SUBMISSIONS
“Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said this was the best opportunity for the council to judge how the community felt on matters.” (ODT)
The DRAFT Annual Plan process is not the best chance to judge the city council – that would take sittings at the High Court.
STADIUM
“Staff are also expected to report next week that they have found another $1 million savings or income, to keep the rates rise at 3% despite expecting Forsyth Barr Stadium to be about $1 million under budget again, also for the third consecutive year. That would bring the total [ratepayers’ contribution] to the venue’s cost annually to more than $10 million.” (ODT)
Everyone knows the cost to ratepayers for the stadium’s capital funding and operationals is +$20 MILLION per year.
—
### ODT Online Wed, 7 May 2014
Council ready to hear funding submissions
By Debbie Porteous
It will be up to the council to juggle tight budgets and the various pleas for extra spending as it begins hearing this morning from some of the 1119 submitters with views on the council’s 2014-15 draft annual plan, which sets out council spending for the coming financial year. It continues a disciplinary stance on new or additional funding, the council having already trimmed more than $3 million from its own budgets as part of its third consecutive year of pushing to cut costs, and keeps the forecast rates increase to 3%.
Read more
—
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
What if? Dunedin... 
Concerned citizens judge the council on a daily basis.
—
Related Posts and Comments:
6.5.14 Roading network screwed by council staff
2.5.14 DCC $tar-ship enterprise
30.4.14 Octagon mud
28.4.14 DCC loses City Property manager in restructuring
24.4.14 DCC promotes Riccarton Rd as sole heavy traffic bypass
22.4.14 DCC: Back in empire building mode (ZERO HARM staff positions)
21.4.14 Dunedin economic development strategy — low flying Year 1
11.4.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 Submissions due by 15 April
10.4.14 Stadium: Edgar’s $1m donation (private sector fundraising)
3.4.14 DVML: Lost in transaction (flatscreen TVs)
22.3.14 DVML, ‘Money for jam…..fig jam’
12.3.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust: Financial statements for the year ended 30.6.13
8.3.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust subject to LGOIMA
5.3.14 Stadium: Fairfax business editor pokes DCC’s Fubar
4.3.14 Bev Butler: Guy Hedderwick’s departure package (LGOIMA)
26.2.14 Stadium costs, read uncapped multimillion-dollar LOSSES
24.2.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust: ‘Facts about the new Stadium’ (31.5.08)
22.2.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust costs
14.2.14 DCC: Broadband AND bicycles #fraudband speed
12.2.14 DCC: Growth v development contributions
11.2.14 Stadium: ‘Business case for DVML temporary seating purchase’
5.2.14 Mosgiel pool sluts get their tops off for ex ORFU guy
4.2.14 DCC: Mosgiel Pool, closed-door parallels with stadium project (private profiteering)
2.2.14 Stadium: ODT editorial (1.2.14) —Garbutt debunks myths
1.2.14 Stadium: ODT editorial (1.2.14) —“Palpable claptrap” says Oaten
25.1.14 Stadium: Some helped it along, or themselves!
24.1.14 Stadium: It came to pass . . . [stadium review]
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15
14.1.14 DCC: Hospital area parking changes #cyclelanes
24.12.13 Daaave’s $47 million Christmas present to Jinty. We’re paying.
4.12.13 Dunedin cycleways: Calvin Oaten greeted by DCC silence
30.11.13 DVML in disarray
26.11.13 Russell Garbutt: DCC, stadium failings
17.11.13 Dunedin cycleways: Calvin Oaten’s alternative route
14.11.13 Cycle lane explosions and puncture kits (SPOKES grenades launch)
8.11.13 Dunedin Separated Cycle Lane Proposal
5.11.13 DCC, NZTA: Cycle lanes controversy
19.10.13 Cycle lobby games and media tilts
18.7.13 Dear DCC: Dunedin’s [choke] $47M cycle network
8.7.13 Bloody $tupid cycleways and Cull’s electioneering . . .
28.3.13 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2013/14: Portobello Harington Point Road Improvements Project
26.2.13 DCC binge spending alert: Proposed South Dunedin cycle network
We are concerned but does the DCC listen?
raymac97, have hope! we’re processing towards the ‘having to listen’… what is published here is merely a glimpse of the background work by learned and industrious people.
OMG. DAP story on Ch39 tonight about (see John Brimble’s submission on behalf of Sport Otago) DCC not factoring in the benefits of “Sport Tourism” within its economic development strategy.
HeeHaw. DCC builds a multimillion-dollar roofed stadium/albatross and the steakmunchers forget to at least pretend Sport Tourism has a future benefit to the city district.
SO FUNNY. SO TRAGIC.
LEAD THAT HORSE OUT TO PASTURE ONE LAST TIME.
—
### dunedintv.co.nz May 7, 2014 – 6:32pm
First day of annual plan hearings
The Dunedin City Council rolled up its collective sleeves and got down to business for the first day of annual plan hearings. The three days of hearings gives the public a chance to tell councillors about everything from sport to Dunedin’s economy. And one of many submissions heard combined the two.
Video
Don’t forget the $850,000 pa council gave the Academy of Sport to contra the $10 million debt servicing of that outfit’s fancy gymnasium next to the Stadium. How much would satisfy Mr Brimble, buckets of blood?
For those who don’t know, John Brimble is ex DCC. Knows how to work the system ie.
Something wicked this way comes…
The old suspense trick before sleep…
Can DCC actually afford to run its Annual Plan through if there’s a large settlement due.
Took the question mark off that. My crystal ball is foggy from April.
WARNING – SUBSTANTIAL Hidden Costs
► See Logan Park location plan/graphic at ODT page
► More comments at Significant Trees
### ODT Online Thu, 8 May 2014
More internationals if University Oval altered
By Vaughan Elder
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes outlined a plan at yesterday’s Dunedin City Council annual plan hearings to install lighting, costing about $2 million, and increase the ground’s capacity by 2000. The plan, supported by New Zealand Cricket, would give the ground a normal capacity of 5500, which could be lifted to about 8000 with the addition of temporary seating, Mr Dykes said.
Read more
8.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Art body suggested
At odds over cycleway timing
Sports bodies seek assistance from council [Football South, Sport Otago, Basketball Otago and Otago Cricket; Football South seeks $1.5M for “home of football”/floodlit artificial turf at Logan Park]
Call for end to quarrying [community board submissions, including Mosgiel-Taieri on new Mosgiel Pool and widening Riccarton Rd]
More internationals if University Oval altered
—
* The former redevelopment plan for Logan Park (supposedly ‘on hold’) is being re-mastered through submissions from professional sports bodies.
* Basketball Otago has same entitlement issues as ORFU, having received major funding from DCC previously to ‘stay alive’ – its hands are still out.
* Otago Sculpture Trust wants new entity to replicate the work of the (on hold) Art in Public Places Committee.
“More internationals if University Oval altered”
Remember, Rolling Stones and untold other mega-star events, and hordes of people regularly pushing Dunedin’s accommodation to breaking point when Fubar Stadium was built? Remember the flow-on effect that would make all of us richer, remember all the jobs that would be created?
