Rattray St buildings up for full demolition say McLauchlan and Darling

Bulldozer-city tactics again, Boys? Look what happened to the bluestone wall in the High Street car park, to be retained by conditions of an archaeological authority—last photographed by ODT this summer, in a state of neglect with weeds all over it (having been ‘nudged’ with an excavator during construction of the car park). That should have been a prosecution. Not sure you can get off the same hook twice.

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### ODT Online Tue, 31 Jan 2012
Demolition set to resume, but HPT says authority required
By Debbie Porteous
Demolition work is due to restart soon on on two adjoining buildings in Rattray St, Dunedin, more than a year after the roof of one of them, the 136-year-old [Barron] building, collapsed. Stuart McLauchlan, a director of the Scenic Circle Hotel Group, which owns the N. & E.S. Paterson building beside the [Barron] building, confirmed yesterday that demolition on the two buildings, which share a common wall, should begin within in the next few weeks. But the Historic Places Trust says an archeological authority needs to be done, at least on the [Barron] building, before any demolition work begins.
Read more

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Urban blight in the hands of expensive men.

People love *cough* the frontage to Scenic Circle’s High Street car park (here seen from behind) – the architect more than completely failed. More joy for Rattray Street if this model is followed; the High Street car park is one of the worst pot-holing disasters in the central city. Not a desirable neighbour for the earthquake-strengthened and fully refurbished historic Bing Harris building across the street.

Not known for his good taste,
“Mr McLauchlan said the section where the N. & E.S. Paterson building stood would be turned into a car park, and an entrance built with a facade similar to that of the other entrance to the car park, in High St.”

The Southern Cross (now owned by the Scenic Circle Hotel Group) greatly enhanced the townscape appearance of Rattray St in the twentieth century. Tui. [Since this shot was taken the Barron building has been lowered to two floors only, and the roof of the N. & E.S. Paterson building has been removed.]

The buildings for demolition at 173 and 175 Rattray St are both located in the North Princes Street/Moray Place/Exchange Townscape Precinct (TH03).

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Related Posts:
8.5.12 Owners of neglected buildings
12.4.11 Public outrage – SHAME on those re$pon$ible for building neglect
4.3.11 Reaction to another instance of unthinking ad-hocism from City Hall
19.2.11 Owner of Dragon Café/Barron Building has lodged an application…
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

25.8.11 180 Rattray St, Dunedin: Proposed historic building demolition…

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC “unjustifiably” disadvantages senior conservator

### ODT Online Sat, 28 Jan 2012
Conservator unjustifiably dismissed
By Debbie Porteous
A senior Otago Settlers Museum conservator who was sacked last year for serious misconduct has successfully taken a personal grievance against the Dunedin City Council, which has been ordered to pay him $34,446. The Employment Relations Authority found that Francois Leurquin was unjustifiably dismissed, but denied his application to be reinstated in his job. […] The breaches were alleged to have been made when he stored a ceramic piece he had agreed to restore for $200 for a private client, in packaging brought in from outside the museum […] risking contamination of the museum’s artefacts, which his employer was entitled to find amounted to serious misconduct.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Editor cites DCC as “open democracy in action”

Sometimes the penny does not drop. In today’s editorial, ‘Cavernous divisions in Christchurch’, the Otago Daily Times has its word on Christchurch City Council and in so doing comes up with this, the first paragraph:

“While no-one would claim they are perfect, and there is room for debate round the edges particularly where meetings closed to the public are concerned, the processes of the Dunedin City Council, as exemplified by this week’s pre-draft budget meetings, are an example of open democracy in action.” Link

A remarkable comment in the face of the rugby scrum that parades as the annual plan / long term council community plan process at Dunedin, a process well tinged with lies, deceit, incompetence and further mismanagement of ratepayer funds by our elected representatives. This after years of council grey papers, staff manipulations, and unholy alliances with gentlefolk in the private sector whose names are well known.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Earthquake strengthening: voluntary targeted rates scheme

### ODT Online Thu, 26 Jan 2012
New rate to fund strengthening
By David Loughrey
The Dunedin City Council gave approval for a second “targeted rate” system to improve city buildings yesterday when it voted for a scheme to help fund earthquake-strengthening for heritage building owners. That followed a decision on Tuesday to back a similar scheme to fund insulation and clean heating for residential buildings.
Read more

The voluntary targeted rates schemes work by providing finance to ratepayers – in this case to complete earthquake-strengthening – with the cost to be paid off through rates over a specified period.

