In a perfect world, after the realignment of SH88…
### ODT Online Tue, 30 Aug 2011
Work starts on stadium water traps
Construction of temporary weirs across the lower Water of the Leith next to the Forsyth Barr Stadium has begun. Three weirs are being trialled to improve the look of the concrete flood channel, described by some Otago regional councillors as “appalling”, by preventing the channel completely emptying out.
Read more
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Construction, Design, Economics, Politics, Project management, Site, Stadiums
The Exchange area stands to lose the solid Victorian era building constructed of bluestone and brick, with a modern frontage, standing next door to the listed Speight’s Shamrock Building (1912-1913), opposite the listed Crown Hotel (1890). Significantly, the proposed site development at 180 Rattray Street will also destroy one of Dunedin’s outstanding nineteenth century service alleys.
The former P. Hayman & Co. Building (1872) under threat of demolition is located in the district plan listed North Princes Street / Moray Place / Exchange Townscape Precinct (TH03). The building, designed by architect David Ross, is not individually listed for protection in the district plan (Schedule 25.1); nor is it registered by New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
The Dunedin City Council has recently granted demolition consent for the N. & E.S. Paterson Building (date?) and the Barron Building (1875) in Rattray Street.
[ODT link]
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180 Rattray Street, Dunedin
Resource consent is sought to demolish the existing building on site; and to use the empty site for stand alone rental car parking.
The resource consent application from Paterson Pitts, on behalf of building owner Lincoln Darling, says: “Although it was built before 1900 and had bluestone foundations and ground floor, the modernisation of the building had destroyed the original facade to the point it no longer had any heritage significance.”
The application acknowledged the site might be an archaeological site in terms of the Historic Places Act and, if so, an authority might be required.
Closing Date for Submissions: Wednesday 21 September 2011 at 5pm.
Read the application at the DCC website.
### ODT Online Thu, 25 Aug 2011
Application to demolish building
By Debbie Porteous
Consent is being sought to demolish the former Furniture Court Building in Rattray St, Dunedin, and use the site as a car park. The resource consent application from Paterson Pitts, on behalf of building owner Lincoln Darling, states Mr Darling had been unable to attract any tenants after Furniture Court moved to another location.
Read more
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Rattray Street circa 1900. Hocken Collections [c/n E3856/42]
At far left, P Hayman & Co’s store, 180 Rattray Street
Related Posts:
12.4.11 Public outrage – SHAME on those re$pon$ible for building neglect
19.2.11 Owner of Dragon Café/Barron Building has lodged an application to demolish.
26.1.11 D Scene: Honour heritage
22.1.11 SAVE Dragon Café / Barron Building – Sign the Online Petition
13.1.11 Barron Building and Rattray Street
13.1.11 Banks, Barron & Co Building Collapse pics
Lincoln Darling is the current owner of the Barron Building.
ODT Online:
21.5.11 Downfall of the Dainty Dairy
21.5.11 Land, lots of land
3.5.11 ‘Holes’ spoil townscape – DCC
See comments at (14.4.11) Public consultation for DCC Earthquake-prone Buildings Policy. Lincoln Darling is a former owner of the Dainty Dairy on Stuart Street, another historic commercial building under threat of demolition.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Architecture, Economics, Heritage, People, Politics, Project management, Site, Town planning, Urban design
### ODT Online Tue, 23 Aug 2011
Injunction snuffs out stadium traffic lights
By Matthew Haggart
A High Court injunction obtained by an Anzac Ave landowner will not allow the Dunedin City Council to operate traffic lights at the Frederick St intersection with State Highway 88 near Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The directors of two companies, which are listed as ratepayers on Anzac Ave, sharing an access opposite the Frederick St intersection, Hall Bros Transport and A.J. Allen Ltd, declined to comment about the traffic lights. Council transportation operations programme engineer Mike Harrison said the lights were unlikely to be operational until after the four Rugby World Cup games at the stadium.
Related posts:
27.8.09 $294.8m investment for Otago region
2.9.09 SH88 realignment past stadium
20.11.09 Interesting. SH88 realignment.
24.2.10 SH88 realignment: Are ratepayers buying the land twice?
31.3.2010 SH88 realignment
21.4.2010 SH88 realignment – update
29.5.10 Stadium site purchases
7.7.10 Goodbye to great store buildings in Parry St
21.7.10 SH88 realignment – update
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Construction, Design, Politics, Project management, Site, Stadiums, Town planning, Urban design
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Dunedin City Council
Media Release
Your City Our Future – The Community Identifies Priorities For Dunedin’s Future
This item was published on 19 Aug 2011.