Remember seeing all these “Visions” come true?
[rolling out their long term plans] Same argument used to justify demolishing gallery space off the old Art Gallery at the ‘cricket end’… they also needed the ‘building’s redevelopment’ for media contingent attending ‘internationals’, they said.
Good idea by Harry Love in today’s ODT to charge a $2 DCC levy on all ticket events sold. He reckons this would raise $500k pa. This could be ploughed back into reducing stadium debt….not for operational costs, thank you. The beauty of this is that it could be incrementally raised.
—
ODT 8.5.14 In Brief (DCC DAP), page 13 [scanned and loaded by whatifdunedin]
Submissions on the Draft Annual Plan show up all the people disassociated from the reality of the DCC’s consolidated debt position. Typically frightening. A communal bludger attitude prevails. Doesn’t anyone here live in the free market?
—
### dunedintv.co.nz May 8, 2014 – 5:57pm
Annual Plan submission labels DCC a bad landord
The Dunedin City Council annual plan hearing this morning heard of some severe shortcomings it has as a landlord. A building it rents leaks like a sieve, its back yard is waterlogged and its toilets unusable. The tenant is the Mornington Football Club – and it wants action.
Video
****
### dunedintv.co.nz May 8, 2014 – 5:53pm
Dunedin’s Public Libraries Association calling for a multi-million dollar refurbishment
Dunedin’s Public Libraries Association has called on the DCC to think of its major literary institution, as it vies for the title of UNESCO City of Literature. The association’s president appeared before the city’s annual plan hearings this morning. And she told the council it needs to bring forward a multi-million dollar refurbishment if it wins the City of Literature title.
Video
9.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Library advocate speaks
Safe route for kids ‘matter of life and death’ [Portobello-Harington Point Rds]
Staff ordered to attend to clubrooms [Mornington Football Club]
Couple seek cat controls
Mosgiel pool trust seeks additional $20,000 for project
Equal funding bid [Otago Museum]
Dunedin gangs keen for work after burying hatchet [joint submission by Notorious Mongrel Mob and Black Power]
Prison conservation plan shown to trust today [Trust chairman Stewart Harvey updated councillors on project; prison should top list of iconic buildings if council establishes an iconic building project fund (LTCCP)]
Dunedin City Council media releases (9.5.14):
Travel survey vital for future planning – http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/latest-news/may-2014/travel-survey-vital-for-future-planning
DCC to discuss public transport issues – http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/latest-news/may-2014/dcc-to-discuss-public-transport-issues
Extra funds proposed for stadium debt repayment – http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/latest-news/may-2014/extra-funds-proposed-for-stadium-debt-repayment
### dunedintv.co.nz May 9, 2014 – 7:35pm
Annual Plan meetings saw diverse range of submitters
Core local government issues came to the fore over the last three days of the Dunedin City Council’s annual plan submissions. But the hearings to get the public’s input on the direction of the city in the next financial year saw a diverse range of community groups show up. That included some old rivals with a common cause, and a resident with some interesting views on the city.
Video
10.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Stadium payment may rise
Question of ethics [Waipori Fund]
Digital Office seeks $300,000 over three years
Restoration support vital: developer [Lawrie Forbes]
‘The council feeds the ego of these simpletons’ [Maurice Prendergast, new Mosgiel pool]
Peninsula shared path debate continues
Chance to develop shared facilities [LPHS sports hub]
ODT 10.5.14 In Brief (DCC Annual Plan) – page 28
11.5.14 Draft Annual Plan story at ODT Online (via The Star) – Call to improve dog park
Worth reading! Good call by the dog park users. Oi DCC, health and safety issues ~!!!
### ODT Online Wed, 21 May 2014
DCC considers dog park issues
By Debbie Porteous
Dunedin City Council staff have been investigating issues at the East Taieri dog park to see what can be done after users asked the council to tackle weed, drainage and lighting issues there. The Friends of East Taieri Dog Park group made the request to the council in a submission on its draft annual plan for 2014-15.
Read more
Just found an old ODT lying about in the shed, and it makes interesting reading.
ODT 29 Oct 2012
Front page headline – “Council debt to peak at $600m”
“The DCC and its companies are about to reach the TOP of a $600m debt mountain and start down the other side.”
We are now in May 2014 and the debt mountain hasn’t started going down yet. Maybe the ODT could tell us what went wrong?
—
{Link http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/232341/council-debt-peak-600m -Eds}
### dunedintv.co.nz May 12, 2014 – 6:56pm
Public transport system up for debate during annual plan deliberations
The Dunedin City Council will discuss taking over local public transport at its annual plan deliberations this week.
Video
### ODT Online Tue, 13 May 2014
Council battles to limit rates rise
By Chris Morris
The heat is on the Dunedin City Council’s targeted 3% rates rise as councillors prepare to debate unexpected demands for extra funding, Mayor Dave Cull says. Mr Cull told the Otago Daily Times yesterday he still hoped the council’s stated aim – of limiting any rates rise for 2014-15 to no more than 3% – could be achieved.
Read more
—
Comment at ODT Online:
Mayor’s quote
Submitted by russandbev on Tue, 13/05/2014 – 12:46pm.
I too wondered at this quote, but it seems that Mayor Cull was being directly quoted when the ODT prints (in quotation marks) the following: ”Regardless of how you feel about the stadium and how it’s operating, the fact is they can’t run at a loss. It has to be found somewhere.”
Read the full comment here.
****
Among the submitter asks on DCC there were highly reasonable and urgent core business ones – then there were the rest. Anyone showing from ‘baroque music’ seeking +$100K in council funding, or indeed a smaller contribution, needs to have their head read, but reading the DCC reports and daily ODT news section as to the health of DCC finances is a far better idea.
So we see from council financial planner Carolyn Howard that the St Clair sea wall is not funded, nor the proposed switch to DCC management of the bus system. Is the SH88 realignment mess funded for settlement of affected parties and all legal costs? Surely, the list of unmet (core) items is “growing” at pace – so leaks to date from DCC saying the council finances are in a dire state continue as the internal money shuffles proceed to doom.
—
[broke council]
### ODT Online Tue, 13 May 2014
$95,000 plan to keep watch on St Clair sea wall
By Chris Morris
A closer watch needs to be kept on the St Clair sea wall until Dunedin city councillors decide what long-term fix – if any – is needed, a report suggests. The report, by council maintenance engineer Peter Standring, will be considered by councillors, who are set to begin deliberating on the draft budget for 2014-15 from today.
Read more
—
[rip-off staff]
### ODT Online Tue, 13 May 2014
Landfill charges to rise – report
By Chris Morris
Landfill charges will have to rise, but most people will still be better off, if a second weighbridge is installed at Dunedin’s Green Island landfill, a report says. The findings were in a report by council solid waste manager Ian Featherston, to be considered by councillors during this week’s draft 2014-15 annual plan deliberations.
