Methven community weighs in on reserve development
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There is growing community interest to develop a tract of unused land in Methven.
The Methven Community Board held a public meeting this week to gauge community interest in the council reserve land behind the Garden of Harmony.
Board chairperson Kelvin Holmes said there was no plan for the site other than it being home to the historic RDR pipeshed.
The community board were after some community direction to see if there was a desire to develop it, and what that could entail.
The Methven Lions have already proposed to turn the site into a native bird sanctuary, launching the Methven Birdsong Initiative.
Spokesperson Mac McElwain said the vision is to create a new native habitat on the vacant council-owned land behind the Garden of Harmony – an area of council land already turned into a planted area with walkways.
They have set about gauging public interest and had 340 responses to a survey with 95% support, he said.
“Unless the community is onside and participating, we shouldn’t do it.
“We need to be certain the community will be on board as it has to be community run and maintained.”
The Methven Community Board will discuss it further and how to progress at its meeting on Monday.
There was also a pest control workshop held in Methven on Thursday as part of the process of establishing a trap library ahead of establishing the native sanctuary, McElwain said.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
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