As part of the community-wide consultation programme, “Your City Our Future” (YCOF), a questionnaire was sent to every household with ‘City Talk’ in June 2011. The questionnaire asked the community to indicate what spending priority should be given to a number of discretionary activities. 4,340 valid responses were received by the Council.
Overall, the community ranked 46 areas of discretionary expenditure as medium to high spending priorities. The areas which were identified as the highest spending priorities were:
• Advocating for the retention of our hospital and medical research capacity;
• Encouraging employment opportunities for everyone;
• Ensuring Dunedin maintains its reputation as a leading provider of education services; and
• Promoting Dunedin to attract visitors, workers and investors.
The areas which were most commonly identified as ‘top three spending priorities’ in the open data collection were:
• Employment and jobs;
• Reduction of rates and spending;
• Public transport;
• Supporting businesses and industries; and
• Learning and education.
The areas most commonly identified as ‘other factors the Council should consider’ in the open data collection were:
• Improving public transport services (cheaper fares, bus frequency and timetable, bus sizes, bus routes, bus shelters, etc.);
• Improving railway services (trams/cable cars, passenger rail, freight, etc.); and
• Supporting home-owners to make homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.
In order to overcome possible issues of bias associated with surveys where respondents ‘self select’, a telephone survey was also be undertaken in June 2011 of a random sample of 380 households. The Council is satisfied that the results from the telephone survey have validated the results from the questionnaire.
Mayor Dave Cull says, “When we first launched YCOF in 2010 I said this programme takes an holistic view of the city and it is important that the community plays an active part in shaping that view. These results suggest a large number of Dunedin residents took the opportunity to do just that. I’m looking forward to building on the work that has already been done, and helping to shape Dunedin into the city our community wants it to be.”
The YCOF results will guide the Council and DCC staff when considering the priorities for discretionary spending over the next ten years.
Contact Dave Cull, Mayor of Dunedin on 477 4000.
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### ODT Online Sat, 20 Aug 2011
Councils in talks on buses
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council is considering a possible takeover of the Dunedin public transport network from the Otago Regional Council, which could pave the way for an overhaul of the service.
The news was confirmed by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull yesterday, as results of the council’s Your City, Our Future survey sent to households across the city showed strong public support for such a move. Mr Cull said the survey results and other feedback meant the community had “obviously signalled” its desire for a better service, beginning with a transfer of responsibility for the network, and “we’re considering it”. Preliminary discussions with ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead about a possible takeover had been under way for several months, Mr Cull said.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Received – Thursday, 18 August 2011 8:40 p.m.
Cc (via Email): ODT Editor; Wilma at DScene; Elizabeth Kerr; The Star; Mayor of Dunedin; Bill Acklin; John Bezett; Syd Brown; Fliss Butcher; Neil Collins; Jinty MacTavish; Andrew Noone; Teresa Stevenson; Chris Staynes; Richard Thomson; Lee Vandervis; Colin Weatherall; Kate Wilson
An Open Communication to Cr Paul Hudson
Councillor Paul Hudson
Dunedin City CouncilCouncillor
Having now read the Warren Larsen Report entitled “Governance review of all companies in which Dunedin City Council and/or Dunedin City Holdings Limited has an equity interest of 50% or more” it is clear that you, despite a number of denials you have made over a period of time, have been compromised by the positions you hold as a Director of DCHL, a number of companies within DCHL and as a City Councillor.
It is time that you accepted the findings of this independent review.
I call upon you to immediately tender your resignation as a Board member of all companies associated with DCHL and also as a Dunedin City Councillor.
Russell Garbutt
Ratepayer
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Business, Carisbrook, DCC, DCHL, Democracy, Economics, Name, New Zealand, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Town planning
### ODT Online Wed, 17 Aug 2011
Crews tackle central Dunedin fire
Five buildings were evacuated and one person taken to hospital as fire crews battled a blaze in an historic building in central Dunedin this afternoon. The fire, in an apartment above a second-hand bookshop, near Chipmunks south of the Exchange, was extinguished just before 3pm. Crowds gathered as flames shot out of the second storey of the S F Aburn Ltd building at 389 Princes St.