Read more
—
{naive students]
### ODT Online Tue, 13 May 2014
Positive response to pedestrian precinct
By Vaughan Elder
Two University of Otago students are rapt with the council’s response to their idea to block off traffic to part of Dunedin’s CBD. Alexis Belton and Georgina Hampton (both 25) are calling for the lower half of the Octagon and lower Stuart St, to the Moray Pl intersection, to become a pedestrian zone.
Read more
Further to the staff report to the Council’s draft annual plan on the St Clair sea wall.
Low sand levels prompt beach work – http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/304272/low-sand-levels-prompt-beach-work
DCC media releases:
30.5.14 http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/latest-news/may-2014/low-sand-levels-prompt-action
4.6.14 http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/latest-news/june-2014/seawall-toe-protection-work-underway
### dunedintv.co.nz June 5, 2014 – 7:11pm
St Clair sea wall work under way
About 300 tonnes of rock is being deposited at the St Clair sea wall to protect it. And Dunedin City Council staff say the public should expect it to continue through the foreseeable future.
Video
REPORTS for DCC Annual Plan 2014/15 deliberations today (13 May)
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 616.0 KB)
Draft Annual Plan Deliberations and Consultation Results
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 270.8 KB)
Budget Changes
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 428.0 KB)
Annual Plan Submissions – Portobello Road and Harington Point Road Improvements Forward Programme Options
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 164.6 KB)
Socially Responsible Investment – Waipori Fund
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 273.6 KB)
Socially Responsible Investment – Waipori Fund – Attachment 2
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 199.2 KB)
Forsyth Barr Stadium 2014/15 Budget
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 1.4 MB)
Community Access Under the Dunedin Venues Management Ltd Service Level Agreement
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 113.2 KB)
Economic Development Unit’s 2014/2015 Budget – Economic Development Strategy Projects’ Budget
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 67.6 KB)
Invest to Save Option: Civic Energy-Efficient Lighting Upgrade
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 85.9 KB)
Resourcing Council Energy-Efficiency Improvements and Energy Plan Implementation in 2014/15
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 74.8 KB)
Proposed Heating Conversion at Moana Pool: Update Report
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 125.4)
Summary of Submissions on the Revised Draft Development Contributions Policy
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 1.0 MB)
Review of Warm Dunedin Targeted Rates Trial
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 101.4 KB)
Smokefree Policy Implementation
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Environment Strategy Resourcing
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 473.0 KB)
Landfill Charges
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Public Transport Governance
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 183.6 KB)
St Clair Sea Wall Interim Risk Management Plan and Improvement Works Update
Report – Council – 13/05/20104 (PDF, 143.2 KB)
Supplementary Information Requested from the 2014/15 Annual Plan Hearings
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 223.1 KB)
South Dunedin Community Complex Shop Front Proposal
Report – Council – 13/05/2014 (PDF, 945.6 KB)
Portobello Road and Harington Point Road Improvements – Supplementary Information
█ DCC webpage for all reports.
█ Meeting videos
Recordings of Dunedin City Council meetings are on our YouTube channel.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 13, 2014 – 7:14pm
First day of annual plan deliberations
The Dunedin City Council has just finished its first day of annual plan deliberations, to set its budget for the next financial year. And by the end of this week Dunedin ratepayers will know whether the council has managed to keep its rates increase at 3%. But with limited funds at its disposal, the council may have to deliver some bad news to those seeking grants.
Video
During council’s ethical investment debate, Cr Staynes pointed out alcohol was used in many ways, including medicine.
Oh where have you been all these years Cr Staynes. The University students discovered its medical values years ago. Just go around the student areas on a Saturday night, and see how they medicate themselves after a week’s hard study.
Cr MacTavish’s ethical investment policy adopted by council, not to support fossil fuel extraction, gives a clear message to the oil and gas exploration industry, that the Dunedin City Council now considers them as unethical. This is a clear message to the oil and gas exploration industry from Dunedin at a time when a base for this industry could be needed in the future. Cr MacTavish now needs to get off her high horse and go explain to those that cannot find work. What does she have in mind for work for these people. She had better be quick. Our young ones are leaving this city because of the negative attitude to future employment opportunities from people such as Cr MacTavish, and the Dunedin City Council.
It’s going to be difficult for the DCC to avoid hypocritically supporting the oil and gas industry by using its products. I look forward to seeing their contractors complying with the condition of contract and using non-fossil fueled vehicles and machinery. Will the DCC be able to ethically dispose of its fleet of vehicles by selling them to other people, or is this like ethically destroying one’s stash of psychoactive substances by selling them to a gaggle of schoolkids?
THE Dunedin City Council NATIONAL LAUGHING STOCK
(see ‘ethical investment’ c/- Cr Minty Green)
—
Link supplied.
4:30pm today, Whaleoil (Cameron Slater) beams in on DCC fecking lunacy:
Will they sell their car fleet also?
“The fruitloops at the Dunedin City Council have decided to go all Green taliban…”
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/05/will-sell-car-fleet-also/
I notice that no councillor pointed out that they have a conflict of interest with investments in the pornography industry…
That’s an interesting point Anonymous. Wonder if the old Carisbrook Hotel committee instructed any of its members to remain silent.
That’s at least two names, a balance of the genders. One direct, one indirect, as past newspaper reports record.
Regulatory and planning difficulties compound.
The eyes have it.
14.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Tough budget decisions: mayor
Agreement on ethical investment
Staff study possible solution to cycleway debate
Claim one-way move affecting hundreds [South Dunedin cycleways]
Energy decision reserved [Civic Centre lighting upgrade]
War of words over pool [Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board v Maurice Prendergast]
Petition to fix pooch park [Mosgiel]
“Existing budgets”, the new last resort for funding the new model of Trusts.
15.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Millions more for stadium [includes day summary]
Support seen as best option [DVML, stadium]
Community access grant finds favour [DVML, stadium]
Opponents query cost of ‘visionary’ decision [ethical investment]
Council dismisses groyne talk [St Clair]
Insulation scheme to continue
South Dunedin temporary library plan axed
No smoking in DCC flats
Asides:
Hearing on SH88 issue deferred [what is the final cost to DCC?]
Out with the old, in with the new [budgeted pipe renewal, Queens Gardens]
Wow.
█ A second chance for DCC to lose money running public buses.
—
### dunedintv.co.nz May 15, 2014 – 7:31pm
DCC votes to take over public transport system
A lengthy debate has ended with the Dunedin City Council voting to spend $300,000 on a plan to take over the city’s public transport. Councillors discussed the proposal for three hours this morning as part of the annual plan deliberations. And while each councillor was able to voice their opinion, not all were happy with the outcome.
Video
Council to evaluate taking over buses – http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/302475/council-evaluate-taking-over-buses
I don’t think people really care who runs the bus system as long as it runs well. I am not sure how the DCC can do a better job than the ORC.(Has this ever been explained by anyone?) After all, the DCC, through DVML, has made a hash of getting the stadium ‘to work’.
The ORC are probably relieved to be rid of running the buses. No obvious reluctance here to lose some of their ’empire’.
Some of the thinking is that because DCC is responsible for location of bus stops, and the bus shelters (resource consents), it helps to also have DCC coordinate the ‘system’. As far as I can see, taking on management of the bus system will be a dreadful drain on ratepayer funds. Now is not the time. Leave it in ORC hands and have the two councils work more closely together through the working party.