• There would be about $500,000 available in the first year.
• Applications would be considered by the four city councillors on the Dunedin Heritage Fund, and three New Zealand Historic Places Trust representatives, with a final decision by the council finance, strategy and development committee.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium debt goes to 40-year term

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said he was “vehemently opposed” to repaying the debt over 40 years, because of the interest it would add to the bill, but would support it in the meantime to keep rates down. “But I see it as a short-term fix.”

### ODT Online Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Councillors spar over stadium debt
By Chris Morris
There were emotive arguments as Dunedin city councillors split into camps over the restructuring of Forsyth Barr Stadium debt repayments to a 40-year term yesterday. The move was approved by Dunedin city councillors for inclusion in the 2012-13 pre-draft annual and long-term plan yesterday, alongside a push to restructure repayments in later years to more quickly reduce the debt.
Read more

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It meant the council would be receiving the same rates as it would have from properties previously occupying the stadium site.

### ODT Online Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Backing for lowering stadium rates
By Chris Morris
Dunedin city councillors have given initial backing to a proposal to slash the Forsyth Barr Stadium’s $2 million annual rates bill. Councillors at yesterday’s pre-draft budget meetings voted in favour of resolutions that would cut the rates bill for Dunedin Venues Management Ltd – the company running the stadium – from $2 million a year to a more manageable $134,000 a year. That amounted to a 93% discount on the venue’s city council rates.
Read more

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### ODT Online Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Artificial turf stays in plan by one vote
By David Loughrey
An artificial turf, seen by Dunedin City Council staff as the future of sports fields in Dunedin, stayed in the city’s annual plan by a single vote yesterday.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin City councillors, contact the ‘audit commission’ immediately

Councillors, gleaning from press statements and your preliminary discussion of the (draft) Annual Plan 2012/13—as relates to the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP)—it appears that your chief financial officer has unilaterally committed the Dunedin City Council to a 40-year stadium debt plan – without your knowledge and vote of approval, with serious financial implications.

Whether this is true or not, you have a PROBLEM.

Agree to open the council books, and those of the related entities including DCHL, CST, DVL, and DVML, for a full independent forensic financial investigation, now.

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Today:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/195506/surprise-over-stadium-debt-repayment

8.49am farsighted
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/195506/surprise-over-stadium-debt-repayment#comment-26926

8.50am Anonymous
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/dcc-draft-annual-plan-201213/#comment-21018

10.01am wylja88p
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/195506/surprise-over-stadium-debt-repayment#comment-26931

11.53am Anonymous
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/dcc-draft-annual-plan-201213/#comment-21027

3.37pm farsighted
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/195506/surprise-over-stadium-debt-repayment#comment-26946

What if? Dunedin… post and comments on 40-year debt plan, see DCC Finance, Strategy and Development Committee (from 1.9.11 onwards)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Waipori Fund – inane thinkings from a councillor

### ODT Online Wed, 25 Jan 2012
DCC could borrow from self
By David Loughrey
The Dunedin City Council will consider borrowing from its own almost $70 million Waipori fund, instead of using commercial lending institutions. The idea would be to provide regular income to the fund through interest, and produce a situation where the council would, in effect, be paying interest on its loans to itself.
Read more

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### ODT Online Wed, 25 Jan 2012
Communities will have to help pay: Cull
By Chris Morris
Communities across Dunedin will need to do more to help pay for projects, as the Dunedin City Council grapples with tight finances threatening to curtail spending on key ventures, Mayor Dave Cull says. The warning came as councillors met in public yesterday for the start of a two-day meeting to discuss the council’s 2012-13 pre-draft annual and long-term plans. The early budgets forecast a 4.7% rates increase from July 1, but councillors were also grappling with a list of about 40 unfunded projects – including the proposed $11.5 million Mosgiel pool and a new South Dunedin library – yet to be included in the council’s spending plans.
Read more

Citizens and ratepayers are given the “pay up or shut up” treatment—councillors are “of a mind” to include some projects in council spending plans…

The top five projects, in order, were a new Maori consultation model, Ocean Beach erosion work, Caversham tunnel work, repairs to the St Clair sea wall, ramp and stairs, and a new council energy plan. [Added items] The council’s share of the Blueskin Bay library ($745,000) and priority parts of the strategic cycle network ($1.5 million over three years) in South Dunedin.

Further discussion at DCC draft annual plan 2012/13 and DCC living beyond its means [all spending and debt not declared]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Licensed building practitioners

From March 1, most residential construction work which already requires building consents will need to be undertaken by licensed building practitioners.

