PUBLIC FEEDBACK
You are able to search by submitter or subject/topic and view the details of the submission received by the Dunedin City Council to the DRAFT Long Term Plan 2015/16-2024/25.
The submissions are listed in alphabetical order of surname first.
█ Go to: http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/public-submissions
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Related Posts and Comments:
28.3.15 DCC Draft LTP 2015/16 to 2024/25 —CONSULTATION OPEN
25.3.15 DCC Long Term Plan: Green-dyed chickens home to roost
14.1.15 DCC Draft Long Term Plan: more inanity from Cull’s crew pending
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Tagged as ARS, Asset disposal and write-off policy, Audit and Risk Subcommittee, Audits, Budget projections, Budgets, Carisbrook, Citifleet, Citipark, Consolidated council DEBT, CORRECT minute record ???, Council debt CRISIS, Council services, Councillors, DCC, DCHL, Debt funding, Delta Utility Services Ltd, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, DVML, fubar stadium, Greater Dunedin, Infrastructure services, Internal audit policy, Internal audits, Internal conflict, Internal conflicts, Jacks Point, Long Term Plan (LTP), Luggate, Noble Village Subdivision, Organisational review, Otago Stadium, Public consultation, Selling assets, Services, Social Media, Stadium Costs, Stadiums, Staff numbers, Tendering
What if? Dunedin... 
[grabbed from DCC webpage]
A VERY GOOD SUBMISSION, BUT NICK MAY DISAGREE
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Submitter: Julian Smith
Comments
I write to oppose the closing of the Heritage Collections, Dunedin City Library on Sundays. The Heritage Collections contains the only specialist New Zealand book collection in Dunedin available for access seven days a week. It also contains the only book exhibition space in Dunedin open seven days per week. The closing of this community facility will mean no access to genealogy information, historical archives of the Otago Daily Times, New Zealand electoral rolls and the Reed Exhibition Gallery. The financial savings gained by closing the Heritage Collections seems miniscule when weighed against the value of the service lost. The figures quoted in the “occupancy survey” (which themselves are profoundly unscientific) actually show that the Sunday attendance is higher than on certain other days, if measured on the basis of an hourly average. The greatest error of judgment, however, in this planned closure is the dubious assumption that it is simply a numbers game, that quantity of researchers is what counts rather than quality of researchers. Much of the research undertaken in Heritage Collections is of a very serious nature – it is used by academics, writers, journalists and many others, both local and from elsewhere. The quality of research needs to be considered, not just a mere counting of heads. Thank you for your time.
Questionnaire
1. Debt
Proposed – Reducing debt to $230m by 2021
2. Rates Increases
Proposed – 3% unless exceptional circumstance
4. Infrastructure renewals
5. Funding Infrastructure renewals
6. Central City Plan
7a – Strategic Cycle Network
Reducing the Council’s contribution
7b. Strategic Cycle Network
8. Portobello Road Safety Improvements
9. South Dunedin Community Complex
10. City of Literature
Proposed – Provide additional rates funding to support the work programme for the Dunedin City of Literature Trust
11. Gigatown
12. Otago Museum
13. Dunedin Hospital Therapeutic Pool
14. Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities
14a. Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities
15. Unfunded Cricket Lighting for University Oval
16a – Unfunded Transport Projects – University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic area
16b – Unfunded Transport Projects – Mosgiel Town Centre
Source: http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/public-submissions/single-view-2015?id=496517
Wait, did Julian Smith answer “close down stadium and demolish” in his questionnaire responses???
We then had to think how many Julian Smiths live in Dunedin or what spoof. Quite eye-catching though.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 7, 2015 – 7:12pm
Local government leaders prepare for a week of public hearings
Local government leaders are bracing themselves for what is expected to be a confronting week of public hearings. The Dunedin City Council is hearing submissions on its draft long term plan, which sets out priorities and budgets for the next ten years. It’s received more than 2,000 submissions, and hundreds of members of the public plan to speak at the hearings, starting Monday. The most popular topic is the proposed new swimming pool complex in Mosgiel, followed by planned road improvements at Portobello.
Ch39 Link [no video available]
█ Draft LTP public hearings run from today until Friday.
The general public may attend to listen in – @ Edinburgh Room, Municipal Chambers.
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### ODT Online Mon, 11 May 2015
Strong feedback
By Chris Morris
When it comes to the Dunedin City Council, nobody is short of an opinion. And, from today, councillors can expect to be inundated with them as they test the public’s mood for fresh spending, service level cuts and a host of other competing demands. The council has been flooded with a record 2178 submissions on its Long Term Plan (LTP), which charts the city’s course for the next decade.
Read more
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 11, 2015 – 6:37pm
Council hears submissions on long term plan
Residents are formally expressing their wants and needs to the Dunedin City Council, through a public hearing on its long term plan.
Video
DRAFT Long Term Plan Hearings meetings speaking lists
Lists for Tue/Wed/Thu not entered yet.
Monday 11 May speaking list (PDF, 49KB)
Monday 11 May Mosgiel speaking list (PDF, 47KB)
Tuesday 12 May speaking list (PDF, 54KB)
Wednesday 13 May speaking list (PDF, 48KB)
Thursday 14 May speaking list (PDF, 46KB)
See more at http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/public-submissions
DRAFT LTP Hearings
Make tourists pay: Larnach director
The Dunedin City Council has been urged to revisit admission charges for museums and other cultural attractions.
Otago Cricket says lights good for city
Dunedin’s economy will be millions of dollars better off if the Dunedin City Council backs plans for new floodlights at the University Oval, Otago Cricket says.
Mosgiel residents make plea for pool
Mosgiel residents made an impassioned call for Dunedin City councillors to give a multimillion-dollar aquatic facility the “green light” sooner rather than later.
The Dunedin City Council has been urged to supply Hype O’Thermia with free money and someone to come and sweep up the leaves.
Hype. Don’t worry about sweeping up the leaves. Get Martin Dillon in to have the tree cut down. He appears to have all the contacts on tree removal. If that doesn’t work get a resource consent, and ask for Martin to be on the hearings committee. I can guarantee the results for you.
Thanks Whippet, that only -leaves- the matter of free money….
Hype. Put in for a grant from the Mosgiel Taieri community board, they are fairly free with the ratepayers’ money. If you are a tree hater you shouldn’t have any problems getting a grant.
Received from Calvin Oaten
Tue, 12 May 2015 at 12:21 p.m.
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Proposal for Consideration by the LTP Consultation Process
Submitted by Calvin Oaten
During the Christmas hiatus, I spent time with local business people and a former Councillor; discussing the parlous financial state of the DCC and DCHL conglomerate. We decided to investigate the Community Bank model currently being successfully implemented overseas and, after some deliberation and further research, I now would put forward what I think is a viable proposal. I trust that it will be given due consideration, and not casually disregarded without proper discussion or consultation.
It is proposed that the DCC set up a trading bank, known as the “Dunedin Citizens’ Bank” or “Dunedin Community Bank” – hereafter known as ‘the bank’. This would be structured as a stand alone operation, fully chartered and bound by a constitution. It would be founded along fiscally prudent and comparatively conservative lines, and the constitution would enshrine that.
The Constitution would state that:
1. ‘The bank’ would remain totally and utterly independent from the DCC, DCHL, ORC, or any other Local Authority entity; with no management or direction being under any outside influence.
2. No person in its employ in any managerial or directorial capacity shall have any personal or business connection with, nor influence over, any of the DCC councillors, Staff and administration, nor with the Dunedin City Holdings Group of companies.