Personally, I can’t understand why the DCC would want to take over the bus system. It is broke, with nowhere to go but the citizens’ pockets for more money to run an infamously impossible service as profitable. The ORC has the cash cow of Port Otago to underwrite its ‘dead dogs’, Central Government subsidises the buses but there is no guarantee it will continue to do so, or at a level required. Cull, Staynes and Co have had a real brain fade here. They at least should consult the wisdom of the ‘dead’. Start with the late Jean McLean, who put her heart and soul into trying to make a go of it when the city last ran the buses.
ORC has rebuffed DCC’s intended $300k cash grab. Good thing. Bidrose tried and failed. ORC properly stuck to the legal purpose of the Transport Reserve Fund. DCC comes off just looking stupid and avoracious, which holds true across a host of its own activities. Bodeker says the fund is “collected from rates for providing bus services and capital improvements, not doing an evaluation”.
Transport reserve fund ‘can’t be used’ – http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/302657/transport-reserve-fund-cant-be-used
17.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Transport reserve fund ‘can’t be used’ [buses]
No support for Calvert over investments [Waipori Fund]
Higher developers’ charges endorsed
Trial of process for public art rejected [Otago Sculpture Trust]
Weighbridge deferred; no fees change [Green Island landfill]
Reallocation could enable funding for digital office
Councillors revive fluoridation issue
Council pushes ahead with pedestrian-only city centre zone plan
Two road sections could be widened [Broad Bay – Portobello and Vauxhall – Glenfalloch might be built at same time]
Stuart Street
I now suspect the council’s urban design team (joke) originated and fostered the looney tunes student investigation, which has led to Bendin’ Grope, Hawkins & Co supporting the idea of closing a section of lower Stuart St for the out-dated notion of pedestrianisation.
I have no time for any councillor that supports a trial or permanent road closure.
Others may think this ad hoc “idea” is a welcome greenie-hippy thing to foist on city businesses. However, it has nothing to do with good economics and business growth for Dunedin City, despite the claims. It is entirely a foist.
Another interference in the historic and distinctive Kettle plan for Dunedin and its main axial routes.
Contained in the article about the potential Emerson’s Brewery expansion on properties currently owned by DCC and Doug Hall is the following DAP item:
█ “The council had set aside a further $550,000 in its draft 2014-15 budget for a new road access into Mr Hall’s property.”
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/302508/brewery-deal-may-settle-dispute
Financial consequences of DAP decision to forge ethical investment policy:
Two years to sell DCC investments
Going ethical means the Dunedin City Council will have to cull up to $2.668 million of investments, but saying no to pornography will require no change.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/302496/two-years-sell-dcc-investments
What about industries that use dirt-cheap exploited labour to produce their goods including any components of their goods or the tools and materials used to produce their goods? That’s unethical too.
Uh-oh. Can’t upset China, Jinty says.
In which the lightweight, financially inexperienced but wider-agendaed callow youth J MacT, DC’s girlfriend, is reported as saying FA.
—
### ODT Online Wed, 25 Feb 2015
DCC sells gambling, oil shares
By Vaughan Elder
The Dunedin City Council has sold almost a million dollars of oil and gambling shares before a final decision on its ethical investment policy next month. Council group chief financial officer Grant McKenzie said $558,225 worth of shares in petroleum companies as well as $412,995 in SkyCity shares had been sold from the Waipori Fund’s portfolio of investments during the final quarter of last year.
Read more
### dunedintv.co.nz March 16, 2015 – 5:47pm
DCC investment fund doing well
The Dunedin City Council’s investment fund is doing particularly well, thanks to favourable exchange rates and returns on equity. The Waipori Fund’s net operating result was just over $4.5m for the first six months of the financial year. That’s about $3m more than budgeted. A large chunk has come from exchange rate gains, through investments held in foreign currency. And more than $2m has been gained through equities. The council also had a relatively large operating surplus in the last half of 2014.
Ch39 Link
Food companies that use eggs from battery cages should be nixed too.
I’m still wondering what the enlightened DCC sees wrong with the mainstream pornography industry – is the council straight-laced and virginal. The councillor for planning and regulatory might speak to local and global trends on investment and media sourcing.
There would have been at least one dissenter to the removing of pornography industry from Waipori’s portfolio. Nudge nudge, wink wink!
That’s enough nudging and winking Calvin. Any more and your winkle might be exposed.
16.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Some operators abusing payment system [Green Island landfill]
Decision on landfill charges deferred [Green Island landfill]
Pool project funds for scoping only [new Mosgiel pool]
Review of lane-charging [Moana Pool]
Brewery deal may settle dispute [new access to Hall Bros. yard]
There was a movie called the Great Escape, I notice that a lot of DCC employees seem to have seen the movie, the latest Brewery deal may settle dispute! Of course it also may not. Other great escapes include the DCC bailing out their subsidiary DVML. But wait we fund both of those, don’t we?
### dunedintv.co.nz May 16, 2014 – 6:06pm
Green Island landfill to charge higher fees
Dunedin residents will soon pay more for dumping their waste at the Green Island landfill. The Dunedin City Council has voted to adopt higher landfill fees, that were included within its draft annual plan. But councillors have done away with a second suggestion, also aimed at levelling the waste issue.
Video
****
### ODT Fri, 16 May 2014 (page 14)
To the point
It is of serious concern when the Dunedin City Council charges user-pay rates for the core function of its landfill. That is a benefit to every man, woman and child in the Dunedin area. To find the subsidies given to the stadium, including a 90% rates relief, which fails to operate a user-pays system, and does not have the support of every man, woman and child in our community, makes me think the council has got it the wrong way round.
Brian Miller, Mosgiel
DCC raising tip charges to what they are now was never a good idea. Public submissions concerning raised charges (and the second weighbridge at Green Island landfill) in the Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 were ignored.
—
### ODT Online Mon, 4 Aug 2014
Illegal dumpers ‘slack and lazy’
By Chris Morris
Whoever is dumping whiteware, animal carcasses and other rubbish in Dunedin’s quiet corners needs to take “a bit of a look at themselves”, a Dunedin community board chairman says. Scott Weatherall, chairman of the Saddle Hill Community Board, made the comment following the dumping of more rubbish around the city in recent weeks.
Read more
Yeah, nobody could have predicted this – right?
When people have already loaded their crap into car or trailer it’s no extra effort, and a decent $$ saving, to go dump the stuff somewhere they shouldn’t.
The sums they did to work out the “cost” of running the tip should include the cost of cleaning up feral trash, i.e. rubbish that isn’t put in the tip. It’s not worth collecting a “fair price” from the people taking their rubbish to the correct place, only to have to spend more to clean up after people who don’t,.
This year’s budget will go down as the “budget of the Klingons”. It starts with a rate increase of 3% and looks like it will finish at that. Meantime in the last week we have seen an indiscriminate series of additions which can only be financed by additional debt if they are to be true to their avowal of a rates increase pegged at 3% increase. Do these ‘muppets’ really know what they are doing. “Let’s toss in another $2.21m into DVML to repay some of its debt.” And while we are at it add another $715,000 in the ratepayer annual contribution to the stadium company. Oh, and let’s make the existing $750,000 payment a permanent item. Gee, that comes to over $3.6m.” Never mind, it will come from council savings.
