West Coast council gives green light for bridge protection work
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The green light has been given to a raft of projects around the West Coast, including bridge protection work.
In August, the West Coast Regional Council granted 12 non-notified resource consent applications.
This included plans by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to protect the State Highway 73 Otira River Bridge, west of the Otira Gorge.
The river will be temporarily diverted to build protection structures around the eastern bridge abutment and the central pier.
Down river, KiwiRail gained consents to undertake earthworks, remove gravel, and divert water courses on the Otira and Taramakau rivers, to maintain protection work for the Midland Railway, as far as Jacksons.
In Buller, NZTA gained consent to secure the lower Buller Gorge section of State Highway 6 near Westport, at Island Creek, to protect the eastern abutment of a bridge on the creek.
Also in the lower Buller Gorge, at White Cliffs, the agency will undertake protection work at Clearwater Creek, including installing a weir in the creek bed, underneath and downstream of the bridge.
Oceana Gold sought permission to discharge seepage and leachate mine water to a tributary of Progress Creek from a pond, part of the management system for the mothballed Globe Progress Mine, near Reefton.
Buller District Council gained consent to dispose solid waste in a landfill at Maruia, including leachate from a refuse landfill where it may enter water.
The regional council also granted five applications to change conditions on previously granted consents.
This included Westland Mineral Sands at Okari, Cape Foulwind, being allowed to do earthworks within 5m of a drain.
Others related to gravel extraction and an application to change a whitebait stand design on the Taramakau River.
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
🚧 Big upgrades are on the way for Haast!
Motorists travelling on SH6 near Haast should be ready for some delays, with $5 million worth of work kicking off on important improvements to the highway.
The Gates of Haast Gorge bridge, which connects the 140km journey between Haast and Wānaka, is a crucial link — especially for locals and visitors heading to the West Coast glaciers.
A bit of patience now for safer, stronger roads ahead! 💛
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