Environment

Environment Southland is forecasting a drop in income of around $3.5 million in the coming 2020-21 financial year due to the impact of COVID-19 on tourism and income from investments. A strong balance sheet and a reduction in expenditure mean the Council is in a good position to weather the shock, b

At yesterday’s Council meeting, the revised Southland Flood Control Management Bylaw was adopted. The bylaw, which becomes operative on Saturday 23 May, aims to manage and protect the integrity of Environment Southland’s assets like stop banks, detention dams, bridges, culverts and tide gate structu

People affected by February’s flooding event can still make applications to the Mayoral Relief Fund for assistance, although they are being urged to get their requests in soon. Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller Angus McKay said the fund will close on 30 June and a decisio

Michael Moore presents Planet of the Humans, a documentary that dares to say what no one else will this Earth Day — that we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road — selling out the green movement to […]

Community feedback on four options to reduce the impact vehicles have on juvenile toheroa at Oreti Beach closed with 747 survey forms completed. Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said, “Getting such a large number of opinions and suggestions gives the councillors a really good steer for t

Air New Zealand has launched its latest safety video that moves away from celebrity appearances to push an environmental message on New Zealand’s endangered native birds. The video A Journey to Safety takes a different approach from the widely criticised video of two years ago – called a ‘weird mish

Environment Southland’s latest monitoring has found elevated levels of the toxic algae in the Waikaia River. These algae can produce toxins that are harmful to people and animals if swallowed, or through contact with skin. People and animals (dogs in particular) should avoid contact with the Waikaia

Environment Southland is seeking feedback on options to protect our vulnerable toheroa, a native surf clam, from the impacts of vehicles on Oreti Beach. It has been estimated that vehicles increase mortality in young toheroa by at least 23%. To protect the current population and hopefully increase t