The road ahead for Invercargill will not be without its bumps as the incoming council braces for big decisions and change.A pre-election report has detailed a series of challenges for the small city of just over 55,000, including water service delivery, an ageing population, earthquake risks and getting back to a balanced budget.It said the next council would need to “grapple with big issues”, and make decisions on financially sustainable delivery.There was a “bow wave” of essential infrastructure replacements coming over the next 20 years, and rates would need to go up to fund both essential water work and the new museum.Te Unua Museum of Southland has been a major talking point following its approval in 2022 but has faced both delays and budget issues.It is still without a definite opening date and is now expected to cost $87 million.Invercargill's Feldwick Gates and the entrance to Queens Park. Photo: Southland AppThe report noted both the museum and inner-city renewal had been a focus of the past two terms, while indicating attention would shift towards core services and infrastructure.Transition to an in-house water delivery model was also expected to be a key focus of the next term.On the topic of water, a serious issue hanging over the city was the fact it only had a single supply, the Ōreti River, which posed serious implications in the event of a major earthquake or drought.This long-known problem reared its head at a recent council meeting where a decision was made to delay a lower capacity emergency option for a better version down the line.Clifton Wastewater Treatment Plant — the city’s only wastewater plant — has also been flagged for its low-lying location meaning it may need to be shifted at some point; a similar fate which could befall Invercargill Airport.Issues not addressed in the reportAmalgamation remains on the table for all four Southland councils following a bold proposal from Southland mayor Rob Scott last August.The idea has received a mixed response, but an investigation by the Local Government Commission was supported by some local leaders.Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark has previously stated a preference for a single unitary authority should an amalgamation take place.The city is hosting its first election without an incumbent mayor since 1993.One issue not highlighted in the pre-election report was the potential reputational damage suffered by the council over the past six years.Shadbolt’s final term was marred by conflict with council staff, concern from the Department of Internal Affairs, and fallouts with his deputies.Mayor Clark’s single term has had its own issues too, including two code of conduct breaches — once for comments at a private event and again for appearing on a television show where he repeated the ‘N-word’.Eight people are contesting the top job this time around, four of which are sitting councillors.Invercargill fast facts (per pre-election report)Home to about 55,000 people, over half of Southland’s population.The median age of Southlanders is about 40.Just under 17 percent of Invercargill’s population are Māori.The city’s population is expected to hit 63,000 by 2033.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Invercargill parking wardens are facing abuse on the back of rising parking fines approved by central government.Last October, infringement costs rose by an average of 70 percent for overstaying or parking inconsiderately at council-controlled parking spaces.The jump in fees boosted revenue but also led to some unsavoury behaviour from the public, council manager consenting and environment Jonathan Shaw indicated.“Since the decision to increase parking infringement fees was made by central government, our compliance officers have noticed some pushback from members of the public, including several abusive incidents,” Shaw said.There were only a small number of negative interactions overall, he said, but the council wanted to emphasise that abusive and threatening behaviour was not acceptable.The council’s preference was for voluntary compliance, Shaw said.“Ideally, there would be no revenue from parking infringements because everyone would comply with the parking rules.”Following the October change, the minimum fine for overstaying jumped from $12 to $20.At the upper end, those who overstayed by more than six hours began paying $97 instead of $57.The increase was reflected in figures provided by the council which showed more than $1.14 million was collected in fees from October 2024 to June 2025, compared to just over $650,000 for the same period the year before.The council issued 16,504 infringements from October 2024 to June 2025, compared to 12,830 from October 2023 to June 2024.A contributing factor was the council not issuing infringements for those who failed to activate the kiosk for 30 minutes of free parking between February 2024 and June 2024 , while it addressed “challenges” with its bylaw.That year, a company successfully challenged a $40 fine because of a loophole.The Government introduced inflation-based increase to the parking fees to improve compliance.“Parking infringement fees have not been updated in two decades, making councils’ role in managing public parking increasingly difficult," Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said at the time.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

SH94 into Milford Sound is closed to all inbound traffic due to rapidly worsening weather conditions.Outbound convoys will run eastbound only until 5:00 PM today.New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advise the road will remain shut overnight between the Hollyford Road junction and Donne River bridge.Forecasts of heavier snow from midday on Sunday will likely cause further closures.Motorists are urged to check for the latest updates before travelling on this road.