What savings? How the hell can you have savings when you are $623m in debt?
Oh well, not to worry, DVML chief executive Terry Davies says the stadium events had contributed $45m in economic benefits to the city and region. Plucked straight out of Malcolm Farry’s song book. It’s nothing but a great ‘bamboozle’, but our muppets will grasp at any straw for the ‘great white elephant.’
Meanwhile we better get on and spend another $95,000 on a new interim risk management plan to hold back the coastal erosion at St Clair. What plan? Something some consultant might dream up? Sheesh!
Oh, why don’t we take a serious look at taking over the buses from the ORC? now there’s a sensible exercise we can enter into. Deputy mayor Chris Staynes says “there will need to be an increase in rates, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. You don’t get better for nothing.” You’re dead right there ‘Bozo’. Cr Hawkins said an effective and affordable bus service “shouldn’t be considered a luxury item in a 21st century city”. You’re onto to it there ‘Gonzo’. The golden boy Dave Cull says “the council should take responsibility for guiding the city through issues of energy depletion, rising prices and other challenges.” Way to go Doc! Never mind energy depletion, what about capital depletion? Especially the citizens’. Anyway, what have the buses to do with energy depletion? Can’t think of anything myself.
What is the bus system? Anybody thought? It is a service which is run by vehicles that are ‘too big’, too infrequent’, too route bound.’ It is an essential service for the minorities. It cannot, and will not ever supplant the private motor car, and that is a fact. So it can never be profitable, not even a break even position. So when around 1989 government decided to charge regional councils with the job of running the systems with government subsidies, that was the best thing that happened for the DCC. The DCC is broke, with no revenue producing mechanisms that aren’t already taxed to the limit. It runs on debt and what it can extract from its ratepayers directly and indirectly by all manner of extraneous charges. It even uses its CCO Aurora Energy to extract an exorbitant $7.292m per annum via its customers’ electricity accounts to prop up the stadium.
The Otago Regional Council on the other hand, has a cash cow in the form of Port Otago, which enables it to fly freely and be indiscriminate with it funds. Just look at how it departed flagrantly from its brief and squandered $37.5m in the Stadium, without so much as a hiccup. No, any serious move on DCC’s part to take over the buses can only end in tears. But hey! when has that thought ever stopped our intrepid ‘do gooders’, ‘improvers’ and ‘bamboozlers’ as they orchestrate the future (such as it is) of Dunedin.
@Calvin Oaten
May 17, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Calvin says “No, any serious move on DCC’s part to take over the buses can only end in tears”. And…
“The golden boy Dave Cull says “the council should take responsibility for guiding the city through issues of energy depletion, rising prices and other challenges.”
Calvin you are far too despondent. I say never fear Calvin. Can’t you see from Dave’s own words that he has a cunning plan? I suspect that Dave and Jinty will seize the opportunity of taking over the buses to convert them to electric powered trolley buses thus solving the ‘energy depletion’ challenge and rising prices in one fell swoop – a rare stoke of genius if I might venture to suggest.
We shall thereby lead New Zealand – once again. And incidentally save the planet at the same time. What is there not to like?
The thing we value the most, the city council’s commitment to providing maintenance and upgrade of local infrastructure, has been in question from the time the council contracted out services. People that use or monitor the infrastructure, whether formally or informally, are telling the council that service delivery by contractors is substandard. Why are we not surprised. We can be surprised that the council chief executive and staff seem to be unaware. Another round of annual plan submissions highlights the issue.
### ODT Online Mon, 19 May 2014
Councillor urges better standard of work
By Debbie Porteous
Parts of Dunedin are lacking basic maintenance and city council staff need to put pressure on contractors to improve their performance, a Dunedin city councillor says. Cr Andrew Noone, from the Waikouaiti-Chalmers ward, said the untidy state of roadside berms, gutters, ditches and creeks and an apparent slip in service levels were the main issues he heard about from constituents.
Read more
At another thread Mike conflates the issue of contract monitor and audit with the stadium debt. However the council’s Infrastructure Services budget is substantial – I can’t quite see the stadium drain as being a pressure on technical and legal compliance and quality assurance matters at this time. Though maybe my head is buried in a ditch somewhere. The newspaper item is about maintenance and upgrade work that is actually contracted.
I think I’m more trying to make the point that if you spend all this money on a stadium then either you have to reduce council spending or increase rates – we’ve seen 3-4 years now of the DCC trying to cut back on spending and them being quite proud of the savings they’ve attained.
I see this as the chickens coming home to roost – Noone won’t be able to spend more in this area without raising rates.
If the issue is simply that the contractors are skimping and not that the value of the contracts are not going up fast enough to cover real-world inflationary costs (plus actual growth) then I’d guess I’d agree with you.
Oh dear. Now this! A sad decline in fortunes on top of Jinty’s ethical investment tinkering. Excuse me for laughing.
—
### dunedintv.co.nz May 19, 2014 – 6:52pm
Waipori Fund income reduced by almost a million dollars
Some Dunedin City Councillors were left fuming at a meeting held today. The Waipori Fund income was reduced by close to a million dollars because of a volatile exchange rate. As the council heard the disappointing results it was news those sat around the table did not want to hear.
Video
Another unmentionable cycleway has snuck into annual plan deliberations – this one takes out a few more car parks from Victoria Road as well as introducing a section of parallel parks to Bedford Street.
—
### dunedintv.co.nz May 19, 2014 – 6:55pm
Cycleway options move to Victoria Road
Residents and business owners along Victoria Road will have the option of a shared walking and cycle path from Queens Drive to the Esplanade soon.
Video
St Clair Esplanade is now a very busy area, 7 days a week, and parking is already in short supply. And in today’s ODT are plans for another two restaurants. Removing 29 parks is just crazy.
In any case, most of Victoria Road doesn’t need cycle lanes: wide street with little traffic and few parked cars. On my commute, I pass many school children cycling with no problems.
But when the opposite is the case: narrow roads, heavy traffic, and many parked cars, then cycle lanes are needed but it is hard to fit them in.
Alistair, I haven’t seen the drawings for Victoria Rd but I assumed this to be a shared pedestrian/cycle lane, mainly routed on the footpath. I dare say ODT will cover it tomorrow.
TYPICALLY FOR DCC, NO MENTION OF THE COST
—
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Shared Walkway/Cycleway Option for Victoria Road
This item was published on 19 May 2014
The option of providing a shared walking and cycle path from Queens Drive to the St Clair Esplanade is being discussed with residents and business owners along Victoria Road. Dunedin City Council Senior Transportation Planner Lisa Clifford says, “A shared path along Victoria Road would provide excellent access to a key destination and complete the South Dunedin Cycle Network.” The DCC is consulting with affected parties – those that live or operate a business along the proposed cycle route – and other key organisations, such as the Otago Regional Council, AA and cycle advocacy group Spokes.