3. With regard to the practice of ‘fractional reserve creation of credit’ – a conservative ratio of not less than 20% (twenty per cent) to be held as deposits / collateral as a minimum tangible level, and the fractional reserve ratio is never to be exceeded.
4. Further, whatever amount of capital is committed to the fractional credit creation, an additional 10% (ten per cent) shall be held as physical gold bullion as a hedge reserve. As the amount varies up or down, so shall the bullion be adjusted. If the spot price of gold were to lower then more shall be purchased to restore parity. Conversely if the price should rise then the appropriate portion may be converted to cash or conserved as an added reserve. This would in effect balance the effects of inflation.
‘The bank’s main function would be to handle all cash flow transactions of both the DCC and DCHL. Under normal banking terms. In return ‘the bank’ would undertake to fund the DCC’s and DCHL’s term debts on the terms most favourable within ‘the bank’s constitutional framework.
Now, on the assumption that the present consolidated debt is rounded down to $600 million (for the sake of mathematical clarity) and is currently attracting interest at 5% pa this requires the parties to pay pro rata $30m pa interest only. If, on the other hand ‘the bank’ was to assume this debt, and if it was to abide by its own conditions of 20% fractional lending ratio it would be required to hold the equivalent of $120m. Plus the bullion hedge of $12m for a total of $132m. Add a contingency cash float sum of $8 million and the capitalisation of ‘the bank’ required would $140m. So how could this be effected?
First the Waipori Fund cashed up would realise around $70 million, and the sale of non strategic properties could easily release another $70m. The Otago Community Trust could possibly be invited to invest. All it would require is the initiative.
Once ‘the bank’ is set up and running then it could assume the debt by issuing credit to the full actual amount of $620m. If both borrowing parties accepted that they would continue to pay pro rata the $30m pa but because ‘the bank’ does not have to make substantial profits it could settle for covering of the loan servicing only. ‘The bank’s operational costs and profits would be derived from its general banking services.
Maybe we could look at three options “A”, “B” and “C” as examples: $600 million where “A” is based on 2.5% pa whilst “B” is 1.25% pa and “C” is zero%. – the balances of the +$30m pa would be for capital reduction. Based on standard Term Loan amortisation rates we see that the following outcomes could be achieved.
Option “A” would take …28… years “B” would take …23… years, and “C” 20 years to discharge fully. Obviously this is only an example of the possible. In reality, the Group’s credit accommodation requirements would vary from time to time as needs were identified. But the general thrust would be towards debt reduction by disciplined governance.
A monumental change to the two groups’ budgets. The conservative ratios of credit creation would imply more discipline required on the part of the DCC, but in the case of DCHL if the bank is unable to meet its immediate needs then, as independent traders they would be free to seek accommodation elsewhere at whatever rates are going.
In the case of the DCC its budgeting would need to become more circumspect and possibly include the deferment of projects. As it is at present, all budgets over recent times have been of the “Spend, Extend , Defend and Pretend” model. This, in effect, is “Spend” it now, “Extend” either the time or the debt,”Defend” the actions, then “Pretend” that all is under control; while the citizens suffer rates and charges escalating way beyond inflation. Not a good recipe for sustained economic or community growth, nor maintenance of the city’s general wellbeing.
Benefits: First and foremost, ‘the bank’, being community owned would not be required to be profit driven as is the case with the current traditional banks, owned by universal shareholders. Instead, ‘the bank’ would be in the position of first deciding what is in the best interests of the citizens when assessing it’s credit dispensing decisions. So, instead of exporting vast sums of interest monies out of the city via the largely overseas owned banks, this interest money would remain in the city’s ‘money churn’. The ability to fund debt at more competitive rates would be due to the shareholders (the ratepayers) getting rates and charges benefits in lieu of dividends.
If, after a period of bedding in, I see no reason why the bank ought not offer normal banking services to local businesses and the citizens. The only stipulation would be that they are Dunedin owned businesses and that they maintain their headquarters in Dunedin. Outside domiciled businesses would not qualify. House mortgages could become available to citizens provided the property concerned was within the city limits.
Who knows what this would do to the city over the next forty or fifty years?
Worth considering? I think so; if the council really wants to progress. I thank you for the opportunity to submit this proposal.
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Further to my deliberations, I would like to point out that the success or failure of the ‘Community Bank’ scenario would be wholly dependent upon the elected officers and the administration adopting a more conservative approach towards capital expenditure. We have seen over recent times an explosion of development of projects, all funded purely with debt. Sufficient that in the space of ten years the DCC core debt has expanded from $36 million to some $360 million. Of those projects three alone accounted for some $270 million, notwithstanding a constant shuffling between the core and consolidated accounts, which in itself has reached around $623 million.
As an example of what I mean by more conservative ‘Spending,” take the case of the Town Hall Convention Centre upgrade. This started at a projection of some $14m, then $18.5m to $36m, finishing at around $50m. At that figure it was signed off on the recommendation of then general manager Kate Styles based on the findings of an independent consultant’s (Horwath) report which brought forward several options. The one chosen was on the assumption of, at conclusion of upgrade there would be in 2015 36 major conferences. This in itself was an increase of 20 over the last year before closure 2008 when there was 16 events. Even if the 36 was achieved the report showed an assessment of revenue over expenditure with a meagre return before depreciation and debt servicing. allowing for those factors arrived at a deficit of some $4.2m pa.
Now what I mean by saying it was reckless to commit at that time, is to compare with the prudent councils of yesteryear. It is common knowledge that the original auditorium was built and opened in 1929 debt free. This was due largely to windfall profits by Dunedin Tramways from the very successful 1925/27 exhibition staged on the reclaimed Logan Park. What is not generally known, or published, is that the original concept of the Town Hall was mooted in 1876. Fully 50 years before approval. Always it was the option of councils that it was an unaffordable item. Now I understand that times have changed but the notion of responsible financial decisions should never be underrated. It is that casual attitude which has brought us to the state the city is now in. Parlous to say the least.
If there is not a change of approach to the guidance of this city’s fiscal prudence then no banking system will be able to compensate.
I make these claims without prejudice and remain, Calvin Oaten.
In effect Calvin, you are suggesting that the council loans to itself? If the DCC were to set it up in the first place, the rabbit would surely be in control of the lettuce.
The bank could be set up like the Bendigo bank branches in Australia, where local businessmen pledge their allegiance and capital. The DCC would only be involved by pledging the assets of the Waipori fund, and perhaps other “assets” but would be obligated to borrow from the bank at favourable rates. Large sums could be borrowed from international banks as the major banks do now on such sureties.
The concept is great. The bank could have obligations to utilise small percentages of its loan capabilities to fund local businesses that pass normal banking prudentiary requirements and perhaps fund state housing and perhaps introduce modern smarter methods such as cloud funding to Dunedin entrepeneurs.
I am sure that if the council were prepared to borrow from such a bank, that plenty of investors could be found to fund such a proposition.
Who would not want such a client with government enforced ratepayers to support the proposition. Now the job is to get an innovative senior banking executive for less than $200,000 pa.
“I am sure that if the council were prepared to borrow from such a bank, that plenty of investors could be found to fund such a proposition.”
The snag is that our wise, careful council has spent the last several years getting us into massive debt … to the banks. They wouldn’t be happy about the council supporting a new bank. The ancient wisdom still applies. Never displease anyone who holds the deeds to your testicles.
Cars, I think you are missing the point. The idea is not for local businessmen to pledge their allegiance and capital. Nor it is to pledge Waipori assets nor any obligation to borrow from international banks at favourable rates.
