News in brief
Amalgamation talks
Waitomo mayor John Robertson has paid Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow a visit. Robertson was “banging on about amalgamating” Dow told his council on Tuesday and they chuckled.
Relief coming
Ōtorohanga District Council has received $26,000 in public donations to its Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund and 18 applications for help. The council decided on Tuesday to put up to $100,000 into the fund to match $100,000 from national government coffers,
Victim acknowledged
A moment’s silence was held for St Valentine’s Day flood victim Brent Knowles at Ōtorohanga District Council’s meeting on Tuesday. Mayor Rodney Dow asked councillors to pause for a moment and think about Knowles who was found in a submerged car following the flooding of State Highway 39.
Flooding fear
Concerns the location of a new Ōtorohanga subdivision, to be named Fern Lane, is subject to flooding were raised by deputy mayor Katrina Christison at Tuesday’s council meeting. Christison asked whether the six lot subdivision off Kio Kio Station Road would be built above the flood plain. Council staff promised to discuss the matter with Waikato Regional Council. Kio Kio Station Road residents were evacuated by boat in the wake of the St Valentine’s Day floods.
Millions to help
The Government is investing $3.5 million in the restoration of 3000-plus hectares of Tongariro National Park destroyed by two major fires last year. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said Tongariro was a dual World Heritage site, a taonga, and a cornerstone of the Ruapehu District economy. “The fires have damaged biodiversity, disrupted recreation, and affected the livelihoods of families and businesses across Ruapehu District,” he said.