The cycle route proposed is different from the original route planned for this part of the network. The intention had been to take the cycle route along the existing gravel footpath at the top of the sand dunes between St Clair and St Kilda beaches. This route is not viable, mainly because a cycleway would affect the structural integrity of the dunes and it would be difficult to keep the path clear of sand. Ms Clifford says there are two alternatives – provide a shared walkway/cycleway along Victoria Road to the Esplanade, or do nothing and end the cycle network at Kennedy Street.
Under the Victoria Road option, 38 parking spaces would be removed from the north side of Victoria Road as the road is not wide enough to have parking on both sides plus a shared path. Angle parking would be introduced in Bedford Street to provide nine extra car parks, reducing the overall loss of parking to 29 spaces. This option would also include speed platforms and road narrowing at various points to slow down traffic and make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists. If the cycle network ended at Kennedy Street, on-street parking would remain, but the key destination of the St Clair Esplanade would not be connected to the rest of the cycle network. It would also mean cyclists wanting to get to the Esplanade/St Clair area would either use the footpath illegally or continue to use the narrow carriageway, potentially creating a safety risk.
Affected parties have been invited to a drop-in session at the St Clair Scout Hall on Victoria Road, on Thursday, 22 May from 3pm to 6pm. People will be able to discuss the proposed design with DCC staff and the design consultant. Consultation closes on Friday, 30 May. Other members of the public can also have their say by this date by contacting the DCC on 477 4000 or emailing transportation @ dcc.govt.nz. Consultation results will be reported to the Council at its 23 June meeting, where the Council will make the final decision about this last part of the network.For more details on the South Dunedin Cycle Network visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/sdcyclenetwork
Contact DCC Senior Transportation Planner on 03 477 4000.
DCC Link
What I predict is this, a boost for big-box retaillers with big parking lots. Bunnings and Mitre 10 already have cafes, next thing hairdresser, kiddies’ clothing followed 6 months later by the men’s and women’s streetwear. Supermarkets with banks and opticians and real estate branches……….
Hype, think you’re right. If there’s no DCC love for convenience and structure to the CBD to bring people in during daylight hours on a regular basis…
Normally, in a city centre we’d be worrying about creative ways of bringing people to town after hours but the increasing abuse of alcohol and general disorder rules that well out of contention.
The CBD is increasingly irrelevant to working adults. There no daily necessities – fresh meat, fish, produce. Very few practical goods for household or for house’n’garden maintenance and improvement. Limited sewing and knitting necessities are still available (New World complex) but for fabrics by the metre for clothes and soft furnishings it’s a long walk to Spotlight… thank goodness they have a car park!
The CBD is about cafes, bars, take-aways, travel agents, banks, gifty nic-nacs and fashion fashion fashion – and $2-type shops. The lower Octagon is about bars and cafes. As a pedestrian area it kind-of lacks variety, though the advantages for safe drunken stumbling and lying puking in the gutters cannot be overestimated.
Tales of the CBD…
Fresh fish by Port Chalmers’ fishers, cnr St Andrew and Great King Streets. Has the knitting/wool shop in lower Stuart Street closed? Professional offices and community consulting rooms, franchise and designer clothing (men’s, women’s and children’s), Arthur Barnett gifts, clothing, accessories, furniture and furnishing – for those who are loyal ex-department store shoppers and hate Farmers’ sometimes quality, shoe stores (dress, casual and sport), sports stores, skate stores (less one), second-hand and opshop clothing, pet supplies, dentists/dental specialists, doctors, lawyers, accountants, stationery and office supplies, book stores, pharmacies, opticians, physiotherapists, hospital, podiatrists, osteopaths, backpackers, real estate, farm business services, beauticians, tourist shops, studios and galleries, appliance and electronic stores, post office, DCC/Civic Center/Customer Services/Archives, supermarkets, panel beaters, car trimmers, insurance agencies, financial services, sharebrokers, budgeting services, emergency services, social services, radio stations, IT specialists, churches, museums, civil and structural engineers, bottle stores, 24-hour dairy, jewellery stores and design studios, architects, architectural designers, draftspeople, web services, graphic designers, copy services, lithographers, public library, hairdressers, nail bars, florists, toy stores, security services, et al – my list can grow a lot bigger but I have recorded TV to watch ;) Literally hundreds of small businesses everywhere… Keep looking at why a CBD works. Ain’t over yet at DUD.
Correct, Elizabeth, there are the professionals, doctors, dentists, accountants, lawyers whose rooms are somewhere generally upstairs. Nobody goes to town to browse around the lawyer’s office or see the range of restorations the dentist has available this season. The other useful ones have their own carparks. New World and Countdown are marginally CBD, depending on how wide one defines its boundaries, particularly in the present context of restricting car use, how wide the pedestrian-only people envisage it in their dreams of a “better” city.
The Central Activity zone is the CBD in my book. (the book is the Dunedin City district plan)
See Asian and Indian supermarkets/food stores.
If you have a good relationship with your professional advisors in the central city you’ll be meeting them in their offices and at local cafes, and at venues hosting openings, exhibitions, special occasions, concerts etc. Life of the business/cultural village…street life. Never underestimate day-to-day Commerce in the buzz, traffic and swing of a large town centre – it’s not called a market place for nothing. We’re not all here to buy onions or a T-shirt.
Garrick Tremain – Cartoon 19.5.14
“The decision came after councillors were asked to choose between extra debt repayment or a lower-than-expected rates increase.”
Free bells for bikes, loss-making buses, and Cull insanely rabbiting “very proud”… like scenes from a child’s nightmare. A 3% rates rise with potential to blow out further. DCC is one sick rabid puppy.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/302870/rates-3-council-chooses-reduce-debt
Gut response? Sue the bastards.
Second response? Elephant in the room is the outcome of the stadium review, likely to be an ultra expensive smothering exercise of corrupt council proportion, siphening massive rates funds to hold up professional rugby, again. The temporary patch on DVML through the annual plan process fails to spell out that DVML staff are already working for ORFU and the Highlanders. Rates (public money) are covering Professional Rugby’s overheads at this time. Terry Davies and Doug Harvie may care to comment.
I think it makes sense to reduce debt before going for a very minimal rates reduction. Not much point about banging on about debt when an opportunity – no matter how small – presents itself to do so. Not that I’m confident that there will be no more unforseen spending before this time next year.
MikeStk puts it well at ODT Online – remove the subsidy to DVML and you’re close to no rates increase. Or a reduction, when all the DVML incidentals are calculated.
[$1 million spend = 1% rates increase]
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/302870/rates-3-council-chooses-reduce-debt#comment-57124
20.5.14 Draft Annual Plan stories at ODT Online:
Rates up 3% as council chooses to reduce debt
Cyclists may get free bells
$150k to plan for bus service
Final funding assistance for Basketball Otago [$15,000 to professional basketball] ???
—
Other grants (via ODT):
Southern Sinfonia [$15,000 on top of its 2013-14 budget of $80,000]
Methodist Mission [$15,000]
University of Otago’s Ignite Consulting [$10,000] ???
