It’s the end of an era for Dennys, which has been exporting Biogro NZ certified organic apples and summerfruit for the past 16 years, but the business has been around for more than 30 of those.Dennis Paulin is part of a strong Central Otago fruit-growing family. He bought his first block of land in Earnscleugh at just 19.Three orchards later, he is currently developing a new orchard on the foothills of the Dunstan Mountains, beside his brother Tim Paulin, of 3 Kings Orchards.Denise said she was ecstatic with the sale and said it was a huge weight off her shoulders.“I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life.”

Otago Regional Councillor Gary Kelliher has compared the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan as “a sales brochure for a new Ferrari that delivers a broken down Mini that is costing ratepayers a fortune."He then told the council meeting yesterday that farmers and foresters should stop all of their good environmental work and save that money for lawyers' fees to fight the plan.Despite his analogy, Otago Regional councillors voted 7-5 to send Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds an outline of costs, benefits and implications of notifying the Land and Water Regional Plan before the National Policy Statement on fresh water was released.Chief executive Richard Saunders told the meeting, staff were well aware of the strong differences in opinion around the table, but were not pushing their own agenda, “and it's wrong and inflammatory to suggest staff are doing that.”Cr Michael Laws then questioned him about the contents of the letter, implying that some of the statements were clearly subjective, and based on a judgement.“So who made those?” he asked, with which Richard replied that it was staff who gave their expert opinion to discuss as a draft at the council meeting.Contents of the letter outlined that while some areas of Otago have improving water quality trends, many were degrading, including the lower Manuherekia River, with nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and E.Coli levels measuring below the bottom line.However, the letter did say that there were improving trends in the river quality due to significant on farm effort. Cr’s Laws and Kelliher believe the degradation of the river was questionable.In terms of water quantity, many catchments in Otago also had a medium to high ecological risk as a result of water abstraction. The ORC said historical consenting of stored water has resulted in poor structuring of water allocation and low levels of water efficiency.Since 2018, the Otago Regional Council has invested around $18 million on science, monitoring and policy work to support the development of the new planning framework. That included around $2 million which has been spent on developing a minimum flow for the Manuherekia catchment. ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said despite the opposition around the table, they didn’t have a choice about sending the letter to the Environment Minister - “we have been directed to do this.”

It’s time to put an extra blanket on the bed and stoke up the fire as more cold nights loom across Central.Tonight’s predicted low in Alexandra is -2C, followed by -1C on Thursday night.However, MetService meteorologist John Law warns people across the district could see the mercury drop even lower in some parts.He said the cloud that is feeding into the south of the country overnight Thursday may struggle to make its way up to Central Otago, which could allow those temperatures to drop down a few more degrees. “I would not be surprised to see some spots in the region dip down as low as -3 or -4C and would recommend keeping a close eye on the forecasts for the next few nights.”Snow flurries were predicted at the top of the Crown Range Road this afternoon, but little is expected to settle. PHOTO: MetServiceHe said temperatures would depend on several things; the cold air that is sweeping across the district now, how cloudy it is and how much wind there will be. Cold temperatures are likely to continue into the weekend and the start of next week, although they will be more in keeping with this time of year, with lows of about 1C or 2C.A look at the temperatures across Central late this afternoon. IMAGE: MetService“While these temperatures are cold for the time of year it is likely that we have still got some warmer days to come later in the month. However, I'd keep those winter jumpers close to hand.” To keep up updated on the forecast and road conditions, click on The Central App's Weather & Reports link.

Discharges of wastewater to land/water under the partially operative regional policy statement by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) will be appealed in the High Court by the two inland Otago councils.The Queenstown Lakes District Council asked the Central Otago District Council (CODC) to join them in the appeal and an emergency executive committee meeting with councillors and the mayor was held yesterday to approve the decision.Under new freshwater plan provisions, the policy framework for new wastewater discharges has shifted from ‘preferred’ that wastewater discharges be to land, rather than water - to now ‘requiring’ any new discharge to be to land rather than water.Under the Resource Management Act, the national policy statement for freshwater management is at the top, followed by the regional policy statement, then regional plans, followed by district plans.In a report from group manager - planning and infrastructure Louise van der Voort, it was outlined that the first priority of the national policy statement for freshwater management, was the health and wellbeing of the water body, followed by people’s health needs (such as drinking water), and finally other users. Regional 3 Waters director Julie Muir said it was not just about discharges to rivers, but also to land near the river, “which changes the bar considerably,” and they needed to be able to have open conversations about that.Cr Tamah Alley said she didn’t think they could afford not to be involved with the appeal. But, because the CODC didn’t appear before the panel, it first had to make an application for leave to appeal.The report from council said the new regional policy statement narrows down the health needs of people, and may impact consenting wastewater treatment plant discharges and water allocation decisions for council water supplies.Mayor Tim Cadogan said he would write to ORC chair Gretchen Robertson and inform her of the council’s decision, along with the three affected iwi.