The idea is for the DCC to set up and separately capitalise an independent fully chartered trading bank. If you read the terms of the proposed ‘constitution’ you will see that the independence is an essential part. The bank’s charter would be to service the DCC’s and DCHL’s daily banking requirements at normal rates. The “fractional reserve creation of credit” covering lending requirements would be rigidly controlled within its chartered ratios written into the constitution. The whole idea is to divorce the city from any connection with international banks and their ‘usurious’ methods. As it is, with around $600m of debt, DCC and DCHL between them export out of Dunedin [in fact, out of the country] between $30m and $40m per year as interest. That is the crux of my suggestion. Keep our money within our boundaries. The model I am suggesting is well known and prevails in lots of countries, much to the chagrin of the conventional usurious banks.
If you look at the Dunedin City Council’s Annual Report 2012/13 covering the consolidated activities of DCC/DCHL you will see numerous instances of cap in hand arrangements with the banks. There are ‘Derivatives’ up and down results, ‘Hedge Fund’ arrangements and ‘Interest Rate Swaps’ all designed along high risk to the client high return to the bank. Independence would take the city away from that business.
As I say there are numerous examples in the world of “public banking operations” in lieu of the familiar “private international usurious profit driven institutions”. For instance the USA position with the Federal Treasury model of flooding credit onto the market to stave off any correction has resulted in an explosion of debt to the point where by almost any measure it is bankrupt. The result has spilled over the whole of the developed world New Zealand included. Just look at the property market.
It is also important to note that the Federal Treasury is not, as most believe, a government body, but is a central bank set up and owned by several prominent USA banks, notably J P Morgan, Citibank (originally Rothschilds) etc. This took place in 1913 and the legitimate government has been sidelined ever since in terms of controlling the nation’s money supplies. It is all designed for control and profit. It is of interest that of the 53 states of the USA, today only North Dakota is free of usurious debt. This is due to the fact that the state government has its own “Public Bank of North Dakota”. This was set up in 1919 in an endeavour to protect its predominant farmer population from foreclosures by the ‘usurious’ banks in the post WW1 economic meltdown. Ninety odd years later it is a formidable economic force in that state; owned in effect by the people.
We here in Dunedin could and should divorce ourselves from the standard system and retain our autonomy. Kiwi Bank is in effect along those lines thanks to Jim Anderton’s tenacious persistence.
I think if one looked it would see that the former Dunedin Savings Bank, morphed into the Otago Savings Bank, which merged into the nationwide Trustees Savings banks, originally worked as “people’s banks”. It was the advent of ‘Rogernomics’ neo-conservative ‘free market’ relaxation which paved the way for the takeover of Trusteebank by the the overseas-owned profit driven ‘Westpac’. The outcome from that was the sales proceeds underwrote the new Otago Community Trust as it is today.
I honestly believe that with the right will and controlled management that Dunedin could forge a better, lower debt future for itself and all it businesses and citizens. It would simply require some innovative, outside the square thinking on the part of our leaders, and time will bring the situation under control. This of course will not be easy as the existing controllers would denigrate and rubbish the whole idea as it would jeopardise their positions of power to manipulate and control.
Calvin, your proposal is actually financially very prudent and conservative, especially comparing it to the use of highly dodgy and unpredictable ‘financial products’ as currently committed to by the DCC. Unfortunately what is likely to happen is that the $140 million required for the capitalisation of such a bank will probably be spent ( squandered) anyway but with nothing of any value to show for it. Unless the next local body election brings sweeping changes to the DCC, I expect to see significant asset sales beginning in late 2016.
{Relocated from another thread. -Eds}
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John Evans
Submitted on 2015/05/12 at 7:08 pm
Elizabeth, a national issue.
Banks now transact more than 90% of their business by telegraphic transfer or international money transfer with cleared funds. Cheques are now pariahs, few businesses use them. Why then is there a three day clearance (required to ensure funds were available to honour a cheque).
The reality is that the three day period disadvantages many bank users, in particular all beneficiaries and superannuitants and anyone transferring monies from their foreign accounts to their kiwi accounts and vice versa. This three day period conversely is of enormous opportunity to banks as they can manufacture enormous short term gains on the overnight money markets. Why should the owners of the money not benefit in part from bank transactions of this nature. User (of money) pays.
John Evans, Otakou
IRD still prefer cheques. Most plain instruction: cheque posted to them in Christchurch. If you peer closely at small palest blue printing on white paper there’s another option, pay by cash or cheque (yes, cheque again, no mention of that strange modern invention the inter-whatchacallit) at any branch of Westpac.
It’s a dollar amount. When did they change from expressing the amount in guineas?
Not quite – if you try and pay your taxes to the IRD at Westpac they will NOT take a cheque (as I found out last week) they will however take cash or you can use your ATM card.
You can still mail a cheque but you have to send it a week or more early; it has to be able to clear by the due date.
What? So despite what’s printed on the IRD Payment slip you actually CAN’T pay by cheque at Westpac? And you get penalised if you don’t pay your cheque to IRD a week earlier than the due date on the IRD Payment slip?
That’s fair. That’s not a cunning trap to extort extra taxation – yeah.
Yes that’s what the teller told me when I tried to pay mine.
DRAFT LTP Hearings (Mon 11 May)
### dunedtv.co.nz May 12, 2015 – 7:52pm
Gigatown losing momentum
There’s concern Dunedin is losing momentum with gigatown, due to a lack of funding for projects. Accordingly the Digital Community Trust, which led the city’s winning bid in the national gigatown competition, is seeking money. And its first port of call is the city council.
Video
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 12, 2015 – 7:57pm
Debate heats over proposed Mosgiel pool complex
Debate is heating up in Mosgiel over a proposed new swimming pool complex. More than a thousand residents have made submissions about the plan to the Dunedin City Council. And while most support the new development, some have strong reservations.
Video
No LTP funding mentioned, but the outcomes will COST ratepayers HEAPS
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 12, 2015 – 8:03pm
New group formed to help plan cycleway developments
A range of community leaders and businesspeople are forming a new group to steer the planned development of Dunedin cycleways. They’ll help council staff plan and design new cycleways, and will be involved in public consultation. Members represent a variety of different views in respect of local cycleways, and aim to influence a mutually suitable outcome. The group is expected to meet monthly.
Ch39 Link [no video available]
Unicyclists plan rally: “A range of community leaders and businesspeople are forming a new group to steer the planned development of Dunedin cycleways.”
We look forward with moderate excitement to their heavily redacted report, when they return from North Cape. Their insights are sure to be of immeasurable value, as usual.
A good take of the Mosgiel Whale in the video.
What on Earth has this mad council done at the intersection Coughtrey St, Hargest Cr and Richardson St in South Dunedin? They’ve turned a perfectly adequate intersection into some sort of roading nightmare. You have to turn tightly around new footpath extensions and then take a really uncomfortable turn around some fancy new bit in the middle of the bloody intersection. It might have looked alright on paper or on a screenshot of Google Maps, but it did not translate in reality. The whole mess was only made slightly funnier by the two roadworks guys who were looking at it scratching their heads as though somebody forgot to question the design while constructing it.
But it gets loopier. They moved the centre line markings along Richardson St about a metre to the left and then made some half-arsed attempt at covering up the previous line. Now it looks like there is a cycle lane right down the middle of the road. If you take both lines literally – and no doubt some drivers will – they will be travelling hard against parked vehicles down both sides. God help anyone who opens their door and steps out of the car.
THIS IS IMPORTANT “TPPA mortuus est.” as Julius Caesar would say. Bet neither J. Smith nor Jonky will be saying much about it as they proceed to sign us up unilateraly. So here it is:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/12/obama-trans-pacific-partnership-senate-vote
THE MOST IMPORTANT factor in that news item is the extent to which commentators exemplified the benefits for US business and agriculture. Not a hint of what effects there would be for the other parties, including New Zealand. It would be a steamroller arrangement with the devil take the hindmost.