Read more
ODT Video: Princes Street Fire
Ch9 Video: Lucky escape in Princes Street apartments
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### ODT Online Thu, 18 Aug 2011
Women flee building fire
By Debbie Porteous
Frightened flatmates ran for their lives as a fire ripped through a central city Dunedin building yesterday afternoon. Crowds gathered in Princes and Bond Sts yesterday afternoon to watch the Fire Service battle the blaze that gutted an apartment above second-hand bookstore Raven Books, at 389 Princes St.
The Dunedin City Council confirmed yesterday it had no record of the building being upgraded to provide sleeping accommodation.
The building’s owner Patrick Rainsford, who also runs Raven Books, did not return calls last night. His address as listed in the phonebook is 389 Princes St.
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
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Images ©2011 Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Architecture, Construction, Heritage, Media, People, Town planning
### ODT Online Wed, 17 Aug 2011
Project Gateway on hold
By David Loughrey
Project Gateway – an initiative that has cost the Dunedin City Council $3.5 million over the last decade – will be put on hold and “reviewed” after results that have fallen well short of initial goals.
Despite early hopes of attracting 60,000 visitors a year, creating 555 jobs and opening up a market worth $21 million, council economic development unit manager Peter Harris said it had instead sparked sales of about $4.6 million, and helped create “around 34 jobs”.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Economics, Geography, Politics, Project management
### stuff.co.nz Last updated 05:00 12/08/2011
Council votes to revamp City Holdings
By Wilma McCorkindale – Southland Times / D Scene
The Dunedin City Council has voted to accept radical recommendations in a confidential report that slams governance of its holdings company. Mayor Dave Cull last night said the council was seeking legal and accounting advice on how it could implement the measures suggested by the report’s author, governance and business leader Warren Larsen. Mr Larsen suggests a radical overhaul of governance of the council-owned holdings company Dunedin City Holdings Ltd and a review of the “fit” of its subsidiary companies to council requirements.
The Dunedin City Holdings board should be “entirely reconstituted”, it said, recommending three externally sourced directors for an initial three-year term. All should be independent and drawn from a New Zealand-wide recruitment search, initially beyond the Otago region. Ideally, there should be an increase in the pool of women directors and “younger, high-potential, competent directors”.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Stadiums
What is building performance monitoring, cyclical maintenance, restoration and structural repair? Or, read: Good stewardship of the built environment is eroded by owners inclined to apathy and hands-off neglect, while they continue to extract rents from tenants.
Not helped by the Dunedin City Council’s half-baked street improvements scheme for King Edward St, South Dunedin, led by ‘feel good’ inexperienced staff. This scheme puts money to the likes of unsympathetic paintwork (destroying patina of age), ugly street furniture, and traffic management plans – rather than to the means of generating funds for building conservation, first and foremost to preserve heritage values and the community’s enduring ‘sense of place’ as the basis for future development and economic return.
Images (2010): Elizabeth Kerr
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Brocklebanks Dry Cleaners owner Roger Brocklebank, whose family trust owns the building, said a family trustee had met DCC chief building control officer, Neil McLeod, about the damage yesterday.
### ODT Online Sat, 13 Aug 2011
South Dunedin building facade unsafe
By Nigel Benson
A south Dunedin building was closed by the Dunedin City Council yesterday and is likely to be condemned after its facade was discovered to be cracking and leaning. The building, on the corner of King Edward St and Carey Ave, houses four businesses; Fine Art Mounting, Dinkum Donuts, Feedback burger bar and Brocklebanks Dry Cleaners.
Read more
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Architecture, Construction, Economics, Heritage, People, Town planning, Urban design
Christchurch City Council
DRAFT Central City Plan opens for public consultation on 16 August 2011
CCC Media Release (via Scoop)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1108/S00308/draft-christchurch-city-council-central-city-plan.htm[Original PDF on the Christchurch City Council website
Scoop copy of full report:
13.Attachment1Volume1.pdf
13.Attachment1Volume2.pdf – Regulatory Framework]
Low res version of Central City Plan – http://bit.ly/phbpDH (7.78 MB)
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(Radio NZ) Christchurch gets first glimpse of central city plan (with audio link)
(Stuff) Plan to build a “city in a garden”
@LIVENewsDesk Mayor Bob Parker says the Christchurch rebuild will cost $2billion. He says 50% of money is already in the system
@PressNewsroom The $2 billion draft plan suggests limiting new buildings to 7 storeys, free parking & a covered market: http://bit.ly/raMuxJ #eqnz #chch
@odtnews Smaller CBD slated in Christchurch rebuild http://dlvr.it/fjcqn
@TVNZNews Bold plan for new Christchurch passed http://bit.ly/r2qeIT #tvnznews
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Design, Geography, Town planning, Urban design
UPDATED 11 August 2011
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Larsen report now availableThis item was published on 11 Aug 2011
A recent governance review of the Dunedin City Council companies was conducted by Warren Larsen. A public copy of his report is now available and a related report on the future cashflows from Dunedin City Holdings Limited is also now available.