Dunedin Youth Orchestra [$10,000]
Brockville Community Support Trust [$10,000]
Mountain Biking Otago [$10,000]
Surf life-saving [$13,000]
Regent Theatre Trust [see new service level agreement with council]
Missing out (via ODT):
Olveston [sought $27,000 increase]
Blue Oyster Arts Trust [sought $1680 increase]
Many other grant applications failed.
I really like the idea of free bells for all cyclists. But why stop at cyclists? Why not free bells for all citizens? At least they could drown out the ‘exclamations of satisfaction’ emanating from Council over their splendid performance in holding the next year’s rate increase to 3% and at the same time reducing the “$623m consolidated debt by an extra $324,000”. That is worthy of all the cathedrals’ chimes as well.
Comment at ODT Online:
Annual letter
Submitted by nightimejohn on Tue, 20/05/2014 – 12:24pm.
Dear DCC
We are unable to find the money for this year’s rates bill, however, we are able to offer you 7 cents in the dollar as long as you […] stump up a few hundred thousand of your other, paying, ratepayers’ money to cover our running costs such as wages, hospitality and anything else we see fit to spend it on.
Yours
DVML
He got two free bells, but he didn’t mention about the free water supply that he sucked on for years, while other ratepayers had to pay for it.
Free bells? This has got to be a joke. Are council critics being tested, somehow, to see if they have a sense of humour? I’m laughing.
Elizabeth, I would point out that Basketball Otago isn’t just the Nuggets. It runs all the primary and intermediate miniball, high school, club and age group representative basketball in Dunedin. It is a huge undertaking and the most popular participant sport in schools with girls and boys playing. And 15k is absolutely nothing compared with what other sports get. There needs to be some support for community health and fitness.
The councillors’ response delivers a clear message that this is transitional funding only and the organisation will need to stand on its own feet. If Basketball Otago is not financially viable then ratepayers should not be expected to fund the organisation’s shortcomings. Councillors very definitely have been down this road with Professional Rugby claiming it is supporting Amateur Rugby only to find money and services via the ratepayers (not always declared by the council) have not streamed down to amateur clubs. Funny that. Time to end the gravy train of council subsidy to Basketball Otago. And to ORFU and Highlanders (mayor and councillors haven’t quite learnt the lesson…).
You say: “And 15k is absolutely nothing compared with what other sports get.”
Please elaborate on any sums received by other independent sports organisations from the city council through annual plan or other means.
Over sixty years ago I was involved in the sport of rowing. With the facilities required and the cost of boats, oars/sculls etc it was probably one of the more expensive sports to float (pun not intended). All members and supporters constantly worked and scrapped to raise funding. We sold rugby pick tickets throughout the winter, we ran ‘housie’ evenings weekly, we sold raffle tickets and relied on one or two relatively wealthy supporters. Never once did it occur to anyone to approach the Council for assistance. Nor would it have been forthcoming in those days. The club survived, and I believe was the stronger for it.
Yes I wish the DCC would fund my hobbies too – I haven’t applied for a grant because I don’t think it would be particularly sensible thing for the DCC to do, and I think a bit selfish on my part.
Ok, Mike if your hobby is minting money. Call it seed investment.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 20, 2014 – 7:17pm
Annual Plan deliberations leave DCC with surplus
After a week of decisions on spending at the Dunedin City Council, councillors were told they had a $345,000 surplus. And that left them in a position to decide whether or not to use it to reduce debt or increase rates.
Video
****
Jinty’s UN-ethical lobbyist-crew [garbage] – where do these looney tunes come from, who bred them or conditioned their tiny minds !? And why is Channel 39 giving them the airtime….
### dunedintv.co.nz May 20, 2014 – 7:12pm
Nightly interview: Rosemary Penwarden
The Dunedin City Council voted recently to not invest in ethically controversial industries. Its decision means it won’t make money from things like munitions, tobacco, gambling and fossil fuel extraction. Oil Free Otago spokeswoman Rosemary Penwarden joins us to explain why the council’s decision is so important.
Video
Calvin,
I was involved in rowing admin too until recently. I walked after the CEO of Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) pleaded guilty to nine charges involving misadministration of pokie funds. This activity went on for an extended period, involved hundreds of thousands of dollars of pokie money if I recall correctly and relied upon the production and use of multiple forged documents, many of which were purported to be from organisations other than RNZ.
As the plea was guilty to these charges, subsequent court proceedings were merely a matter of deciding the consequences for these activities. This individual received strong support in these court appearances from both the leading lights of RNZ’s administration and the code’s elite olympic athletes of the time. At his first appearance he managed to get discharged without conviction on seven of the charges. A trip through the appeals process with similar support got rid of the remaining two in the same manner. I walked at that point.
I have just moved house. Two weeks ago I got stopped on a dark road near this new place that I believed to be a 70 km limit, and was clocked at 62 km for which I received an $80 fine and a ‘record’ of 20 demerit points. Alas, as I now know, for a short length it was a 50 limit and guess where ‘Plod’ was sat in an unmarked car? In both cases (record and fine) these penalties are in excess of those handed out to the sports ‘worthy’ above after a very extensive and admitted exercise of deliberate lawbreaking.
You are right Calvin – free money is a poison for any sporting code, as it rapidly attracts a secondary infection of professional ‘sports managers’ and ‘high performance’ coaches along with their physically and mentally distorted charges (products). Like these repulsive insect parasites you see on Attenborough documentaries, they then proceed to devour the sport from within, so that its seemingly healthy, but actually hollow, corinthian carapace can be presented as the socially positive face of the code for the purposes of attracting further subsidies of public money, that would be better spent elsewhere, to support the socially parasitic and pseudo-corporate structure that now actually dwells within.
Said subsidies make the retention of people like you describe Calvin, who were previously indispensable, but who do not contribute to the ‘high performance pyramid’ (HPP) that actually dwells within this carapace unnecessary and actually undesirable. In the mid-nineties North End Rowing Club alone could field two club mens’ and one club womens’ eights, plus a few more odds and sods. Now, I would be surprised if you could fill a single eight with competitive-aged but non-HPP club athletes of either sex from all the rowing clubs within the Otago province.
There are of course hundreds of young people participating in the sport, but they form (knowingly or unknowingly) part of this high performance pyramid: School — University/Regional/High Performance Centre — Karapiro National Rowing Centre. It’s a ruthless business if you are ‘hooveed’ by the system. It’s up or out at each stage. The Public Relations effort obviously concentrates on those who are still engaged in this process, or the very, very few who make it all the way through to the one or two person per year professional athlete ‘distillate’ that comes out at the top end. What they don’t show to the wider public are the hundreds who, in order to produce those one or two ‘successes’, didn’t make the grade at some point, and were abruptly cut loose with no other avenue to support their continued participation within the sport as a true amateur – All structures that could effectively do so having long since been destroyed.
