Notes from the Red Sheds

Spring has arrived in the Oamaru harbour with a pleasant vengeance.
There are two bellbirds frequenting the rampant, volunteer flowering currant bush which takes up one side of my shed, occasionally piercing the air with their distinctive song, and a pair of little blue penguins have established an early nest in the blacksmith's shop next door using wood shavings from my floor to line the nest leaving a trail of said shavings all over the floor of the forge - ah, the trials of life in the harbour, having to sweep up after horny penguins.
Wedding parties appear at weekends led by frenetic photographers to utilise rustic sheds and my pennyfarthing as picturesque backdrops, recreational fishers jostle in the mornings to launch their vessels for a morning at sea, locals drive, walk and cycle by on their regular excursions to see what's happening or just to relax by the sea.
Harbour to Ocean restaurant (H2O, or Cross Wharf cafe as I prefer to call it) is back in business after a winter recess and the usual stream of tourists cruise up to the penguin viewing centre.
Oliver Briggs is chipping happily away at his Oamaru stone sculptures in the red sheds and two other winter emigrants are back in their respective residences now that the weather is warmer.
The former woolstore buildings nearby which are mooted as private apartments await the decision of the Environment Court.
It is scheduled to hear the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust's appeal against the granting of a resource consent to allow this.
And also of great significance for harbour lovers is the advertising by the Waitaki District Council (WDC) of the long-awaited Waitaki District Plan Change 4/Variation 9 and Plan Change 5 - Oamaru Harbour.
(Doesn't that title just fill you full of enthusiasm to start reading what will no doubt be gripping prose?!)
These immediately take partial effect upon advertising, or have to be taken into consideration when the WDC is dealing with consent applications, but are subject to alteration through the public submission process which closes in November.
The changes will determine how the harbour develops this century and it is important that as many people submit as possible - we want to get this right.
The changes are available on the WDC website, or from the WDC building in Oamaru.
- By Bill Blair