Assuming what’s coming towards the end of this year with the global economy; we can thank God for small mercies!!!!
“only”.
“…only port of call is the city council.”
In stormy weather most sailors will stay well away from port. Most citizens with a difficulty are advised to stay well away from that particular port. All that exists there is an account for port charges, or a buck passing request to another port.
You have to have to have a giggle at the slowed momentum for Gigatown due to ‘insufficient funding’. First port of call is the council. Why not? They are proven mugs for a sob story. We even help out the SDHB with the therapeutic pool in Hanover St.
The old story….get the ratepayers and taxpayers to pay when you are in a fix and want to get yet another disgruntled group off your back.
Where will it all end?
DRAFT LTP Hearings (Tue 12 May)
City Rise becoming a slum, council told
Inner-city residents are calling on the Dunedin City Council to help prevent the historic area from becoming another student slum. Several residents who either lived or owned property in the area, which includes City Rise, raised their concerns at yesterday’s long-term plan hearings.
█ See Saturday’s ODT.
Gasworks museum seeks funds
The Dunedin Gasworks Museum needs more money, but could also become the new home of a South Dunedin library complex, the trust running it says. The suggestion came as members of the Gasworks Museum Trust joined 39 other submitters having their say on the second day of the Dunedin City Council’s long-term plan hearing yesterday.
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Other submitters: ODT Link
– Dunedin Public Libraries Association president Merle van de Klundert on South Dunedin and central public libraries;
– Methodist Mission chief executive Laura Black on South Dunedin, climate change, and economic development;
– Spokes Dunedin spokesman Robert Thompson on cycleways;
– residents Job Rustenhoven and Tony Marcinowski on Portobello Rd widening;
– Lynley Hood for Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa on public transport and pedestrian safety;
– Chris Ford for Disabled Persons Assembly and CCS on central city upgrade plan, and council funding to physio pool;
– community boards’ wish-lists;
– Bruce Cowan of Athletics Otago on improvements to Logan Park;
– Calvin Oaten on idea for a new Dunedin Citizens’ Bank;
– David Cooper of Federated Farmers on smaller rates rises and council cost-cutting;
– accountant Richard Farquhar on retirement of council debt;
– Otago Museum director Ian Griffin on museum funding and visitor charges;
– Graeme Burns of Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee on the breakwater project.
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Mosgiel residents make plea for pool
Mosgiel residents have called for Dunedin City councillors to give a multimillion-dollar aquatic facility the “green light” sooner rather than later. Taieri Community Facilities Trust project manager Shaun Pont called on councillors to allocate $750,000 to the design phase of the new facility for the next financial year.
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Support sought for boat facility
Portobello could soon be home to a large, new, offshore coastguard vessel based inside a new $1.6 million facility. Councillors at the Dunedin City Council’s long-term plan hearing were yesterday shown plans for the facility, which would include a new jetty, launch ramp and a two-level boat shed at Portobello.
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Call to upgrade ‘dowdy’ Octagon and George St area
A group of commercial property owners is urging the Dunedin City Council to throw “everything” at an upgrade of the central city. The group, headed by Simon Eddy, also the Golden Centre mall general manager, told yesterday’s long-term plan hearing the Octagon and George St were beginning to look “dowdy, tired and ignored”.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 13, 2015 – 7:03pm
South Dunedin public library project moving too slow for some
Locals are urging the city council to speed up development of a new public library in South Dunedin. The council wants to continue consultation over the creation of a community complex, including a library. But that’s taking too long for some.
Video
Received from Bev Butler
Wed, 13 May 2015 at 3:33 p.m.
From: Bev Butler
To: Lee Vandervis; Dave Cull; David Benson-Pope; Hilary Calvert; John Bezett; Doug Hall; Aaron Hawkins; Mike Lord; Jinty MacTavish; Andrew Noone; Neville Peat; Chris Staynes; Richard Thomson; Andrew Whiley; Kate Wilson
Cc: Sue Bidrose; Sandy Graham; Chris Morris [ODT]; Vaughan Elder [ODT]
Subject: Bev Butler’s Verbal submission re Draft LT Plan 2015
Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 15:31:36 +1200
Dear Mayor Cull and Councillors
Below is my brief submission which I presented today prefaced by extracts from the Local Government Act.
In requesting a full forensic audit, I am merely asking the Council to abide by the principles as set out in the early principles section of the Act.
I have summarised a few of the principles which I consider relevant and highlighted references to accountability.
Kind Regards
Bev
“The Local Government Act provides for the creation of local government that has a purpose of promoting the accountability of local authorities to their communities. To this end, local government must enable democratic local decision making and action which meets the current and future needs of the communities for good quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performing regulatory functions for households and businesses in a cost effective way. Good quality means infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions that is efficient, effective, and appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
The principles the local government must abide by are to conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner. Furthermore, when undertaking commercial transactions the local government body must adopt sound business practices. To that end the local authority should periodically assess the expected returns to the authority from investing or undertaking commercial activity and satisfy itself that the expected returns are likely to outweigh the risks inherent in the investment or the activity. The local authority should ensure prudent stewardship and the efficient and effective use of its resources in the interests of its district of region including planning effectively for the future management of its assets.”
Brief for verbal submission 2015
In May 2012, the PricewaterhouseCoopers(PwC) report was released. This report was commissioned as the final stadium cost was in dispute.
In the 2012 PwC report it stated that only $700,000 of the private funding for construction had been received and that much of the remainder of private funding, eg advanced seat sales was for revenue not construction.
One of the conditions for the go ahead of the stadium was that 60% of the $55 million of private funding for construction had to be secured.
In reality this never happened even though both the community and the High Court were told this to be the case.
Given that the community and courts were seriously misled in so many instances, I continued to investigate the spending by the Carisbrook Stadium Trust.
Over $70 million passed through the CST and there are numerous red flags that need further investigation. That is why I am calling on a full forensic audit of the stadium investigation and construction spending by the Carisbrook Stadium Trust.
I first requested this forensic audit in May 2012 when the PwC report was first released and then again in subsequent years.
Last year my submission was intended to raise attention to the red flags. However, the only apparent action the Council took in response to my concerns was, at the request of Cr Benson-Pope, to run my submission past the Council lawyers (I can only presume this was to see if I had made any slip ups even though I informed the Council I had already run my submission past my own lawyer). No slip ups were found and no apparent further action was taken to address the concerns expressed in my submission.
So I am asking the Council again to instigate a full forensic audit of the CST stadium spending.
What is the point of training staff to recognise red flags when no one is prepared to do anything about them?
[ends]
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Related media story. -Eds
ODT: DCC training to raise awareness of fraud (30.4.15)
I wonder if any of that $70 million was used for newspaper advertisements to convince Dunedin people how good the stadium would be for them. And I wonder about full page ads in the Star promoting another ‘essential’ amenity for the city. The trouble with ‘private/public partnerships’ engaged in by the council with any private trust is that it is impossible to know which bit is private and which bit is public, particularly the money. There is no real need for the DCC to give money to a private trust to progress a project. You would think they might have learned this by now.
Received Wed, 13 May 2015 at 10:05 p.m.
Submission to DCC Draft LTP by Paul Campbell
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Proposal: charge the stadium rates and save money.
Currently DVL is not charged rates for the stadium – this means that the cost of rates cannot be written off against DCHL’s profits to save tax
Ms Bidrose’s recent report to council on the stadium says that the DCC could be levying “$1.8 to $2m including GST” in rates on the stadium – what would happen if the DCC actually did charge DVL $2m a year in rates?