Conservation sleuths have partly solved the mystery of how a dead stoat came to be on Rakiura-Stewart Island in a case that has now become an intriguing whodunnit.The Department of Conservation (DOC) is baffled as to why a dead stoat was taken to the island and planted on Stewart Island's Great Walk.The stoat was found on the Rakiura Track last month.Its injuries were consistent with being caught in a trap and an analysis of its stomach found mouse hair, indicating it had recently eaten a rodent, although Rakiura is free of mice and stoats.DOC southern South Island director Aaron Fleming said the findings indicated the stoat was most likely killed by a trap elsewhere, transported to the island and placed on the walking track."It's a relief to have this part of the mystery solved and know that Rakiura remains stoat-free," he said."An unchecked stoat population would've been a disaster for kiwi and other vulnerable native species here."Rakiura is one of the best places in the country to encounter kiwi in the wild. We know from other places with stoat populations that kiwi chick survival can be as low as zero without sustained predator control."The stoat would be genetically tested, although results would not be able to pinpoint where it had come from, Fleming said."It's baffling why anyone would take a dead stoat to Rakiura and put it on a busy walking track. If anyone has any information about the stoat and how it came to be on Rakiura, please contact us on 0800 DOCHOT," he said.Published by Permission

Snow forecastSH 94 Te Anau to Milford, Both Directions.Road closing tonight at 5pm from Hollyford Junction to Donne River Bridge due to forecast snow overnight. Please watch for snow clearing equipment as snow is forecast throughout the day. The road is likely to close again tonight due to further snow. Snow continues through the weekend, please see updates on road status as the weekend progresses.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Please watch for snow clearing equipment as snow is forecast throughout the day. The road will close again tonight (Friday) at 5pm due to further snowfall forecast, reopening Saturday morning is planned but could be delayed due to heavy snowfall. Snow continues from Sunday evening into next week. Please see road status updates at 9am and 5pm tonight.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Heavy showers, snow down to 700m. Tomorrow: Heavy rain, snow around tunnel level.Sunday: Fine, snow showers from afternoon.Monday: Snow to 800m, clearing afternoon.Tuesday: Light showers, snow about tunnel.

A group of LEGO pros are hoping to build a less stressful environment for young hospital patients by creating brick miniatures of MRI scanners, Xray machines and waiting rooms so the real thing is not as scary.The LEGO versions of the high-tech gear will go to hospitals in Southland and Otago.LEGO put out hundreds of brick block replicas of hospital machinery about eight years ago, but there were snapped up and New Zealand didn't get a look in.Now a South Island LEGO group has managed to get the "blueprints" and are building their own.Secretary of the LUG South group, Gavin Evans told Checkpoint they were contacted by their local hospitals play specialist, who had seen the LEGO models online."They said 'hey, do you guys know anything about this?' Which we luckily did."Evans said from there, sourcing the blueprints for the models was simple, thanks to his worldwide LEGO connections."I've got friends internationally who I contacted ... and one of them put up their hand and said, yes, I've got the blueprints."Each model is made up of a couple hundred bricks but some of them, like the MRI machine, include rare pieces."They're not the easiest thing to source the parts for, but luckily we've got some real experts in finding those really hard to find bricks in our club."The group sources the pieces from an online trading system for LEGO pieces used internationally."The hard-to-get pieces are the surround of the MRI machine, because they're in a quite a rare colour in the machine."Evans said substituting the rare pieces was not a sacrifice the group were willing to make."We could transfer them to being a different colour ... but they look really nice."LUG South operates as a charitable trust, putting on events across the South Island that raise money for sick children.Their last LEGO show in Southland managed to raise enough money to also help them with funding the project."We had a prototype of the MRI machine there where we had donations from the public as well."For some of the group, the connection to helping children in hospitals goes much deeper, one member beating cancer as a child himself."He had a real rough time when he was a kid, and that's really formed his whole way of looking at the world. He's very generous person who gives back to the community in every way he can because when he was needing that help when he was a child, that help was there for him."The group hopes that the replicas will help other kids out during their time in hospital.Evans said research that involved testing out the LEGO models in hospitals found that they had a huge benefit for children."When kids would play with the machine all of a sudden, instead of it being a terrifying foreign object it was something they were familiar with, that they understood.""They were finding that kids that were actually calm and relaxed and understood the machine even needed less sedation or no sedation ... and from what we've been told, that is a really huge deal because it's not pleasant for a child."Currently the models are still in the prototype stage, but group is working hard towards the final product.Published by Permission