Help is at hand for people across Central who want to navigate their cell phone with more ease.Central Otago Reap is running a series of free digital phone courses, providing people with guidance and handy hints on how to use their phone, no matter whether it's an iPhone or Android.The course, held over five weeks for two hours at a time, is limited to four people so digital tutor Sonia Keogh can provide one-on-one time with each participant.Sonia said the course was developed by Age Concern during Covid-19 lockdowns, when they realised so many people didn’t know how to use their cell phone.She said for many people it was their only form of contact during that time, and while their phones had the capability of connecting them with the outside world, particularly with the likes of video calls, many didn’t know how to access the function.Taking part in a recent Roxburgh digital phone course are Geraldine Cook (left) and Arthur Moore. PHOTO: SuppliedSonia is currently hosting two courses - one in Alexandra and one in Roxburgh, with more regularly becoming available.At the end of each course, an extra session is hosted about online safety, which someone from Central Otago Budgeting Services also attends to assist with questions around topics like online banking.The final session on online safety is open to as many people that will fit in the room.Sonia said the courses are growing in popularity, but the key was to make people aware that the free course was available.For more information about other upcoming digital phone courses phone CO Reap on 448 6115.    CO Reap also has a range of other courses on offer, which can be viewed on their website.

Freedom campers no longer appear to be causing issues in Central Otago over summer, and the council has deferred imposing a bylaw until April 2025.Under new legislation, people sleeping in vehicles that were not certified or self-contained were banned from freedom camping spots, but they could still live in a tent.Local authorities could diverge from the default position of the national rule by implementing freedom camping bylaws that permit freedom camping in non-self-contained vehicles in certain areas, or prohibit, or place restrictions on freedom camping in certain areas.Land Information New Zealand currently has designated the popular Lowburn and Jacksons sites as only for certified self-contained vehicles, but Bendigo and Champagne Gully were currently exempt.The sites around Lake Dunstan were becoming particularly congested several years ago and facilities overflowing, causing concerns for residents and others trying to use the areas recreationally. Many freedom campers were working in the area to pick fruit. Tim Cadogan told a council meeting last week, his phone wouldn’t stop ringing from people complaining about freedom campers when it first became an issue.The situation settled when Covid-19 disrupted overseas backpackers from coming into the country, but even though strong numbers of freedom campers had been noted again this summer, council staff reported few problems. 

The age-old skill of sewing is alive and well in Ophir, thanks to CO Reap’s popular series of classes.Seventeen women attended the first class of the six-week course at the Ophir Peace Memorial Hall on Wednesday, many with babies, ready to learn more tricks of the trade.Some came armed with clothing they wanted to mend, while others were keen to learn how to make a garment from scratch.The course was also helping to ease the burden as the cost of living increases, which has made buying new almost out of reach for some people.Everyone who registered for the course was also given the opportunity to start the class by making themselves a pin cushion.Course tutor Shona Bain was on hand to pass on her knowledge, along with several other helpers who had the skills to get the many participants on their way to making progress.Among the participants was Renee Matheson who joined the class to learn to sew like her mum.Her goal was to sew an apron for herself, followed by more for her children.Abi Book-Miller (left) receives some guidance from Bev Lawrence during the morning sewing session. PHOTO: The Central AppAbi Brook-Miller, who brought her nine-week-old baby, Ida, along to the course, was using it to enhance her existing sewing skills.“I thought it would be great so I could learn more techniques.”It was also an opportunity for her to get out of the house, she said.One of the group’s assistants, Bev Lawrence, was pleased to see so many young ones taking up the opportunity.“It’s wonderful to be with the young ones and keeping the skills going.”Shona was grateful to the women who joined her for the morning to assist, acknowledging the need for their support due to its popularity.“I needed my three ladies because they were busy.”The same course is also being offered in Cromwell this term.To find out more about the courses offered by CO Reap, visit their website.