If you would like a paper copy of the report, please contact Customer Services via dcc @ dcc.govt.nz or on 477 4000.
Contact Mayor Dave Cull on 477 4000.
Related documents:
Future Cash Flows from Dunedin City Holdings Limited (PDF, 388.3 KB)
The report presented to the Finance, Strategy and Development Committee on 25 July 2011 regarding the future cash flows from Dunedin City Holdings Limited.Warren Larsen Report (PDF, 3.9 MB)
Governance review of all companies in which Dunedin City Council and/or Dunedin City Holdings Limited has an equity interest of 50% or more.
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A meeting of the Dunedin City Council will be held on Wednesday, 10 August 2011, in the Conference Room, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, at 2.00 PM
The agenda lists those plentiful items to be discussed with the public excluded.
Agenda – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 132.2 KB)
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 451.4 KB)
Final 2010/11 Carry Forward Budgets
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
Dunedin (New Zealand) Masters Games Governance Changes
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 67.4 KB)
Development Contributions Policy Review – Hearings and Deliberations Process
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 660.5 KB)
Octagon Free Wireless – Internet Access
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 59.9 KB)
Maori Participation Working Party Membership
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
Strategic Cycle Network
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 86.6 KB)
Representation Review
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 86.8 KB)
Security for Borrowings
Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 502.6 KB)
Electoral System For Future Local Authority Elections
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This part of the Council meeting was held on Monday, 8 August 2011, at Otakou Marae, Tamatea Road, Otakou, following a powhiri commencing at 11.00 AM
Agenda – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 71.6 KB)
Report – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Draft Pukekura Reserves Management Plan – Approval for Public Consultation
Report – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 808.7 KB)
Māori Participation Processes
Report – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Kāi Tahu Engagement with the Dunedin City Council
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
### offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.com Tues, 9 Aug 2011 at 7:00 AM
Stadium rebuilding?
By Eric Crampton
Christchurch’s AMI / Jade / Lancaster Park Stadium (it’s changed names a few times since I’ve been here) seems likely to need the wrecking ball consequent to the February earthquake. I hope that City Council’s contribution to any rebuilding is limited to the insurance payout, and then only in the case that the insurer won’t let Council keep the cash. Stadiums just aren’t very good investments. In good times, a city can afford a lot of stupid. I’m not sure that Christchurch can afford to waste a lot of money over the next few years.
Read more
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under #eqnz, Architecture, Construction, Economics, Politics, Project management, Stadiums
### radionz.co.nz Monday 8 August 2011 at 14:10
Afternoons with Jim Mora
Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium
Dunedin ratepayers are facing the prospect of even higher rates to pay for the $200 million stadium. Rates next year could go up by nearly 12 per cent because of a looming budget shortfall. Jim talks to former Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin and project critic Dunedin City Councillor Lee Vandervis.
Audio Ogg Vorbis MP3 (17′10″)
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The dormouse sleeps.
### ODT Online Fri, 5 Aug 2011
Ex-mayor Chin named in constitutional panel
Former Dunedin mayor Peter Chin is among a dozen high-profile New Zealanders who have been selected to oversee a review of the nation’s constitutional arrangements.
Read more
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Filed under Construction, Economics, People, Politics, Project management, Site, Sport, Stadiums
The elected representatives of the Dunedin City Council now think it is right to favour one important ethnic group over others. ALL meetings of the Council and its standing committees should be held in the Municipal Chambers of the Dunedin City Council, except in circumstances where rooms are not available within the Chambers or the Dunedin Town Hall complex due to building redevelopment work – in which case another central city venue should be substituted. This latest deviation from democracy is as insane as it is obscene.