A map of sites where you may experience delays on Southland state highways due to maintenance or third-party contractor work next week, can be found here, and these sites are listed below:   ** Please note SH1 East Road will be closed from Mill Road North to Racecourse Road (in both directions) from 9am – 4pm on Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th, and Friday 5th September for helicopter powerline stringing. This is weather dependent, so may be postponed in the event of poor weather.Detour via Mill Road North/Findlay Road/Racecourse Road for all vehicles.Highways South work with temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Bluff highway between Clifton and Motu Rimu Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH1 East Road, culvert replacement, stop/goSH93 Old Coach Road between Slopedown School Road and Hurst Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH94 Te Anau-Mossburn highway at The Key, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH96 Glencoe highway at Hedgehope, traffic lights for drainage workSH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highway between Wreys Bush-Mossburn Road and Lynch Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewal.There will also be work happening at the below intersections from Sunday to Thursday evenings (7pm – 4am):Monday - Troopers Memorial Roundabout and Gala Street/Dee Street intersection, turning restrictionsTuesday - Queens Drive/Tay Street intersection, turning restrictionsWednesday - Queens Drive/Tay Street intersection, turning restrictionsThursday – contingency date Third party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH1 Woodlands-Invercargill highway at Longbush, stop/go for powerline maintenanceSH1 East Road daytime closure, 9am – 4pm from 3rd – 5th September for helicopter work *weather permittingSH98 Lorne Dacre Road, stop/stop for tree fellingSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at Hillside, stop/stop for tree felling Useful links:NZTA Journeys website - https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-plannerFreight Impact Register - https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/potential-restrictions-affecting-freight/ - download and filter the region for ‘Southland’. This will indicate any upcoming work in the next fortnight which have closures, detours or width restrictions for freight.

A large-scale 1080 bait aerial operation has been carried out by the Department of Conservation (DOC), across 40,000 hectares of Rakiura National Park, in an attempt to save the critically endangered Pukunui/Southern New Zealand dotterel from extinction.This was the first time the controversial bait has been applied aerially on the island to protect the native pukunui, which currently number just 105 birds.At the same time Zero Invasive Predators Ltd, an organisation dedicated to finding new sustainable ways to eradicate pests, also conducted a small-scale eradication trial across 6,500 hectares testing tools and techniques for the Predator Free Rakiura project.Pukunui were once widespread across the South Island, but now only survive as an isolated population on Rakiura - where they continue to come under intense pressure from introduced pests.DOC Southern South Island Operations Director Aaron Fleming said the aim of the DOC operation was to give the birds a lifeline by heavily reducing feral cats, rats and possums."The population has declined from 176 since 2020, largely due to predation by feral cats. In the 2023 season alone at least 41 adult birds died."“Over the years, our team have worked extremely hard trapping, hunting and using bait stations to control predators but with pukunui numbers continuing to decline, it was clear we needed to take a different approach – before it was too late,” Fleming said.The safest and most effective way to control predators over large, remote areas is to use bait pellets containing 1080, which are distributed from helicopters along predetermined and monitored flight paths.The bait targets rodents and possums, with feral cats controlled as they feed on the poisoned carcasses.DOC Pukunui ranger Dan Cocker and NZ Nature Fund Chief Executive Sarah Lyttle. In 2023 the Fund launched a campaign to raise funds to support DOC's Pukunui Recovery Team. CLICK HERE to find out more. Photo: SuppliedFleming said hundreds of remote trail cameras had been set out in the operational area to monitor predators before and after the operation.Warning signs were also in place at access points to the predator control area, warning hunters not to eat animals from within the treatment area and two-kilometre buffer zone, until the warning signs have been removed.Fleming said DOC was optimistic for the breeding season this spring and summer, with the next pukunui flock count scheduled for autumn next year.“A predator free Rakiura is the long-term solution for pukunui and other vulnerable native species, but urgent action was desperately needed, or it could have been too late for this unique New Zealand species.”The aerial operation was largely funded by $3 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.DOC was also grateful for support from the New Zealand Nature Fund, donors and others who contribute to the ground-based predator control and management of pukunui, he said.

