Written by Diane McCarthy
Residents will wait longer for a say on whether Whakatāne should join a four-council water body, after neighbouring councils paused their own plans.
Sports clubs will press Whakatāne councillors to back a single hall renewal plan, as staff warn phased works would prolong closures and raise costs.
Residents say the route will strip mature trees and place pylons beside homes, despite months of talks over the solar farm link.
Residents regained safer evening access after streetlamps were reinstalled on Ford Street following months of darkness during undergrounding works.
Residents question why Whakatāne Council resurfaced one street with asphalt after saying the treatment was too costly for most roads.
Extra rock removal is likely to push Ōpōtiki's new jetty extension over budget by about NZD $100,000 before decking starts.