1) the DCC would receive $1.74M after GST
2) DCHL would write off an extra $2M against other income and pay $0.6M less in tax
3) DCHL would pass the remaining $1.4M less of its profit to the DCC
4) The DCC would be $1.74M – $1.4M = $260,000 better off
Conclusion: the DCC should charge DVL the highest rates for the stadium possible to save money.
Currently, the main reason we don’t charge the stadium rates is because its inability to finance itself was embarrassing the people who forced it upon us, it’s time to spare their feelings and start to do sensible things with the stadium’s finances, rather than giving it money the council should lose as much money as is realistic (ie will not annoy the IRD) and take the tax advantages.
Rates have increased every year for the past decade, by more than the rate that ratepayers’ salaries have increased by – it’s time for the council to aggressively reduce rates to less than inflation to give us time for our take home pay to catch up – please pass these savings back to the ratepayers and don’t increase rates again until people’s incomes, especially those on fixed incomes, have caught up with the council’s recent excesses.
The council cannot continue to increase rates above inflation forever, people will leave and no one will choose to settle here, without a sustainable long term plan, of which this is not, Dunedin does not have a long term future.
Source: http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/public-submissions/single-view-2015?id=499998
Bev’s extracts from the Local Government Act are hair-raising.
Looking at Council’s record, it’s as if they’d taken them and added “NOT” and “DON’T” in front of every verb, eg “…purpose of NOT promoting the accountability of local authorities…” and “The principles the local government must NOT abide by…”
………..then acted in unwavering obedience to this altered version.
There is generally huge hypocrisy from councils regarding both the law and all their many plans and strategies. They spend a fortune having meetings, employing staff and killing trees to write these voluminous plans. Then, when they really want to do anything contrary to them, they just fudge it, ‘fast-track’, lie or simply ignore them. But if an individual ratepayer puts a foot wrong, they are down on them like a ton of bricks, demanding compliance and often suing.
The Otago Regional Council has been a particularly vicious example of this, taking their authority extremely seriously and attacking, in my opinion, vindictively, what they see as ‘insolent disobedience.’
The whole general case is not quite one of power corrupting. Rather a case of a very small amount of power seriously going to the heads of petty. small-minded people. The sort of people who start to believe they are important when issued with a uniform and a badge.
Have a read of Cr Lord’s tearful double standard submission to the ORC’s long term plan.
Is he a capitalist or a socialist. Depends on the milk price. He quotes two milk prices. 2001 @ $5.33 and 2015 @ $4.80, but conveniently forgets to mention 2014 at over $8 He appears to be a capitalist with a $5 million farm when things are going good, but a raging socialist when the going gets tough. He wants the rest of the community to subsidise his activities, but supports a targeted rate for the new Mosgiel pool (user pays).
Trevor, I agree, the dangerous part of this is that Mike Lord has beyond doubt demonstrated that personal interests will outweigh public interest. A dangerous view for one elected to choose wisely on behalf of the ratepayers without fear or favour.
Elizabeth – yesterday I presented myself to the LTP hearings and didn’t have to wait too long. Holding up the LTP in one hand and my personal rates bill in the other I said that the thrust of my submission was the move by DCC to break its promise and propose a 3.8% increase in rates using the “exceptional circumstances” clause in their Financial Strategy. I pointed out that the two reasons given for the extra increase (further ratepayer funding of Stadium and less dividend from the Council companies) were linked and did not go down too well with my generation who were fast becoming (as 65+ year olds on limited incomes) a good one third of the ageing population of Dunedin. The LTP proposal to further fund the Stadium was based on the premise that last year’s Stadium Review indicated a return of $50-60M for the Dunedin economy without verifying this estimate with hard data. Hard data which I understood from Councillor Vandervis had not been obtained by Council staff to support the thrust of the draft LTP to give the Stadium more of our money. At one stage the Mayor interrupted me asking me to stick to my submission which I thought I was doing and saying that some of my statements were untrue. He appears uncomfortable (to say the least) with anything said that seems at odds with his own thinking and I can understand his testiness, given that I appeared some one and half hours after my good friend Bev Butler with her timely request to audit CST historic spending!!! I also pointed out that given our parlous financial state as a City the “nice to have” projects in the unfunded section of the Draft LTP should stay that way.
In question time only the nice Andrew Noone asked for my view on rates rebates and why more older people didn’t take it up. I said that it was probably a combination of not being understood or made aware of and understandable pride. However it did seem a weak justification (as a subsidy) to inflict unaffordable rates increases on a generation that had been on fixed incomes for a long time.
What worries me about our Mayor is the idea (from him) that just because we rank low on the list of Council rate increases around the country this fact alone justifies a further increase beyond the promised 3%. When I pointed out that current inflation is 0.1% he said Council costs are a lot more than that!!!!
I am concerned that the positive move two years ago to hold back spending and gradually pull back rate rises from the historic high levels seen in recent years is waning and there is a reluctance to concede the Stadium funding is the main reason for our Council’s predicament and furthermore take positive steps to make the Stadium pay more of its way. In other words sink or swim!!
Given the treatment I received at the Hearing you will be not suprised to know that the Mayor has one less vote for next year should he decide to stand again.
Lyndon, well stated. Apologies, I was unable to attend the hearings when you presented.
Mayor Cull, on each day of the Draft LTP hearings appears to have moved, in at least one instance per day, beyond passive aggressive to downright rude. However, he was pleasant to me and I’m happy to acknowledge that.
How can they “propose a 3.8% increase in rates using the “exceptional circumstances” clause in their Financial Strategy” when there’s nothing exceptional about the way they chuck money around without listening to any reasons why this is a stoooooopid thing to do?
It would be more like exceptional if they stopped chucking money at the stadium, stopped vanity and ideological projects, stopped giving in to every interest group that claims their gimme-gimme scheme will be largely privately funded and increase tourism >> $millions flowing into Dunedin.
How many Nigerian scams does it take before a marginally sane person recognises the pattern, and knows the pot of gold will forever be just out of reach, eternally promised, never delivered.
Lyndon. I will agree with you about Cr Noone. From my experience, he’s one of the very few councillors who are genuinely friendly and welcoming to members of the public present observing council meetings.
Mind you, it’s very hard for any of the councillors to get any opportunity to be welcoming, because of the archaic physical set up of the Council Chamber which literally fences off the councillors from members of the public. The public are also literally ‘side-lined’ in public seating in a kind of alcove, from where it is very hard to see most of the councillors’ faces.
Diane. Beware of the snake in the grass.
“Frazzled!” is a word that springs to mind. Mayor Cull does not do mundane things like wrestling with recalcitrant citizens and budgets. He is in a much more comfortable zone when “big noting” on trivia such as tripping around the world getting underfoot in Shanghai, believing he is someone of note. Much like a frenzied puppy jumping around the table looking for hand me down crumbs.
I’d love to know what happened to Cull between the town hall anti-stadium rally in which he was an articulate champion of the ratepayer and the defamation case taken against him. The fire went out of him very quickly after that and although there are days he does his best to highlight his green credentials he doesn’t actually seem to stand for anything much. The petty outbursts he displays bear all the hallmarks of a man out of his depth trying to look in control. A small man. Still, anything not to get beaten up by the rugby boys again, I suppose.
Fernfrond, I think Cull’s best days in the spotlight was back in the time that he impersonated ‘Bob the Builder’ on TV. Could be that was were his forté.