A recent Ipsos “Attitudes to Aging” study, which surveyed people across 32 countries, found that New Zealanders generally believe “old age” begins at 66.Ipsos New Zealand is part of a global market research company that operates in over 85 countries.But old age perceptions vary depending on age group, with Gen Z's (born 1997-2012) thinking 61 is “old,” while Baby Boomers (born 1946-64) push that number out to 72.When it comes to life expectancy, most Kiwis expect to live to 81, with Gen X (born 1965-80) aiming for 83 and Baby Boomers even more hopeful at 85.These expectations are slightly higher among those with better education and higher incomes.Interestingly, New Zealanders expect to spend around 15 years in “old age”—three years longer than the global average.In countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, that number climbs to 17 years, while in Hungary, people believe old age starts at 65 but only expect to live until 64.Despite these expectations, more than half of New Zealanders (54%) say they’re not looking forward to their old age.That’s slightly better than the global average of 57%, but still shows a general lack of enthusiasm.Positivity about aging tends to increase with income, education, and age—though Baby Boomers are the least enthusiastic group at just 25%.Country Manager for Ipsos New Zealand, Carin Hercock, said the findings show Kiwis have a “comparatively accurate understanding of life expectancy,” which is promising for retirement planning.Amanda Dudding, Executive Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos New Zealand, added that while most people globally don’t consider themselves “old” until their 70s, New Zealanders tend to think major life milestones—like marriage, buying a house, or having children—should happen earlier, typically between 28 and 35 years old.The study also found that New Zealanders are more open to younger leaders.On average, Kiwis believe a country’s leader should be at least 39 years old—three years younger than the global average.They also think leaders become “too old” at 64, slightly older than the global average of 61.Overall, the study paints a picture of a nation that’s realistic about aging, cautiously optimistic, and more flexible than many others when it comes to leadership and life milestones. But it also highlights the challenges ahead, especially for those facing retirement without the cushion of financial security.

Teenagers. OMG. Just saying it sends flashing neon warning alerts into the universe.For many of us having a teenager is the most challenging thing that’s happened to us since we were teenagers ourselves. Does history really repeat, or can we teach our teens not to make the same mistakes we did? Would they even listen? Or course not. They’re teenagers. We know this.Mum’s the Word 2: Teenagers director Anya Bowman tells it like it is: “You either have one, will have one, have no desire to have one, or once were one.”This is a play that is relatable on so many levels, delivered with empathy and pathos by a talented cast of women who are either growing, living with or have survived teenagers.There’s comedy, laser-like satire, sweetness, even sadness. And even when we’re laughing at the ridiculousness of the scenarios portrayed, we are acknowledging that, yes, that actually happened to us, and finally now we can laugh about it.There are many stories, all well told and beautifully delivered, by the cast of Hannah Kennedy, Julie Smith, Ana Bremer, Sarah McCarthy and Jodi Halleux. This is a sharply scripted play. The cutting and clever dialogue (and, often, monologue) is delivered with a tenderness and truth that is never far beneath the surface. There is a lot of physical comedy requiring sharp timing and total immersion by the actors.All five of them have their time to shine.Early in the piece, Ana Bremer impresses mightily with her story about a disastrous family hike that has her athletically scaling kitchen whiteware to terrifying heights. She’s a natural with a relaxed, appealing stage presence.Sarah McCarthy, always an audience favourite, gets some killer scenes to work with. She’s that annoyingly naïve mum, she’s a rapper, she a dominatrix, she’s giving it everything with a knowing world-weary honesty. Impressive, and big-hearted, as always, with a genuine mic drop moment.Jodi Halleux in her first Repertory Invercargill role shows range and decent stage chops. Her character is struggling with self-esteem issues and other life u-turns as a result of menopause. Her turn as the drill sergeant in the Mothers’ Military Bootcamp scene is priceless. Hannah Kennedy is the hip mum character with the troubled past who’s having trouble trying to impress on her teen not to do the things she did. There’s the sadness that comes from her kid calling her stupid today, because she knows it’s only going to have more expletives added tomorrow.Julie Smith’s character has breast cancer, and a suitably intelligently written script which she personifies with dignity and class. There are laugh-out-loud surreal breakout scenes – the mums host a TV breakfast show complete with live on-the-spot reporting, sports and weather; the mums transform into superheroes (aren’t they all?) – but mostly they’re sitting around a table talking about their teens.It’s hilarious as often as it’s sad, or confronting, or a little bit risqué. And it does answer that age-old question, if breasts could talk what would they sing?Get in quick to see this marvellous play. Based on tonight’s full house, it’s a hot ticket.MUM’S THE WORD 2 - TEENAGERSBy Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard and Deborah WilliamsDirected by Anya BowmanRepertory InvercargillAugust 27-30Repertory Househttps://www.invercargillrepertory.co.nz/

