Invercargill City Council has sold a large piece of farmland about 10km south of the city, but is remaining tight-lipped about how much it went for. Between March 2006 and June 2008, the council bought about 600ha of land at Awarua with the aim of facilitating industrial development. Originally purchased over four stages for a total of $9.505 million, the land was acquired with the intention of re-sale. Photo: ODT ARTSIn a further twist, the council's 2017/18 and 2018/19 Annual Reports show forgiven loans of $240,000 from Invercargill City Holdings Limited to Invercargill City Property Limited which were repayable only if the project was successful. A section of Awarua land which will be retained by the council is also home to toxic Ouvea Premix - a waste product from the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 24, 2021 08:37 UTC