Three comments relocated from elsewhere on this thread. -Eds
Diane Yeldon
May 15, 2015 at 5:27 am
Fernfrond, both appearances and non-appearances of local political figures at that town hall anti-stadium rally were, in my opinion, a set up. Keep in mind the no-shows. That’s the way I suspect local politics has been done here for decades. If you want to know any local politician’s real position and affiliations, you need to look at how he or she votes at council meetings and who he votes with. Relying only on local media reporting (in any city!) may lead you astray.
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Diane Yeldon
May 15, 2015 at 5:40 am
Supposing there was a movie about the owners of a media empire grooming a candidate who they would like to see holding political office. The plot of this movie would very likely point out that this could be done very cheaply by the media personages. Because the considerable financial incentive for this aspiring politician would not at all come out of their own pocket but rather out of the local ratepayers.
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Hype O’Thermia
May 15, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Diane, “…you need to look at how he or she votes at council meetings and who he votes with. Relying only on local media reporting…” is worse than useless. It’s not the omissions for reasons of space, it’s slant and distortions that are too consistent to be accidental.
The internet has the advantages when it comes to reporting local / central government – sites like this permit contributions from all points of view. Contributors include passionate amateurs pwn’d by nobody. They observe closely and have the background knowledge to spot patterns they’ve seen before, tactics and gamesmanship, changes in body language, and any “tells” (these are involuntary behaviours that reveal what the person wants to keep secret, e.g. among poker players) and signs of unease vs confidence.
DRAFT LTP hearings (Wed 13 May)
Tourist downturn denied by i-Site
Claims Dunedin’s i-Site visitor centre has been channelling fewer tourists to Cadbury World and other tourism operators have been strongly denied by the centre. Cadbury World manager Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana, on day three of the long-term plan hearing yesterday, told the Dunedin City Council some smaller tourism operators could be forced out of business if a downturn in business from i-Site was not addressed.
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Other submitters: Tourist downturn denied by i-Site
– Dave McFarlane, Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, on need for new council biodiversity officer;
– Lala Frazer, Save the Otago Peninsula, wanted more council compliance officers to monitor resource consent conditions;
– Philip Gilchrist outlined a plan to redevelop the Wolfenden and Russell building into a two-level South Dunedin library and community complex;
– Nick Orbell, South Dunedin Business Association, wanted more investment in South Dunedin;
– John Moyle, Green Island Business Association, wanted council investment in Main South Rd;
– Bev Butler renewed calls for “full forensic audit” of spending by Carisbrook Stadium Trust;
– Lyndon Weggery criticised council finances and the stadium review;
– Murray Grimwood urged the council to build community resilience;
– Korena Paterson, with her daughters, supported acceleration of road-widening work on Portobello Rd; the work was also supported by Christine Garey (Otago Peninsula Community Board), Sean Hogan (Broad Bay School), and Sandra Schwass;
– Paul Pope, Dunedin Amenities Society, called for improved tracks;
– Geoff Patton, Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust, urged the council to put as much funding as possible towards its grants scheme;
– John Brimble, Sport Otago, said a “facilities strategy” was needed to provide a framework for future decisions;
– Mountain Biking Otago outlined plans for new developments next year.
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Stargazers want city kept in dark
Dunedin’s opportunity to become the world’s first “dark sky city” could be lost if the replacement of the city’s street lights is rushed. Dr Ian Griffin, speaking as a citizen, not as Otago Museum director, was one of three submitters to talk about the issue at yesterday’s long-term plan hearings.
TrustPower asks for Deep Creek scheme rates cap
Electricity generator TrustPower is joining the queue for a change to its rates bill. The company yesterday asked the Dunedin City Council to consider a rates cap for its Deep Creek hydro-electric power scheme, near Lake Mahinerangi.
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 14, 2015 – 5:50pm
Dunedin clubs push for a Logan Park sports hub
Members of several Dunedin clubs are urging city councillors to support the development of a Logan Park sports hub. They say there’s an opportunity for the city to have a unique sporting area, to replace dilapidated facilities. And they’re offering to share the financial burden.
Video
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 14, 2015 – 5:54pm
Light pollution obscuring the vistas of space
A local astronomer is calling for an end to light pollution in Dunedin. He says the vistas of space are being obscured by street lighting. And he wants the Dunedin City Council to make a change, for the benefit of stargazers.
Video
Wed, 13 Jul 2016
ODT:DCC trials new streetlights
The Dunedin City Council is trialling LED technology as it prepares to spend millions replacing the city’s streetlights. Parks and recreation group manager Richard Saunders, who is also working in the transport area, said the council was planning to replace all the city’s streetlights over the next two financial years. It had set aside $6million for the project, but the final cost would not be known until the council settled on which type of light would be used and whether it would use “smart technology”, Mr Saunders said.
DRAFT LTP hearings (Thu 14 May) – last day
Council deliberations for the LTP start Monday
Proposed walkway – ‘There’s nothing like it in Dunedin’
Detailed plans for a coastal walkway with Cargill’s Castle at its heart have been presented to the Dunedin City Council. The idea is for a track of almost 2km, winding its way along Dunedin’s south coast, linking the category one-listed castle with nearby Tunnel Beach and eventually St Clair.
Brighton surf club seeks building bill grant
The Brighton Surf Life Saving Club has an impressive new home and an equally impressive bill left to pay, councillors have been told. As a result, club patron and life member Maurice Bell asked the council to consider a $40,000 grant – spread over four years – to help bridge the gap.
City readies to take advantage of Gigatown
Gigatown was a hot issue at yesterday’s long-term plan hearings, but concerns had already been raised. “No-one was prepared” for what to do when Dunedin won Gigatown, the group working on the roll-out says. Five months after the city won the Chorus-run competition, the social media noise which helped it win has gone quiet.
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Other submitters: ODT Link
– Peter Dowden, Bus Go Dunedin, called for less money to be spent on the city’s planned bus hub, and more on improvements at bus stops to ensure kerbs aligned evenly with bus doors.
– Cr Andrew Whiley for Saddle Hill Community Board, on improving the “confusing” Green Island intersection and repairing drainage at Brighton Domain.
– Dunedin South MP Clare Curran, requested council retain funding set aside for a South Dunedin community complex; supported a Mosgiel aquatic facility.
– Payal Ramritu (welfare officer), Otago University Students’ Association, wanted students’ needs to feature more prominently in council’s long-term planning. OUSA could help effect “real change” when it came to changing students’ alcohol-related behaviour.
Received from Lee Vandervis
Wed, 13 May 2015 at 10:55 p.m.
I had another back-room battle with staff this year to try to get an honest debt graph change to the Draft Annual Plan. Their bad-old days draft proposal this year was just to show future debt declining in a small graph!
Eleventh-hour Auditor intervention was followed by a changed graph now showing the context of historic massively increasing debt, as well as the proposed future decreasing debt, which I characterise as the Tui’s tail, as in ‘Yeah Right’.
The graph is much smaller than the full page graphs I had successfully fought for in past Annual Plans, but at least it now shows the historical context albeit moderated. It has a compressed X axis to make it look not so bad [my previously complained of “Himalayan debt mountain made to look like the Dorset Downs”]
Cheers,
Lee
It’s great what can be done by altering the scale of x and y axes. Just like those hilarious distorting mirrors that make people look thin with bulging knees, heads wider than their hips.
Fairground graphs, they’re funner than the old kind and they’re like totes Now!!!
As it shows in the LTP 2015/16 Consultation Document [which is only seen by those who request it] on page 10
Debt: as above the green line peaking at $400m in 2014/15. Immediately above the graph is the schedule through to 2024/25 but ignoring the stadium. It shows the DCC debt at $260m in 2014/15 declining to $223m in 2020/21 then to $149m in 2024/25.