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### ODT Online Sat, 6 Aug 2011
DCC heads to marae
The Dunedin City Council will hold Monday’s full council meeting at the Otakou marae, and a meeting on Wednesday in the city. Under the Local Government Act 2002, the council must provide opportunities for Maori to participate in local government.
Read more
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Tweet (04 Aug 15:09):
@whatifdunedin Short comment on rugby’s free lunch and Dunedin City Council’s financial ruin http://bit.ly/pMu5RD | ODT Online
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Register to read D Scene online at
http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/
### D Scene 3-8-11
Lights, camera… (page 1)
The spotlight has been turned on the Forsyth Barr Stadium. The new venue is under scrutiny not just because it is being officially opened on Friday, but because a major row has erupted over servicing Dunedin City Council’s debts – including money intended to fund the stadium project.
See pages 3, 5 and 21. #bookmark
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Grand stadium opens (page 3)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin is invited to the opening of Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday. At an early morning ceremony, the facility will receive a formal Maori blessing and Prime Minister John Key will do the official opening honours. Media and dignitaries are expected to attend the hour-long 7am event, which will unveil the facility, the only multi-purpose arena in the world with a fixed roof and a natural grass turf.
{continues} #bookmark
What the stadium means to me now – Bev Butler (page 3)
For me, the physical reality of the stadium is a constant reminder of a divided community…It has never added up, financially, as a prudent project for the council to spend money on. The consultants’ reports told us so. Even David Davies, Dunedin Venues Management manager, has admitted that the stadium’s “bread and butter” will be “conferences and meetings”.
{continues} #bookmark
What the stadium means to me now – Malcolm Farry (page 3)
While controversy may continue to cause debate over the coming year or two, there is no doubt that history will show this achievement to be a milestone in the development of Dunedin and the region…The benefits in economic impact, quality and vibrancy of life will be seen to be a major step forward.
{continues} #bookmark
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Solutions would be tabled along with the two reviews at the next full council meeting set for Wednesday, August 10.
Council living beyond means (page 5)
By Mike Houlahan ad Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin City Council (DCC) is in damage control this week in the wake of revelations last Friday it was facing a financial crisis. In an early evening press release, mayor Dave Cull announced an $8 million funding annual revenue shortfall, revealed in two internal reviews tabled at the previous day’s Finance, Strategy and Development Committee meeting. The reviews, one by the council’s Council-owned Companies (CCO) liaison group, the other by consultant Warren Larsen, found Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DHCL) would not be able to continue paying $5 million annual dividends anticipated by council.
{continues} #bookmark
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Personality debate ignores real issues (page 20)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull is defending his 11th hour announcement last Friday night that the city is in financial trouble…Cull is adamant council has been trying to pin down Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL) on what dividends it could sustain, in the wake of concerns during the past year on its ability to pay out…Cull said he was among those who voiced concerns about hiking demands on council company dividends, as far back as 2008.
{continues} #bookmark
Sources close to council say the Larsen report is scathing of DCHL.
Cr refuting claims of board neglect (page 20)
Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL) Chairman, Cr Paul Hudson, is refutung claims his board neglected to clarify its ability to meet dividends expected by Dunedin City Council (DCC). Hudson said the facts had been misrepresented in a press release announcing a city financial crisis on Friday, after Thursday’s Finance, Strategy and Development Committee meeting tabled the findings of two reviews…Councillors voted it was not appropriate for him to remain in the meeting, given his DCHL role…Hudson said he spent the weekend digging out documents to back up the DCHL stance on the matter.
{continues} #bookmark
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
### ODT Online Tue, 2 Aug 2011
Rugby World Cup support slumps
Less than 40 percent of New Zealanders are looking forward to the Rugby World Cup (RWC), a poll suggests. An online poll conducted by UMR Research has found 35 percent of 850 New Zealanders surveyed were not looking forward to the RWC, compared with 37 percent who said they were looking forward to it, and 29 percent who were neutral. Forty one percent believed the RWC would be disruptive for many New Zealanders. NZPA
Read more
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
### ch9.co.nz August 1, 2011 – 7:26pm
Fractures emerge as budget strains
Fractures are emerging between some of Dunedin’s civic leaders, as revelations about the Council’s ability to stick to its budgets begin to surface. The Mayor believes the problem is a major one, and claims it has only become apparent recently. However other parties say the issue has been forecast for a long time, and has come about due to the DCC’s overly extravagant spending habits.
Video
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
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| Peter on Commercial residential, 143-19… |
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What if? Dunedin... 