Council

* Government says councils misused wellbeing rules to justify non-essential spending, raising rates. * Labour disputes claims, saying rate increases stem from central government decisions, not councils. * Benchmarking reports will compare council performance on rates, debt, and services nationwide. The government has announced plans to remove four wellbeing provisions from the Local

* Invercargill City Council progresses land sale at Awarua after reserve status clarification. * Te Rūnanga o Awarua suggests land be considered for cultural or housing purposes. * Two sections already listed for sale with additional marketing planned after approvals. The Invercargill City Council is advancing the sale of land parcels at Awarua,

Future land use of the 37ha of Donovan Park farm proposed for sale won’t go out for public consultation until after the Invercargill City Council has signed off its Reserve Management Plan 2024. The council agreed yesterday in its Community Wellbeing and Regulatory Committee to push on with the

Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark says that the city could better serve its ratepayers by standing alone with regard to Local Water Done Well. This was in response to a joint statement released from both the Gore District Council and the Central Otago District Council on Thursday night, calling for Southland

Groundswell NZ’s campaign to stop the new District Plan in Gore from including sites and areas of significance to Maori stepped up a notch this week, with leaders presenting to council. Co-founders Laurie Paterson and Bryce McKenzie spoke to the Gore District Council on Tuesday about what they think

* Council purchased Henderson House in Invercargill for $3 million plus GST. * Building refurbishment is budgeted at $15.75 million and planning will begin soon. * Henderson House aligns with Council's future local government reorganisation plans. Southland District Council will bring its staff together under one roof after purchasing Henderson

ACT MP Simon Court is making at a trip south to meet Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark on December 17, after backlash about his proposed private members bill. Invercargill City councillors also voted yesterday to support the Invercargill Licensing Trust’s concept of continuing with its trading privileges, and oppose the

* Watermain upgrades begin 21 November, lasting approximately three weeks near Clyde St roundabout. * North and south traffic on SH1 Clyde St remains unaffected during the works. * Detours required for east-west roundabout travel; delays expected, plan journeys accordingly. SouthRoads will begin watermain upgrades near the State Highway 1 Clyde Street and