Most industry practitioners were aware of the changes, but it was also important anyone considering any “DIY” work on their home knew about the new requirements. –Neil McLeod, DCC building control

### ODT Online Sun, 22 Jan 2012
Campaign to improve quality in building sector
By Matthew Haggart
A legislation change to ensure building practitioners are licensed for the construction work they carry out on houses will bring better accountability to the sector in the wake of the leaky homes scandal, industry authorities say. The Department of Building and Housing has launched a two-year campaign which is aimed at improving the quality of building in New Zealand and increasing the confidence of consumers – just weeks before a legislation change takes effect.
Read more

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(via ODT) Licensed building practitioners include:
• Designers
• Carpenters
• Roofers
• External plasterers
• Bricklayers
• Blocklayers

Restricted building work categories:
• Foundations
• Framing
• Roofing
• Cladding
• Fire safety systems and alarms

Department of Building and Housing: Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP’s)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Chalmers Properties Ltd

Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said a review of Chalmers had decided because its largest holding was in Dunedin it was “under-represented” here, and the head office should be relocated.

### ODT Online Sat, 21 Jan 2012
Return of Chalmers Propert[ies]
By Simon Hartley
Port Otago is relocating its subsidiary company Chalmers Propert[ies], which has a $197 million property portfolio around the country, from its Wellington headquarters to Port Chalmers. […] Within Chalmers’ $197 million portfolio, $110 million is in Dunedin, $65 million is in Auckland and the balance of $22 million is in Hamilton. Chalmers is a partner in a 50:50 joint venture in Hamilton. […] Longtime Chalmers chief executive Andrew Duncan is not relocating to Dunedin and a job for general manager of property is being advertised by Port Otago. The job is to be based in Port Chalmers, with administrative support.
Read more

█ NZ Companies Register: http://www.companies.govt.nz/co/925428

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC draft annual plan 2012/13

Find links and comments to preliminary media reports at
DCC living beyond its means [all spending and debt not declared]
Links to DCC staff reports at Comments

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UPDATE 21.1.12
### ch9.co.nz January 20, 2012 – 6:13pm
DCC budget proposal
Next week the Dunedin City Council will be meeting to discuss budget proposals for the 2012-2013 Annual Plan. Mayor Dave Cull says it’s not just the stadium which has created current Council debt, but a number of other issues, as well.
Video

Well, Mayor Cull would say that. However, the stadium project has been the one to expose the council to public scrutiny and awareness of a decade of mismanagement of ratepayer funds. Such that the debt per Dunedin ratepayer is now about six times the national average. As other commentators are demanding, a full independent forensic financial investigation into DCC, DCHL, DVML, DVL and CST is required.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DScene exposes museum director’s salary

“Council was not aware of it. It was certainly a surprise to many people who had heard the figures.”

### DScene 18.1.12 (page 3)
Council in the dark over Paul
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin City Council should have been told what the director of the ratepayer-funded Otago Museum is earning, deputy community development chairman Cr Paul Hudson believes. Hudson acknowledged D Scene’s persistance on making the information public: “And the answer has been very revealing.” […] Figures showed Paul earned $310,793 last year — higher than the highest-paid staff member at the national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa.
{continues} #bookmark

Register to read DScene online at
http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Does a stadium count?

### ODT Online Tue, 17 Jan 2012
Skyscrapers harbingers of financial doom – report
An “unhealthy correlation” exists between the construction of skyscrapers and financial crashes, according to a new report from Barclays Capital. The construction of the Empire State building in New York in 1930, along with towers in Kuala Lumpur in 1997 and Dubai in 2010 have all been followed by economic crises, the report noted. Reuters
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

‘Brocklebank building’, 189-195 King Edward St, South Dunedin

189-195 King Edward St, South Dunedin, owned by the Brocklebank family trust, is listed as item B363 in Schedule 25.1 (Townscape and Heritage Buildings and Structures) of the Dunedin City District Plan. The protection required is the facade to King Edward St.

This is yet another of Dunedin’s historic commercial buildings which, over the years, have suffered from a lack of regular maintenance and repair to maintain structural strength. Thus building safety and performance have been compromised. Despite being tenanted (until recently), the building has been neglected to such an extent the street facade has begun to peel away from the structure behind.

The fact of the building’s listing is reason enough for the resource consent application to be notified by Dunedin City Council. This will give interested parties a chance to comment on the owner’s proposal.

A recent survey of photographic archives suggests the date of build is c.1883, or possibly earlier.

An ideal project for Dunedin Heritage Fund assistance: preserving the facade to King Edward St.