Talking about public relations, Rowing New Zealand regularly produces a hefty highly glossy magazine called ‘Oarsport’ and sends it to registered members. ‘Oarsport’ purports to be the medium by which ‘news’ is disseminated through the code. Interestingly, it was in receipt of ‘Oarsport’ throughout the pokie-related events described above. I do not recall one word in ‘Oarsport’ about them. I can only presume that the affair and possible internal ramifications and implications for how RNZ was being run at the time were deemed by those in charge of ‘Oarsport’s content to be: ‘Not of interest to the wider membership’.
Unless you are prepared to make fighting them for possession of what used to be your sport a full-time, unpleasant (and unlike them) unpaid job, it’s best to walk sooner rather than later and find something more socially positive to do with your time. The longer you stay and fight, the more like them you become, and given the example above, that’s just not my scene.
Of course if the external money stopped, then it would all collapse like a deck of cards more or less immediately – the preceding fiscally self-supporting infrastructure based on a wider, non-HPP membership that you describe, Calvin, having been more or less totally annihilated within the sport at this point. However, the money will only stop if the medals stop coming, and that’s not going to happen for one reason.
As it now costs $10 million plus to produce an Olympic medal-winning athlete, all nations bar a couple of whoppers have decided to fund only a very small number of sporting codes at this level. New Zealand has chosen rowing, as have a couple of other nations. The medal distributions in minor sports at recent Olympics tell the story. As long as RNZ continue to stay with its one or two serious and equivalently-funded national opponents, then it’s guaranteed a glorious ‘world beating’ swag of medals every time – And then the money will just keep on coming – Sweet Eh?
Rob, you sum it up concisely. The emphasis is on the winnowing out at the college stage of all but the most promising talent. Gone is the joy of just doing one’s best as an amateur sportsperson. The former ‘Eastern Bloc’ set the pattern. It was death or glory only for the nation. All others just watch. That’s why our number one sport rugby has been hi-jacked and the stars become stock in trade literally. They are shunted from pillar to post, regardless of regional or provincial loyalties. Our Highlanders are peopled by just anyone suitable. Yet the ‘mug plebs’ are expected to rally round them with bums on seats to wave silly little flags and buy the silly looking jerseys and trivia as though their life depended on the outcome of the match. Ho bloody Hum, how boring and mind numbing. It says little about a nation when it is treated so badly.
More BS from the SPORTS GOBs — SPORTS TOURISM and exaggerated economic development claims to ramp up flow of public monies to GOB sport. DCC, LOOK AT US WE WILL PAVE YOUR STREETS WITH GOLD. And DCC will believe the swilling paunchy twits.
—
### ODT Online Wed, 21 May 2014
Sports tourism lift for city with games
By Rosie Manins
Sports tourism is taking off and Dunedin is on board, industry leaders say. The city will host three ICC Cricket World Cup matches and seven Fifa U-20 World Cup matches next year. The matches will expose millions of fans worldwide to Dunedin, bring thousands of visitors to the city and boost the local economy. How lucrative the events will be for the city, and for New Zealand as a whole, was discussed at the country’s largest tourism conference – Trenz – in Auckland yesterday.
Read more
● Tourism hopes from education market push
Rob’s comments are spot on and echo my experience entirely.
I have been involved in skiing, swimming, rowing and more general sports governance through Sport Otago Board membership and the Academy of Sport Board membership.
It can be summed up succinctly by stating that the more professional the sport the more filled it is with fraud, opportunism and bullshit. I lasted a year with the Academy, disgusted with what was going on. Sport Otago looked after recreation and non-professional sport and, as far as I’m aware, is still committed to these worthy ideals. I remain supportive of Sport Otago.
Skiing is almost totally unprofessional in NZ and we simply don’t produce many people that have the capability of winning at the top level and so there are not many example of rubbish going on. A few very pushy parents and snowboarders/skiers on the pro circuit, but no ingrained gravy train. Swimming is a little more pro with a squad in Auckland, but the accomplishments of Danyon Loader and the late Duncan Laing outweigh the achievements of this almost pro squad and their multimillion-dollar support.
Rowing is different altogether and for all of the reasons that Rob outlines. The only aspect of rowing left in NZ that is untainted is Masters and believe me, Rowing NZ would love to have more control over that in order to extract more money to support the HP sector. Bugger them.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 22, 2014 – 6:38pm
Nightly interview: Daaave Cull
The Dunedin City Council’s annual plan deliberations are now over, and its budget is set for the next financial year. With so much demand for funding, councillors have been unable to satisfy every request and maintain the preferred rates take. Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull joins us to discuss the highs and lows of annual planning.
Video
On the Stadium…
When asked “Do you think there will ever be a time when it’s fully accepted by the community?”, Cull replies “Oh probably not, there will always be a group in the community who just refuse to move on from the perfectly justifiable arguments of 4-5 years ago […] we know when we get a big event at the stadium a whole lot of money comes into the city…” [listen to the mayor’s poppycock and BELIEVE, people]
When asked “Is the council in a good financial position?”, Cull replies “It is in a good financial position…” [Oh yeah????]
****
But wait. Daaave ain’t done yet. Remember: Daaave’s about to bust out the STADIUM REVIEW before long. This from Whaleoil sets the scene.
Link received.
### whaleoil.co.nz May 22, 2014 at 8:00am
Wairoa mayor and CEO taking the mickey out of ratepayers
By Cameron Slater
The Taxpayers’ Union is getting some runs on the board in local government and has exposed a rural council for trying to pull one over its community. ‘Wairoa ratepayers should be furious with the Wairoa District Council for misleading the public on its forecast rate hikes. Earlier today the Taxpayers’ Union discovered that statements by the District’s Mayor and CEO that rates are forecast to increase by 5.43% are fanciful. The real figure is in fact 15.9%.’
Read more
Skiing is one sport where I think that NZ, and particularly Otago, have missed out on a real Gift Horse. One of the few advantages that NZ has is that it is out of season with Europe. They should be hitting hard with all the major European ski nations to send their training squads south during the northern summer. That, in turn, would boost local interest and standards. Don’t underestimate the financial resources that those international ski federations have at their disposal. It would be like the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks all having permanent training camps in Bulgaria. I agree entirely that we should not be sending rubbish athletes to Olympic Games. It sends a bad message to the rest of the world and I don’t believe that the Olympic Games should be attended merely for the “experience”. Do that on your own time and money. When you are representing a nation, you need to be competitive. That’s the harsh reality. Anyway, back to the task at hand. It costs more for European ski or football teams to travel here but the lower living costs, compared to traditional European training bases, would even out the overall cost for the teams. A couple of countries do send small development ski squads but it is still an untapped market which does have the potential to enhance the sports locally.
I agree with the weakness in the national funding system. It seems that, in order to secure funding, you have to already have achieved the very thing that the funding is supposed to help you to achieve. People like Nick Willis or Valerie Adams don’t need funding from NZ. They are successful enough now to fund their careers through private sponsorship. That’s the irony of the funding system. By the time you become eligible for state funding, you no longer need it. Yet, in order to get to the level where you receive funding, you need funding. The Academy of Sport is looking at the picture completely back to front. The Europeans have gotten it right. They don’t fund the elite, they fund those who they believe have the potential to become elite. Sounds obvious, but clearly not obvious enough for some.