Those, folks, are the numbers being sold to the general public, but as Lee says it does not include the stadium $30m which was transferred back from DVL. Why? Because DVL (the stadium owner) and DVML (the stadium operator) are both to be incorporated into DCHL. That means the reduced rental DVML was to pay to DVL is now likely to be from anywhere and we won’t know.
The whole document is a subterfuge designed to confuse and merge costs from and to wherever best suits on the day. The Stadium Review outcome is a major exercise of ‘smoke and mirrors’ with the city taking back the $30m but the rest buried in DCHL. It will eat away at the financial underpinning of the city for decades to come. Long after this set of administrators and councillors are gone.
After the Council’s irresponsible funding decisions this week, as Calvin asked by email, what will the debt graph look like now ???
Re “Stargazers want to keep city in the dark”
We know who Ian Griffen will vote for in the next council elections. Dave Cull has been doing a great job keeping the city in the dark for the past few years.
Cars: I am currently feeling somewhat intimidated by an email reply from a councillor informing me ( more or less) that ‘Dave’ has said the minutes of the last council meeting should say there was an adjournment and that is what they will say. So not only may our current mayor keep us all in the dark when that suits. But it also appears that he may say, ‘Let there be light!’ when he feels like it. And light there shall be! Or at least all the other councillors will pretend that this is the case. Ah, but will they? And am I now too nervous to attend the next meeting as an observer to go and find out?
You’d better go, Diane, otherwise the minutes will be incorrect.
Yep, am going and will report back.
Presumably Diane, you’re referring to the next Council meeting on 25 May 2015 at 1:00pm, Council Chamber, Municipal Chambers, The Octagon, Dunedin.
More Council meeting dates at http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/council_activities/council_meetings
We will take the ticket sales commission $110,000 of the Regent and give it to DMVL, and then increase the grant to the Regent by $110,000.
Just another indirect subsidy to the stadium from the ratepayers.
Referring again to the Stadium……Well, why not? I look again at the ‘Outcome of the Stadium Review’ as commissioned by CEO Dr Bidrose. It is encapsulated on pages 14 and 15 of the DCC Long Term Plan 2015/16 Consultation Document. This, it was said was to decide on the best option to proceed. There were in the end just three options considered: 1. The option decided upon. 2. Close down the Stadium and demolish it. and 3. Do nothing, just maintain the status quo.
Option 3 was out for obvious reasons.
Option 2 was dismissed on the grounds that the city would be left with the debt plus there would be no financial saving as all revenue generated by the stadium would be lost. The per annum costs of this are assessed at ($13.600m) That is patently wrong. The fact is that all revenue generated by DVML had accumulated by June 2013 (just two years of operation) a deficit of ($7.256m). That notwithstanding a DCC shareholder unsecured advance of $3.381m. So it is demonstrably shown that over $11m could have been saved just by not operating the stadium from the outset.
Option 1 as decided, well we are told that will only cost the ratepayers a budgeted $12.150m pa. And now we already see in the draft consideration to upgrade the sound system at who knows what cost.
The big option that was never considered but suggested by myself and others was that of: Closing the Stadium. Shutdown DVML then publicly advertise the complex to lease. With it closed, the ball would have been passed into the hands of the Rugby establishments. If the NZRFU and ORFU wanted to maintain the professional Super 15 and international Tests in the lower half of the South Island then the Stadium was their only immediate option. By leasing the Stadium it would provide the full range of facilities required, playing arena, function and office management facilities all under one roof. Plus the ability to market it for other activities to generate additional income. What better incentive would they need? Other than the next to free, heavily ratepayer subsidised deal they already have? A lease figure to cover the debt requirement should fit the rugby folk compared with the cost of having to create its own facilities. That is of course, if their heart was really in the game.
Was this option considered? No it was not! Why? One can only guess but it will go down in the annuls of the city’s history as one of its most expensive ill-considered blunders.
The ability of this council and administration to kick the can down the road with no consideration of the ramifications makes the mind boggle.
‘Outcome of the Stadium Review’ ….. all revenue generated by the stadium would be lost. The per annum costs of this are assessed at ($13.600m) ………. Option 1 as decided, well we are told that will only cost the ratepayers a budgeted $12.150m pa.
Well, Calvin, even without taking on board your examination (above) these figures cry out for skepticism.
Revenue (income to us) ASSESSED – no certainty expressed or implied:
$13,600m
Costs (money flowing from us) WILL only cost – implying certaintly: $12.150m.
Having seen how seamlessly costs escalate by $millions, those two figures are very close together. The difference is $1.45m. In the world of DCC blowouts that’s coins down the back of the sofa. That’s an amount not worth getting in a tizzy about (right, Cr Vandervis?) if someone points out there’s a car or two … or more … “mislaid”.
ASSESSED
Why all the DCC deference into “non public” as the great rock ‘n roll STADIUM SWINDLE continues?!
Cull is being utterly OBTUSE and going the right way to not being re-elected to the mayoralty or council. Greater Dunedin sinks with him.
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### ODT Online Sat, 16 May 2015
Stadium sound on agenda
By Chris Morris
A fix to Forsyth Barr Stadium’s troublesome public address system could be on the way. […] Mayor Dave Cull and Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive Terry Davies would not discuss the move yesterday, but the Otago Daily Times understands it relates to the stadium’s PA system.
Read more
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Further…
“The company running Forsyth Barr Stadium [DVML] was also seeking a shake-up of ticketing arrangements at the Dunedin Centre, and changes to the way community events funding was allocated.” ODT Link
What scrutiny is given to the names and addresses of those how make submissions to the long term plan?
It would appear that a very young child, who is incapable of filling out a submission, may have put in a very comprehensive submission in support of the Mosgiel Pool. It is also rumoured that a group closely associated with the pool may be involved in some underhand tactics of mass producing submissions, and then asking people to sign their name to them.
I have a printed copy of that “underhand tactics of mass producing submissions, and then asking people to sign their name to them”.
Dunedin City Council CAN SAY NO and proceed with scheduled upgrade to the existing pool at Mosgiel.
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### ODT Online Sat, 16 May 2015
Mosgiel pool funding options all have issues
By Vaughan Elder
The difficulties of deciding the fate of the Mosgiel aquatic facility have been highlighted in a report to be considered by councillors at next week’s long-term plan deliberations. The [DCC report by financial manager Carolyn Allan] details how the council could fund the $15 million facility and each funding option has disadvantages.
Read more
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WHAT THE
### ODT Online Sat, 16 May 2015
DCC may pay more for lighting at oval
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council could pay more for new floodlights at the University Oval, after the University of Otago ruled out making a contribution. Councillors will decide next week whether to contribute more than half the $2.2 million cost, as part of its long-term plan deliberations.
Read more
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Mayor out of his bloody tree.
Rates are already WAY ahead of the 0.1% rate of inflation.
Consolidated Debt per capita (ratepayers) is already fully untenable.
What happened to faster retirement of debt and feeling proud about that active mission.
DCC IS NOT AN OPEN CHARITY FUND FOR THE SLEASE ARTISTS OF DUNEDIN —OR MOSGIEL
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### ODT Online Sat, 16 May 2015
Projects possible only with rates rise
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council could consider higher rates hikes to help pay for big-ticket projects including the Mosgiel pool. The signal came from Mayor Dave Cull yesterday as councillors prepare for a tough week deciding whether to squeeze a series of major projects into a budget already under significant pressure.
Read more
Other contentious Draft LTP items: (via ODT)
– $300,000 grant to underwrite trust fundraising to save Dunedin physio pool, facility might not be viable.