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### ODT Online Mon, 16 Jan 2012
Delays frustrate trust
By Mark Price
The owners of the condemned Brocklebank Drycleaners building in the main street of South Dunedin are frustrated at a five-month wait, so far, for approval to knock down the building. In August, the Dunedin City Council demanded the building be emptied of its tenants and fenced off, because the facade was unsafe.
Read more

Related Post:
13.8.11 Building facade failure: “It’s only the facade at the front that can’t be used”

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In Marc Price’s Saturday magazine feature on South Dunedin it’s interesting to read that historic heritage is being given prominence in the city council’s ‘urban design’ project…
http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/194344/south-dunedin-steaming-ahead

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC living beyond its means [all spending and debt not declared]

Mr Cull said he was not alarmed by the level of debt, and believed the issues Dunedin faced could be addressed. “Headroom” created by lower debt levels was important.

### ODT Online Tue, 17 Jan 2012
As debt peaks, Cull talks of asset sales
By David Loughrey
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has raised the prospect of asset sales to deal with the city’s debt, as the amount owed hit a historic peak this financial year. The figure reached a grand total of $327.4 million this financial year which ends on June 31, just over 10 times what the city owed in 1999.

“The council could not stop developing the city, fixing things, or thinking about new things.”

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Panoramas of lost London — 1870 to the end of WW2

Tweet (47 minutes ago):

@Londonist Old panoramas of London recreated today http://t.co/etfYlAjJ

A dirty St Paul’s Cathedral in 1942 (top), when the blitz was damaging its surroundings. A much cleaner St Paul’s today (bottom).

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin’s turn to shine, says Travel Wire Asia

“With Christchurch still suffering from repeat aftershocks, Dunedin has become the new tourism centre on the south island. And visiting Dunedin is certainly a means of supporting the south without feeling you are in danger of tremors and [liquefaction]. It’s Dunedin’s turn to shine and it does have plenty to offer.” Travel Asia Wire

### ODT Online Mon, 9 Jan 2012
Dunedin labelled must-see tourist destination
By Hamish McNeilly
An influential Asian travel site has picked Dunedin as one of six must-see destinations for 2012. The city joins Bagan (Burma), Langkawi (Malaysia), Mui Ne (Vietnam), Gili Islands (Indonesia) and Cairns (Australia) as the “great Asian travel destinations for 2012” on the TravelwireAsia website.
Read more

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### ODT Online Mon, 9 Jan 2012
Established designers and new for iD
By Matthew Haggart
A mix of new and established fashion labels will feature on the runway at the iD Dunedin Fashion Week’s signature event, being held over two nights at the Dunedin Railway Station in March. The iD Fashion Shows, on what has been dubbed “New Zealand’s longest catwalk” – the platform of the historic railway station – will welcome back several of the event’s loyal Dunedin-based labels.
Read more

iD Dunedin (via ODT)
Fashion Week: March 27-April 1
iD runway show: Dunedin Railway Station, March 30-31.
Featured designers: Nom*D, Carlson, Mild Red, Charmaine Reveley, Company of Strangers, DADA Vintage, Vaughan Geeson, RUBY and Liam.
Capsule collections labels: Cherry Cotton Candy, BurtenShaw, Jane Sutherland, Undone, DEVa’L.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin: Artificial islands for upper harbour?

“Basically, Port Otago has no objections to the concept provided that there is widespread community support for it.”

### ODT Online Mon, 9 Jan 2012
Growing support for Harbour Islands plan
By John Lewis
A necklace of islands mooted for the upper harbour, using 7.2 million cubic metres of spoil dredged from lower Otago Harbour, is gaining traction. The Harbour Islands project was first floated last year during consent hearings of Port Otago’s application to deepen the harbour. Harbour Restoration Group member Peter Hayden said there was common consensus development was vital to the port’s future economic prosperity.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dirty nappies and more: Dunedinites abuse kerbside collection system

Workers sorting the material said they were also dealing with “thousands” of dirty nappies discarded as recycling each day.

Contamination levels, reported as between 2% and 2.5% in July last year, were actually “about 12%”. This was high compared with other New Zealand centres. “It should be about 5% overall.”