A Central Otago vineyard’s multiple subdivisions of the same piece of land in recent years has not gained support from the Central Otago District Council planning consultant.Peregrine Wines first started a three-lot subdivision at Bendigo Loop Rd in 2021, then subdivided a 30ha lot into a further two lots a year later, and now wants to break it down even further.A hearing is set down for May 23 and although only one person has submitted against the proposal, planning consultant Olivia Stirling has recommended it be declined.“In all circumstances I consider the surrounding landscape to have already reached a density that is unable to absorb any further fragmentation without significantly undermining the rural character, amenity and open natural landscape values of the Rural Resource Area,” she said, in her planner's report.Although no change of land use has been made, nor any residential activity proposed on the bare land, the planner agreed with the submitter that the applicant was sending “mixed messages” in recognising the possibility of future housing on the sites.The initial piece of land subdivided was 38.9ha - split into three lots (5.46ha, 4.29ha and 29.17ha).The 29.17ha lot was then split into a further two lots (3.47ha and 25.72ha), and now the company wants to split the bigger piece that is left into a further 23.7ha and 2.005ha.Landscape planner Ben Espie also recommended a legal covenant to protect residential building on future lots.Olivia said in her report that it was evident the applicant had taken advantage of the average allotment areas in the district plan, which are intended to be used to manage the level of development in a rural area, and ensure the open space character is maintained. She said staging of the subdivisions of the same underlying piece of land had resulted in a density of development that was not anticipated by the district plan.“I consider that further incremental subdivision of this area will give it the appearance of a rural lifestyle enclave. In my opinion, the emergence of a rural lifestyle enclave within a distinctly rural landscape will visually appear as a departure from the open and natural character intended for the Rural Resource Area.”Peregrine noted in its application that viticulture use of the site was more productive than its current agriculture use, and confirmed it had already purchased sauvignon blanc vines to plant within one of the new lots.

Hunters are urged to take care and be considerate of others as they hunker down in their mai-mais across Central this weekend.Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) are among those calling for people to take extra care this weekend, which marks the opening of duck shooting season.The event features on the calendar for thousands of hunters, including locals and those who travel to the district for the occasion.Fenz advisor risk reduction Otago District Mark Mawhinney reminds people that a lot of volunteer firefighters enjoy opening day as much as any other hunter.“It’s a big weekend for a lot of people.”However, the last few years has resulted in callouts in the Ida Valley over opening weekend, causing the day to be cut short, or interrupted for some volunteers.While callouts were necessary and something volunteer firefighters were proud to attend, there were some scenarios that could be avoided.Mark urged people to be considerate of others and to not take any risks.He said another key message to anyone, duck shooting, or not, was to visit the Check Its Alright website to make sure it was ok to light a fire.“There’s good guidance there on what they should and shouldn’t do.”Central Otago has moved from a prohibited fire season to restricted, which means anyone who lights a fire requires a permit.The outlook for opening day is fine with morning frosts, light winds and a high of 12 degrees Celsius.Sunday is similar, but with a high of 14C.Keep track of the weather forecast by clicking on our Weather button.And, to keep up to date with the seven safety rules of firearms usage, visit the Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority.If you’ve got some photos or a good yarn to share after opening weekend contact [email protected]

The duck population will be significantly reduced across Central Otago this weekend, and a planned goat cull was also planned for the Cromwell Gorge.Alexandra Police Senior Sergeant Graham Perkins reminded duck shooters to be vigilant heading into opening weekend.Remembering basic firearm safety was important such as identifying your targets and being mindful of those around you for public safety.Drinking alcohol was another risk and best saved for the end of the day when the hunting had finished, Snr Sgt Perkins said.If children were accompanying adults they should be wearing ear protection, and legally nobody under 16 should be in possession of a weapon.“And finally look after your dog, feed it and keep it warm,” he said.According to the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, which supports hunter safety and carries out firearms training, 87 per cent of game bird hunting injuries occur in May and 50 per cent over opening weekend.Falling, tripping and slipping in or around the maimai is the most common cause of duck hunting injury, but firearms incidents also occur, such as proximity-related injuries, hearing loss, as well as facial and eye injuries.Fish and Game officers would be out and about checking licences, and there will be a strong police presence, particularly in the Maniototo, carrying out breath testing on road users.Motorists travelling through the Cromwell Gorge recently would have noticed many wild goats and their small families that have come down from the hills to find fresh feed.Snr Sgt Perkins said Aspiring Highways had a goat cull planned for May, as numbers have started to escalate and encroach on the road verge.

