Central Otago District Council and Clutha District Council have jointly submitted a Head Start proposal to Government, proposing a new provincial council bringing together Central Otago, Clutha, and Queenstown Lakes districts. 

The proposal is built around the connections already shared across the three districts. All three sit within the Mata-Au/Clutha catchment, New Zealand's highest-volume river, and are linked by shared transport corridors, labour markets and economic ties that are already the focus of ongoing Otago Central Lakes Regional Deal negotiations. 

Community councils with defined rating powers are central to the proposal. These would give communities decision-making power over local priorities, while regional functions such as infrastructure, planning and environmental management would be delivered at a provincial scale. 

Government is expected to decide in September which proposals will proceed. Read the full proposal here.

For general further information about amalgamation click here.

The recent opening of the new Balmoral Tuapeka Rural Water Scheme in mid-July marks a major milestone in the Clutha District Council’s investment in secure, reliable, and compliant rural water infrastructure. 

The $26.2 million project includes a new water treatment plant, 42km of new pipeline, three booster pump stations and new borefields. The new pipeline runs from the Clutha River Bridge at Clydevale to Lawrence and Cockleshell Road in Tuapeka West. Pictured: Cr. Simon McAtamney, Cr. Roger Cotton and Mayor Jason (Jock) Martin. Read more. 

At the Council meeting on Thursday 23 July, it was agreed a business case would be prepared to investigate the long-term benefits of extending the Mt Cooee Landfill near Balclutha as a key part of the Clutha District’s waste management system, along with an alternative option; abandoning the landfill and building a transfer station, with landfill waste shifted to another district. For the full report click here. 

Mt Cooee Landfill improvements

Mt Cooee is in the process of establishing new transfer station bays to help meet consent conditions and improve how the site functions, including safety, access, and ease of use for the community. We will be letting you know when the bays will be available and normal operations resume, through our usual communications channels. Thanks for your patience while this work has been underway.

Annual Plan and rates information

Rates invoices for the first quarter (Instalment One payable 28 August) have been sent to Clutha District ratepayers. For key information read more. For rates and property information click here. Please contact us if you have specific questions on charges, for example Rural Water Scheme Funding Changes that were adopted in the Annual Plan. Key decisions are listed on page 6 of the document - click here. 

Fees and charges are listed here.

Yellow recycling option at transfer stations

As of 1 June, when we launched our 24/7 recycling option at the district's 5 transfer stations, people have been able to drop off their paper, cardboard, number 1, 2 & 5 plastics, aluminium and tin, in the yellow-lidded recycling bins. System works on a 3-strike enforcement approach. No glass. No plastic lids. Read more. Further updates can be found on our News page. 

Our transfer stations are there to make recycling easier for everyone, but they can only stay open if they’re used correctly. Please help us keep this service going by only dropping off accepted household recycling items and making sure everything is clean and sorted correctly. And please, no dumping. 

Mt Cooee Landfill at Balclutha will accept old fridges, freezers, air conditioning unit or heat pumps etc that have been degassed with certification. Check what can be dropped off and where here.

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As of early August, the steel rafters are being lifted into place over the 25-metre pool area, using the crane that has become a dominant feature on Milton's skyline. See photos below.

The crane was also used to install the pre-cast panels around the pool. The team is eagerly awaiting the pool components, which should arrive from Italy in about six weeks.

The facility is expected to be completed by November 2027.

Milton Streetscape Beautification Project - Gray St Plaza 

Scheduled works to complete the project through August includes:

• Placement of Plaza furniture and concrete floor panels. 

• Construction of the artificial turf spaces and gardens have been deferred until conditions are warmer. 

• Installing the brick veneer to the fence will also be delayed because the adhesive requires warmer temperatures.

At the meeting on 23 July, Council agreed to the decision timetable for the electoral reviews and decisions as follows, which will be brought to Council for a decision at its meeting on 20 August 2026: 

 •The review of the electoral system which must be completed by 12 September 2026.

 • Consideration of whether Māori wards should be introduced is currently optional, but if these are to be introduced for the 2028 elections, a decision is required by 12 September 2026. This too will be brough to Council following consultation with Iwi. 

 • It is proposed the need for an ‘early’ review of representation arrangements will be brought to Council for decision, considering whether the current structure is working, Māori wards decisions, and potential impacts of Government reforms.

Tuapeka Health Incorporated (THI) requested a three-year rates remission for its four retirement cottages adjacent to the Tuapeka Community Health rest home and medical centre in Lawrence. Council declined the request on the grounds that it did not fit criteria, not being a commercial retirement village, and would create a precedent for other retirement villages.

Lawrence Heritage and Cultural Charitable Trust requested reimbursement for additional processing charges on its building consent, totalling $4,664.00. Council has previously considered and approved waiver of these fees on a case-by-case basis, therefore approved the request to cover the remaining balance from the Fees Reimbursement Scheme.

With cases found in New Zealand, we are preparing for the potential arrival of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI or bird flu) to the Clutha District. There are no confirmed cases here at this time. We can't stop it coming (mostly spread through migratory birds) but we can play our part in minimising the impacts by working to MPI guidelines. For more information click here.

Meetings in chambers at Rosebank Terrace, Balclutha:

- Workshops: Thursday, 20 August at 8.45am, Thursday 10 September at 1.30pm, and Thursday 17 September at 8.45am. 

- Next Council meetings: Council: Thursday, 20 August, and Thursday, 17 September at 1.30pm. 

- Next Risk & Assurance meeting: Thursday, 3 September, 9.30am. 

- Meeting dates available here. 

- Agendas available here.

We know we live somewhere special. Check out the guide to keep in the loop with what's going on in the Our Place Clutha What's On Guide.  Want to celebrate a winter warmer? Click here.  Read more.

We're keen to celebrate Clutha - the past, present and future. If you have photo, an artefact or heirloom with a story attached about our district, send it to:  communications@cluthadc.govt.nz.  Pictured Johanna Lewis with her grandchildren Annie (Girlie), Charlie and Cecilia Kerr. The photograph is taken outside Johanna's store on the Waipori Goldfields. PHOTO: Waipori Goldfields Charitable Trust. 

Don't forget to sign up for the Antenno App where you can receive instant notifications on services. You can even send in service requests via the App. For instructions to sign up to the App go to www.cluthadc.govt.nz/council/do-it-online/antenno