A Southland marae is set to purchase a council-owned building it occupies for $1 following a drawn-out process.Located in Ohai — about an hour from Invercargill — Te Oruanui Marae makes use of a former rugby club building at the local recreation reserve.A Southland Times article from March detailed the effort that had gone into re-establishing the marae after about a decade, with a goal of bringing people together.But the new marae has faced difficulties gaining both a land lease and ownership of the building after its request unearthed complexities.Those issues were explained in a recent council report, which said the rugby club rooms had been sold to a different entity, Te Oranui Incorporated (TOI), in 1994 with a land lease in place from late 1999.The rolling land lease ended after TOI ceased to exist as a legal entity and was officially dissolved in 2021, leaving behind unpaid service charges of more than $9,300 for water and sewage.New entity TOMOI began using the abandoned building without a lease and paid service charges from July 2023.A request from council to the Wallace Takitimu Community Board for feedback in February was met with delays as the board took a closer look at the situation.But then in June, TOMOI advised it would re-register TOI to settle its debts and restore its trustee role to the whenua through the Māori Land Court.“Together, we can ensure that Te Oruanui Marae continues to stand as a taonga for our whānau and the wider Murihiku community for generations to come,” TOMOI chair Conrad Waihape wrote.On Wednesday, the council resolved to transfer the building back to TOI for $1 dependent on the entity paying over $6500 in outstanding service charges.The $1 transfer fee was deemed appropriate by the council for a number of reasons, including that the building had defaulted into council ownership at no cost, annual service charges going forward totaling more than $5,500 a year, and ongoing costs such as insurance, repairs, maintenance and electricity.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardRoad status:CLOSING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) at 5pmComments:Road closing tonight at 5pm from Hollyford road intersection (east gate) to Donne River Bridge (west gate) due to forecast snow overnight. Expect reopening before 9am tomorrow (Friday) but please watch for snow clearing equipment as snow is forecast throughout the day. The road is likely to close again Friday night due to further snow. Snow continues through the weekend, please see updates on road status as the weekend progresses.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Heavy rain, possible thunderstorms. Snow lowering to tunnel level overnight. Tomorrow: Heavy showers, snow down to 800m. Saturday: Heavy showers, snow around 1000m. Sunday: Fine then snow showers. Monday: Snow to 800m.

Location AreaSH 94 Te Anau to MilfordLocation(s)094-0212/15.58-B NA TO NAEvent TypeRoad HazardEvent DescriptionSnowEvent CommentsRoad closing tonight at 5pm from Hollyford Junction to Donne River Bridge due to forecast snow overnight. Expect reopening before 9am tomorrow (Friday) but please watch for snow clearing equipment as snow is forecast throughout the day. The road is likely to close again Friday night due to further snow. Snow continues through the weekend, please see updates on road status as the weekend progresses.ImpactCautionAlternative RouteNot ApplicableStatusActiveExpected ResolutionUntil further noticeEvent Start Date28/08/2025 07:50

