News/Media Releases

Southland District Council issues news releases to all local media in the district on a regular basis to keep the community informed about various issues and events.

This page displays the current releases for the past six months. Older releases can be found in Archives.

Reminder to recycle responsibly

Monday, 30 January 2012

Staff at the Rakiura Resource Recovery Centre on Stewart Island would like to remind people about the importance of responsible recycling after two isolated incidents in recent times have resulted in health and safety being compromised...Read more.

Dangerous building notices for two Winton properties

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Two buildings in Winton have been issued with dangerous building notices by the Southland District Council. Council building control manager Kevin O'Connor said concerns had been raised with Council about the condition of an overhanging balcony and veranda at street frontages of 206, 208 and 212 Great North Road, Winton along with concerns about the stability of brick and a chimney at the rear of the properties...Read more.

Reminder to microchip your dog

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Southland District Council is reminding dog owners to microchip their dogs after it has had to send out 50 infringement notices to dog owners throughout the district who have failed to do so, despite the written requests they have received. Council has been left with no alternative but to issue the fine of $300 to each of the dog owners in breach of Section 36A of the Dog Control Act 1996 which states that a microchip transponder must be implanted in certain dogs...Read more.

Hosing restrictions across Southland District

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Southland District residents are being asked to conserve water as the ongoing dry weather puts pressure on the district's 12 water schemes. Southland District Council water and waste assets manager Ian Evans said residents on the Te Anau, Manapouri, Mossburn, Ohai-Nightcaps-Wairio, Lumsden township, Orawia, Edendale-Wyndham, Otautau, Tuatapere, Riverton and Winton water supply schemes need to be careful with their use of water for the foreseeable future. "We need people to show restraint and we are also putting hosing restrictions on all townships which have council water schemes until further notice. This includes Riverton and Ohai-Nightcaps-Wairio, where the restrictions were in place already but were to end on 14 January," Mr Evans said...Read more.

Total fire ban in southern district

Thursday, 5 January 2012

A total fire ban for all of Southland and parts of the Clutha District covered by the Southern Rural Fire Authority will be in place from 8am today (Thursday 5 January). The ban means that no one can light any fires in the open and also suspends all existing fire permits. The fire ban applies to all townships within the Southland District, Gore District and Invercargill City and also prohibits people in these towns from burning rubbish, using incinerators, or cooking outdoors with open braziers or hangis...Read more.

Hosing restrictions in Riverton and Ohai

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

Residents in Riverton and Ohai have hosing restrictions until 14 January or until further notice. Southland District Council water and waste assets manager Ian Evans said the restrictions in Riverton are due to low water levels and increasing pressure on the water treatment plant, while Environment Southland has asked Council to not take any more water from the source in Ohai. "All our towns are struggling to some extent with this weather but we are particularly concerned about Riverton," Mr Evans said. The Riverton supply is under pressure from high consumer demand, which is restricting the amount of water that can be pumped into the reservoir.  Hosing restrictions have been made to protect the supply and maintain public health and fire-fighting capabilities...Read more.

Office Closures - Christmas and New Year

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

All Southland District Council offices will close on Friday 23 December at 12 noon...Read more.

Water issues discussed

Monday, 12 December 2011

Water and wastewater quality, and stormwater were key issues for discussion for Southland District councillors at their meeting on Wednesday...Read more.

Mayors decide on Anniversary Day date

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

The three southern Mayors have decided Southland Anniversary Day will be celebrated on Easter Tuesday every year. Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno said it is great to be able to announce a decision on when to celebrate Anniversary Day...Read more.

Consent application refused

Thursday, 1 December 2011

A resource consent application from Lake Te Anau Developments Limited to undertake a 15-lot subdivision has been turned down by Southland District Council's Resource Management Committee...Read more.

Update on roading conditions (9am)

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Fleming Road is now open but still signed for flooding. Waters have receded enough for safe travel along the road (there is still water on the road) and water levels are dropping rapidly. Mataura Island Titiroa Bridge was flooded overnight. It is still passable but the gravel road is very soft.  A load of fresh gravel will be spread there this morning...Read more.

Fleming Road closed

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Fleming Road is closed overnight because of flooding after the Mataura River burst its banks. Detour roads are signed and are passable although they have water on them as well.  All other roads are open. An update will be sent out tomorrow morning...Read more.

Ohai Railway Fund Committee allocates grants

Monday, 14 November 2011

The Ohai Railway Fund Committee allocated $18,900 worth of grants for educational and organisational purposes at its recent meeting. Educational grants totalled $7,200 and organisational grants totalled $11,700. The approved grants for the November 2011 round are as follows:..Read more.

Mayors unhappy at threat to youth programme

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Southern Mayors are unhappy that a successful youth programme in the south could be threatened. The Work'n It Out programme works with all school leavers from Timaru south to ensure they don't fall between the cracks and has had a good success rate with getting youth into work, apprenticeships or further studies...Read more.

Mayor says no to tunnel

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Southland District Council Mayor Frana Cardno is very disappointed at today's decision by the Department of Conservation to move one step closer, subject to conditions and public process, to a private tunnel through New Zealand's internationally acclaimed World Heritage Fiordland and Aspiring National Parks...Read more.