The Alexandra Blossom Festival committee is disappointed by comments made by the Vincent Community Board (VCB) this week that it should work towards becoming financially self-sustainable. Festival organiser Martin McPherson, who sits on the VCB, was not privy to the discussion and declared a conflict of interest - removing himself from the meeting.Festival treasurer Tim Coughlan spoke to the recent grant application on Tuesday and said he was “deeply disappointed’’ to hear the comments made by council staff and board members about the festival’s sustainability. To his knowledge this has never been raised as an issue with the festival committee.The VCB has granted $20,000 for this year’s festival - less than a tenth of the cost to run the event ($224,400), and $4000 less than what it received last year.Tim said when the opportunity arose to clarify any issues or concerns the VCB had with supporting the festival, they chose to remain silent, with discussions about sustainability held after he had left.VCB chair Tamah Alley said, when approached for comment, Tim could have remained for the discussion, and she acknowledged to him that she could have specifically invited him to, and will in the future.“It was important for the board to have a conversation directly with the blossom festival committee rather than through alternate channels. “I have spoken with members of the committee and we all look forward to meeting soon to talk through how to support this event into the future.”She said the VCB “whole heartedly” supported the festival, “and as the current cost of living makes life challenging, it is important that fun events in our community remain accessible to as many people as possible. The committee has always strived for this by subsidising entry fees. It is important to consider all options with a long-term view to ensure this event remains accessible and viable for years to come."The Alexandra Blossom Festival has been a cornerstone event in Alexandra and the wider region for 67 years, attracting visitors from across New Zealand, and internationally. The past two years saw more than 12,000 people attend the Party in the Park - with 17,500 attending the Grand Parade - many of them from out of town. Festival chair Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said the festival had survived more than six decades despite the odds, and was a not-for-profit entity that relied heavily on generous sponsorship, grants and donations. “The festival has survived recessions, Covid-19 lockdowns, extreme weather and a cost of living crisis, but only with the support of the community and key grants and sponsorship stakeholders.  “Where other events have folded, the blossom festival is still standing, proving the not-for-profit event is sustainable, with the support of generous sponsorship, grants and donations,’’ she said. Sharleen said she welcomed the opportunity to discuss with members of the Vincent Community Board any concerns they may have regarding the festival. “We have always said the festival is by our community, for our community - but if our own community can’t afford to go, then what’s the point?’’ 

Sustainable Tarras has not let the Christchurch Airport proposal go, and now the Central Otago group is also submitting against the Santana Minerals gold mine operation.Local media and group spokesperson Suze Keith have both poked fun at Santana’s ‘scoping study’ which promotes plenty of employment opportunities for the local population.“Good news, every person (children, adults, workers, retirees, like absolutely everyone) living in Cromwell can be assured they’ve got a job with Santana Minerals,” Sustainable Tarras’ Facebook page says.Santana’s scoping study said ‘fly-in, fly-out’ of staff or major camps were not required when Cromwell had an 8000-strong labour pool, and there was main road access from State Highway 8.Sustainable Tarras is made up of just eight members, with support from people all over New Zealand, who meet fortnightly to discuss their research and findings, and make Official Information Act requests for important information on relevant high-profile projects.Suze said the group was particularly concerned with Santana’s ‘fast track’ proposal, which it believes will open up politicians to corruption, being the final decision maker.Site map of the area for the proposed Rise and Shine gold mine near Bendigo. PHOTO: SuppliedMaking a formal submission on the proposal, Suze said the group believed it was a form of authoritarianism not seen since the Muldoon era of the 1980s.The group advised against any developer in New Zealand using the fast-track process, as it risked being seen as disrespecting social licence, and alienated the local community.While Bendigo had been used to mine gold many years ago, it was not a landscape that recovered well from the industry activity, she said.Then there was the toxic waste left behind and storage dams built to contain that risking contamination of waterways.“Our infrastructure deficits do not lie in airports or gold mines. It’s not smart development,” she said.The Australian-owned company said several weeks ago that it expected to make a net profit of $2 billion, but was still a year away from starting its Rise and Shine prospect.The mine would operate for eight years as an open-cast mine and for four years underground, recovering 1.12 million ounces of gold.

A French fruit picker working on a vineyard at Bendigo was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital last week, after getting stuck underneath a moving car without a driver.Alexandra Police Senior Constable Graham Perkins said the car was parked on an incline and started to roll backwards, picking up speed as it headed towards the fruit picker and knocked him over.“He became wedged underneath the vehicle which dragged him and rolled him and then spat him out the front,” he said.The incident happened on Lakeview Rd on private property so police wouldn’t be laying charges as it was a Worksafe New Zealand issue.Snr Const Perkins said he wasn’t sure how severe the man's injuries were, but it was obviously an extremely unpleasant experience for the backpacker - having not long arrived in New Zealand.In other police news, a civil dispute between a landlord and tenant in Omakau last week, resulted in the 65-year-old owner of the property being charged with cultivating cannabis.Snr Const Perkins said an argument broke out between the pair about unpaid rent, and the landlord called police.The local officer walked past the garage and smelled the cannabis. Five mature plants were later discovered, which had been harvested, along with a large quantity of marijuana on the bench.Back in Alexandra last weekend, two Central Otago men, aged 19 and 20, were arrested by police for interfering with a patrol car in Queenstown.Snr Const Perkins said one of the men was also charged with endangering transport after police had to pull over on the way to a job and pump up their tyres.Endangering transport carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment. The pair were also identified by CCTV footage for stealing a taxi sign off the roof of another vehicle.They appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Monday morning and were bailed with conditions, which includes a curfew.