By now you should have received the consultation document for the Otago Regional Council Long Term Plan (LTP). If not you can find out...

Buzz off with your bee-hind the times bus card October 18, 2020 - MOUNTAIN SCENE article. This article has caused quite a ruckus and lots...

We have a new chair, Andrew Noone, a new annual plan, the Minister for the Environment overseeing our 3 water plans

Sounds dry, but is fascinating, educating, and humbling – Annual Plan hearings. Over 3 days in the last week, our council has heard...

The Strategy and Policy ORC meeting tomorrow (Wednesday 13th May, 1pm) is super important. We’ll consider the aims of the Regional Land...

The letter discussed at length in my last blog has further polarised people around their views on water rights. Community groups and...

– 7 Councillors write a letter, excluding the other 5 (including the chair) and our treaty partner, Kāi tahu. The letter is read out on...

All about water and what’s happened since Minister David Parker and Judge Peter Skelton put a metaphorical bomb under ORC’s water planning

Before things wind down (or up) for Christmas, and in the spirit of openness and transparency, here's details of the past month's activity.

My first weeks on the Otago Regional Council (ORC) have been an intense learning curve.  As the first Queenstown based councillor on the...

There is no time to lose. Queenstown airport is within 3 years (depending on tourism slowdown) of reaching its noise boundaries. 

Photo credit:  Destination Queenstown  Lake Hayes in Autumn Otago Regional Council (ORC) Dunstan ward candidates Alexa Forbes and Richard...

We declared a climate emergency

”An important question is should Council play a proactive role or a reactive role in managing this change. Whatever option is taken it is...

So if we want to reduce cars, reducing parking is a great step.

QAC’s plans have been presented on a special website and at several community meetings

“Take from those who can pay and give it to those who can’t, this is the real Aspen way." Dan Blankenship, the CEO of Aspen’s Roaring Fork