Reminder for residents to vote

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Residents in the Wallace Community Board area who have not yet voted in the by-election are urged to deliver their voting documents to Southland District Council's office in Invercargill to make the deadline of 12 noon on Friday, 11 November 2011.    ..Read more.

Annual Report adopted

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Southland District Council has received an unqualified Audit report to its 2010-11 Annual Report, which was adopted at a meeting yesterday. Council chief executive David Adamson said the past year had been testing with disasters both locally and nationally. However, Southland remained resilient and Council is still in a strong financial position...Read more.

Update on roading conditions (4pm)

Friday, 21 October 2011

Drivers heading to Waikaia tonight for the holiday weekend are advised to take care as the river is very high. Southland District Council contractors are monitoring the river levels and there is no water on the road at the moment, but caution is advised...Read more.

No funding for Southland project

Monday, 17 October 2011

Southland District Council will not receive any Government funding to improve drinking water supplies in the round of subsidies just announced by Health Minister Tony Ryall. ..Read more.

Nominations sought for Milford Community Trust elections

Monday, 10 October 2011

Southland District Council is now calling upon nominations for trustees to be appointed to the Milford Community Trust. The Milford Community Trust was established in 2007 by Southland District Council and the Department of Conservation with assistance from Environment Southland...Read more.

205 submissions received on cycle trail application

Friday, 30 September 2011

The Around the Mountain Cycle Trail has received a high level of public interest from both New Zealand and overseas, with a total of 205 submissions received. The proposed trail from Walter Peak to Kingston via Mossburn, Lumsden, Athol, and Garston has received 65 submissions in support, 26 submissions supporting in principle, 109 submissions in opposition, and 5 submissions neutral...Read more.

Digital library service planned

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Southland District Libraries are joining the digital revolution and will be offering a digital library service with e-books and e-audio available for download...Read more.

Mayor angry over redundancies

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno is shocked and dismayed at the impending and possibly ongoing redundancies being announced in Government departments in the south...Read more.

Southland celebrates the Rugby World Cup

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

World Cup fever has spread throughout the Southland district as communities all over the region show their support for the competing rugby teams and welcome new visitors to the area...Read more.

Cycle trail consent application open for submissions

Friday, 9 September 2011

The Around the Mountains Cycle Trail is one more step along the track with its resource consent application being notified and open for submissions. Further information on the trail is available from Southland District Council's website and submissions close on 23 September...Read more.

SDC and DoC launch scheme to tackle freedom camping

Wednesday, 7 September 2011

Southland District Council and the Department of Conservation have launched a pilot scheme in the Te Anau and Manapouri areas to encourage responsible camping this summer. The Freedom Camping Act, which was recently ratified by Parliament, enables the joint venture between the two organisations to begin. The project involves employing a new camping ranger to patrol conservation and local authority areas around Te Anau and Manapouri. The ranger has the power to issue infringements to those breaching camping bylaws...Read more.

Whisper jet to land at Te Anau Airport

Monday, 5 September 2011

A BAE-146 Whisper Jet is to land at Te Anau Airport Manapouri on Wednesday in the first jet aircraft landing for the airport. Airport manager Evan Pearce said the jet is owned by Air National and operated by Vincent Aviation Ltd of Wellington. It will leave Wellington at 8.15am and land at Te Anau Airport Manapouri at 9.45am...Read more.

Cowan, Hore coming to Winton

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

All Blacks Jimmy Cowan and Andrew Hore are coming to Winton on Friday. As part of the "All Blacks Coming to a Town Near You" visit, the two players will arrive at the Midlands Rugby Ground in Winton at 7.30am, ready to be welcomed by Southland Mayor Frana Cardno, young rugby player Fergus Keown and a haka by Central Southland College students. ..Read more.

Government cuts road funding for Southland

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Government funding for road maintenance and reseals in Southland has been cut by 1% - about $211,000, based on the 2011-12 Council roading programme. Council chief executive David Adamson said Council is disappointed at the reduction in the funding assistance rate (FAR), but will continue to work in partnership with the New Zealand Transport Agency to find fairer solutions for road funding...Read more.

Roading conditions update (10am)

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Extreme care must be taken when driving on roads in the Central Southland area as there is widespread black ice. Snow is still present in some areas around Ohai and Nightcaps but most of these have wheel tracks down to the hard surface below. Snow clearing with the graders will continue today on minor arterial roads and hopefully the natural thaw will continue rapidly on other more remote areas. There has no significant snow overnight with only a dusting on higher roads. Wreys Bush Mossburn Road and the BIackmount Hill are being gritted and trucks are also covering the usual spots around the network. Snow clearing continues on roads in the Northern Southland area today...Read more.

Dog registration penalty

Monday, 8 August 2011

Dog owners who have not registered their dogs now face a penalty of $37.50. If the dog is left unregistered, the owner faces a fine of $300 and possible removal of the dog if caught...Read more.

Milford Community Trust reschedules meeting on airport

Monday, 8 August 2011

The Milford Community Trust is facilitating a meeting of those organisations that have an interest in the airport at Milford...Read more.