### ODT Online Sat, 7 Jan 2012
DCC worker jabbed by dumped needle
By Chris Morris
A worker at Dunedin’s recycling plant is facing a nervous six-month wait for blood test results after being pricked by a discarded syringe. The incident happened as the woman worked at the Green Island recycling plant last week, sorting through items coming down a conveyor belt as part of the Dunedin City Council’s kerbside collection operation.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin’s tall historic places (ODT)

### ODT Online Sun, 8 Jan 2012
Magazine
Otago towers and spires series
By David Loughrey

“High above the passer-by, glass or wire netting-covered openings give a tantalising glimpse into the towers and spires of historic Dunedin. Overcoming vertigo, David Loughrey ventured where most do not get to go. Here, he explores the magic spaces inside the clock towers of the Dunedin Railway Station, Dunedin Town Hall, the University of Otago’s registry building, and the spire of Knox Church.”

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The illustrated series appeared in print and digital editions of the newspaper on 7 January. Follow the links for the stories, photographs and more building information.

Dunedin Railway Station
Graffiti tells the story
• Foundation stone laid 1904; building officially opened 1906 but not completed until 1907. Tower strengthened in 1965, again in 1969, and major refurbishment in 1995.

Dunedin Town Hall, Municipal Chambers
Death-defying feat up clock tower
• Building opened for business on 25 May 1880. Clock: made by Gillett and Bland Steam Clock Company of Croyden, London. Pendulum released: Midday, December 2 1880.

University of Otago Registry Building, or Clocktower Building
Ignominious entrance to tower
• Building completed: 1879. Tower was “blind” until 1930s, when university council member and local politician Thomas Sidey paid for clock to be installed.

Knox Church
Knee-knocking climb of Knox
• Construction: 1876. Spire height: 50m; bell weighs about 350kg.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Rebuilding Dunedin (no typo intended)

Lee Vandervis asks whether Christchurch should actually be rebuilt.

### ODT Online Fri, 6 Jan 2012
Opinion
Post-quakes rebuild should be in Dunedin
By Lee Vandervis
“When will it end?” contains the assumption that the earthquakes in Christchurch will end. We all hope the earthquakes have ended, of course, but recent geotechnical and historical evidence suggests otherwise. Earthquakes in other urban areas around the world have usually been one-off disasters. Christchurch is an unusually ongoing seismic disaster that has had unprecedented psychological effects on people living there. The seismicity map shows continuous events for more than a year, from Darfield through Christchurch to Lyttelton.

Dunedin sensitivity about being predatory on Christchurch seems to me like an excuse to sit on our hands and do nothing. Predation is the basis of business competition and is necessary for vitality in business and for viability in world markets. If we can do it better here than in Christchurch we should, and government – local and national – should be right behind us.

Read more

• Lee Vandervis is a Dunedin city councillor.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

No kidding! It’s not all concrete tilt-slab in the global world, wake up Brownlee…

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 11:53 04/01/2012
Buildings to ‘sit lightly’ under rebuild proposal
An area of central Christchurch is pushing to open up opportunities for the building of lightweight structures, as a less expensive and more “sensible” way to rebuild parts of the quake-ravaged city. Peterborough Village, a residential and commercial community inside the Christchurch central business district, is organising an international workshop to look into the issue in mid-February. Spokesperson Di Lucas said there were concerns the cost of stronger and deeper foundations required under post-quake bylaws could be unaffordable for some. She understood there were options for lightweight, cheaper but robust structures to sit lightly on the soft land as alternatives to the standard heavy structures being proposed on deep vertical piles.

Village chairperson Mark McEntyre said a public presentation was proposed following the workshop to demonstrate desired options. A summary of the workshop would also be published at peterboroughvillage.org.nz

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Art in public places #Dunedin

### ODT Online Tue, 3 Jan 2012
Rethinking DCC role in public art
OPINION The Otago Sculpture Trust suggests it might be time for the Dunedin City Council to take a step back from such direct involvement in sculpture in public places. In light of the controversy, particularly over the past two years, regarding installation of sited public art works in Dunedin, we, the Otago Sculpture Trust, feel it is our role as an independent body of professionals to add our voice to the debate, in the hope of creating better understanding around issues of public art here. […] Anomalies between the original and current Dunedin City Council art in public places policies have perhaps accounted for the deterioration in community liaison.
Read more

• The Otago Sculpture Trust was established in 2002 by a group of practising sculptors with a general aim of doing what [it] can to foster and develop sculptural practice across Otago and beyond. The trust seeks to promote public sculpture in its many forms, including accessing resources and influencing public art policies as a lobby group.

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Related Posts:
23.10.11 Dunedin: “It’s All Right Here”
28.9.11 Russell Garbutt met with Cr Bill Acklin
21.9.11 Can it be true? Nahhh
16.4.11 Dunedin conniptions over RWC 2011, yawn [see Comments]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: Haka Peepshow (aka ‘Black Penis’) by Rachael Rakena, Octagon