A Southland farmer is sounding the alarm over the rapid spread of carbon forestry, warning that rural communities and New Zealand’s food production are at risk if the Government doesn’t act.Dean Rabbidge, a fifth-generation farmer near Wyndham, says he’s watching prime sheep and beef country across his region disappear under pine trees - and it’s happening faster than ever."It’s pretty heartbreaking what we’re seeing in Southland," says Rabbidge, who farms 700 hectares with his wife and three kids.""There are some fantastic properties that have been acquired by forestry companies and planted out in pine trees.""This isn’t marginal land at all - they’re clean, fertile, high-performing farms that would be in huge demand if they were in Canterbury."Rabbidge says carbon forestry conversions have ramped up in the past six months, as investors rush to capitalise on current Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) settings."We’re talking about beautiful hill country farms being planted in permanent pine.""These farms underpin our red meat sector and once they’re gone, they’re gone."Rabbidge says rural communities are already suffering, particularly those reliant on sheep and beef farming."You talk to shearing contractors, tailing gangs, sheep handling crews - they’re all forecasting 10% to 15% revenue drops this year."Go into Gore and talk to the machinery dealers and they’re saying the same thing."The ripple effects go right through our towns and businesses."Rabbidge warns rural schools, sports teams and volunteer groups were also under threat as farming families are displaced."We saw this in the 1990s in Southland when forestry took over in some places - schools closed, towns dried up."That was production forestry. This time it’s carbon, and the consequences could be even worse."Rabbidge said under the Government’s draft rules, only farmland in Land Use Capability (LUC) classes 1 to 5 would be limited to 25% registration in the EMT.The LUC system classifies rural land based on its physical characteristics and ability to sustain productive use. Class 1 is the most productive while class 8 is the least productive"None of the farms being targeted for carbon forestry down here are class 1 to 5. They’re nearly all class 6 or 7, and those are left completely exposed.""A lot of our breeding country is class 6 and 7 - that’s where animals come from before they move on to finishing blocks.""If we lose that land, the whole New Zealand farming system gets thrown out of whack."Federated Farmers is currently calling for planting limitations extended to classes 6 and 7.

Police can confirm one person has died following the single-vehicle crash on State Highway 93/Old Coach Road this morning.Emergency services were called to the crash, between Dodds Road and Hurst Road, at around 10.15am.Sadly, a man was pronounced deceased at the scene.The Serious Crash Unit remains at the scene and the road remains closed.Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

State Highway 93 between Mataura and Clinton has reopened following a fatal vehicle crash this morning. The crash site has been cleared after police completed its investigations at the site.   Motorists are urged to drive with care through the area. 

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Road disruptions are likely from Thursday evening through to Sunday with snow forecast to affect the road. Please see the next update at 7:30am Thursday morning with confirmation of any road restrictions.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Light showers. Tomorrow: Heavy rain, snow lowering to 1100m. Friday: Heavy showers, possible snow at tunnel. Saturday: Rain, heavy at times. Snow to 1000m. Sunday: Snow showers to low levels.

A new surfer statue could soon be riding into town at Colac Bay/Ōraka — but it won’t be cheap.The small Southland township is staring down the barrel of a potential $140,000 bill to replace its existing structure, which towers over the entrance in decaying glory.Built in 1999, the surfer has not weathered the storm well and has been the subject of funding requests for years.The district council gave money for maintenance between 2001 and 2004 but declined requests in 2008 and 2019. It then approved a loan of $35,000 as part of its 2022/23 annual plan.Assessments and community feedback had now deemed the surfer beyond repair and in need of replacement, a report prepared for a meeting this week showed.One option presented was to replace the statue entirely at a cost of $140,000, propped up by significant fundraising.The community was keen to hang onto the "iconic image of a surfer riding a wave”, which was a big part of the area's identity, the report said.A “remarkable” $58,000 had been fundraised by the Colac Bay Progress League which hoped a staged approach could be undertaken.Under that approach — which was backed by staff — the design and construction of the new statue would be completed at a cost of $100,000 followed by installation to the tune of $40,000.The progress league would fund $98,000 of the project's total cost with the remainder being made up of $31,000 from the annual plan loan and $11,000 from Ōraka Aparima Community Board reserves.Other options were to approve the $140,000 project without money from the community board reserve, meaning more fundraising, or to decline the increased budget altogether.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air