– New central city plan including redevelopment of Octagon.
– DVML seeking shake-up of ticketing arrangements at Dunedin Centre, and changes to community events funding allocation.
– DVML plans to fix to stadium’s public address system. (non public)
– New bridge over railway corridor, to improve links between city and waterfront. (non public)
DCC muddies the waters further in the name of diligence – what about the scurrilous way Cull is doctoring support for Mosgiel Pool and Cycleways !!!!
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### ODT Online Sun, 17 May 2015
Council report queries physio pool viability
By Vaughan Elder
The campaign to save the Dunedin Physio Pool has been dealt a blow after a report by Dunedin City Council staff questioned the pool’s viability. Doubts over the pool’s viability places a council agreement to underwrite up to $300,000 of the cost of saving the pool in doubt, with the funding included in the draft long-term plan (LTP) subject to the staff report.
Read more
I wonder if any of the councillors have even swum at the Physio Pool – especially the ones like Cr Calvert who advocated and voted for spending rates money on this pool. I’m a swimmer and I totally agree with Cr Thomson that this pool is sub-standard. I would never recommend to a visitor to Dunedin that they should use it. When a councillor (like Cr Calvert) is reported as saying something along the lines, “The people told us they wanted it and we need to give the people what they want,” I hear warning bells. This sounds far more like making decisions based on hopes of later vote-catching than making decisions wisely and responsibly. This ‘give the people what they want’ approach always furthers more spending because the groups who want something are most vocal and usually well-organised to be so …to the point of signing copied submissions they hardly understand. Councillors are supposed to exercise common sense, discernment and a broad view when making decisions, not be like Father Christmas handing out lollies to kiddies.
And the basis on my submission at next Monday’s council meeting will be that the DCC already has a separate pool suitable for seniors and the differently-abled at Moana (where I regularly swim) – which is CLOSED between 6.00 am and 9.00 am! Merely because they don’t want to shell out three hours’ wages for a life-guard .. or so I’ve been told.
Physio pool and building has heritage significance – it’s deserving of restoration and sympathetic redevelopment for contemporary use. At the moment it is what it is due to lack of excellent stewardship by the failed SDHB and predecessor ODHB.
System testing on the draft LTP submission process….
### dunedintv.co.nz May 19, 2015 – 7:19pm
DCC ironing out kinks in new computer system
A new city council computer system is saving money and the environment, but it’s also proving difficult to use. And councillors are being urged to be patient as the kinks are ironed out.
Video
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 19, 2015 – 7:24pm
Living up to creative city status a concern for city councillors
The cost of Dunedin living up to its status as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature is a concern for city councillors. They want to allocate funds for new literature projects, but have to consider the ongoing expense of maintaining public library collections. Although a forgotten stash of money could be the answer.
Video
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 19, 2015 – 7:30pm
South Dunedin Mall complex a potential new library site
A last-ditch attempt to address the need for a library in South Dunedin is being made before the city council signs off its long term plan.
Read more
“Living up to creative city status a concern for city councillors.” They’re doing well though. It was a good move not to attempt all-over creativity, one area at a time: start small. Creative accounting is going gangbusters.
DCC LTP considerations (via ODT):
Support for panel on ‘dark skies’
Dunedin stargazers scored a victory yesterday when the Dunedin City Council supported setting up a “dark skies” advisory panel to work across council departments. This came after Dr Ian Griffin, speaking as a citizen, not as Otago Museum director, told councillors last week the city could lose its opportunity to become the world’s first “dark sky city” – where night sky visibility was much improved – if the city rushed replacement of its street lights.
Council $300,000 could save therapeutic pool
The Dunedin City Council has backed a three-year, $300,000 underwriting designed to save the Dunedin Hospital Therapeutic Pool. The move came at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations, despite lingering concerns from council staff and some councillors about uncertain financial forecasts and the pool’s ongoing viability.
Much extra funding unlikely for ‘tragic state’ sports fields
Dunedin City Council staff have conceded some sports fields are in a “tragic” state, but calls from some councillors for more funding to fix problems have so far fallen flat. Instead, it appears unlikely significant extra sums will be allocated for up to three years, while council staff continue to review the city’s sports field needs, council staff indicated.
Intertidal habitat considered – Portobello Road improvements
The Dunedin City Council has agreed to accelerate roading improvements on Otago Peninsula, but will also consider ways to protect wildlife under threat from the work. Councillors at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations voted to approve a plan to accelerate the road-widening, seawall and cycleway work on Portobello Rd, to complete the project in three years instead of 10.
█ █ █ Track costs study
Dunedin City Council will investigate the implications of taking over maintenance of a coastal walkway linking Cargill’s Castle and nearby Tunnel Beach. Councillors voted for the investigation at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations after Cargill’s Castle Trust chairman Steven De Graaf brought up the track at last week’s submission hearings.
Warning as grants funding increased
The Dunedin City Council has moved to lift funding for community grants, but should prepare for even more applications in future as other providers are squeezed, councillors have been told. The warning came at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations as Cr Richard Thomson pushed to increase grants funding to match consumer price index (CPI) increases from 2016-17 onwards.
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South D library in mall?
The Dunedin City Council has launched an “urgent” investigation of a proposal to accelerate work on a South Dunedin library by building it inside the half-empty South City Mall. The move came at yesterday’s DCC long-term plan deliberations, despite concerns staff were being given the “impossible” task of reporting back on the building’s suitability by the end of the week.
A quarter million Gigatown dollars
Dunedin city councillors unanimously voted in favour of spending $250,000 to help Dunedin take full advantage of its Gigatown victory. The allocation of funds at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations was subject to council staff coming up with an implementation plan for how the money would be spent and governing the process for distributing it. That implementation plan will be considered at the next economic development subcommittee meeting.
Proposed library cutbacks shelved
A plan to cut the amount Dunedin Public Libraries spends on books has been shelved, with the shortfall in council funding to be taken from trusts. Councillors voted at yesterday’s long-term plan hearings in favour of dropping a plan to cut $128,000 from the amount the library spends on collections after its inclusion in the LTP drew a backlash from members of the public. Councillors also supported shelving a plan to close the central library’s heritage collections – including the McNab New Zealand Collection – on Sundays.
Baldwin St gets no relief
The lack of public toilets close to Baldwin St is “embarrassing” for what is a top tourist destination, Cr Neville Peat says. Several councillors raised concerns about the council provision of public toilets in the city, with the lack of toilets close to Baldwin St in particular highlighted.
Bastards. DCC has found a way to fund lights for Otago Cricket.
DCC TO SPEND $40M ON CITY CENTRE IMPROVEMENTS = THOROUGH BULLSHIT GIVEN THE STATE OF DCC FINANCES
Dear Ian Lothian…….
Dave Cull’s electioneering platform via gnome.
Former Parkside Hotel patron says “….other cretins elsewhere in the country have caught up with us”…
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 20, 2015 – 7:34pm
Dunedin’s central city to be revitalised
Dunedin’s central city is to be revitalised following years of urban design, planning and community consultation. Dunedin City Council staff have developed a new plan for the main precincts within the city centre. And approval from councillors means work is about to begin.
Video
### dunedintv.co.nz May 20, 2015 – 7:27pm
Otago Peninsula road work brought forward
Planned road work along Otago Peninsula is being brought forward, following public demands for urgent improvements.
Video
### dunedintv.co.nz May 20, 2015 – 7:24pm
Councillors vote to spend on physio pool despite concerns
Up to $300,000 will be spent on the physiotherapy pool by the Dunedin City Council.
Video
Stadium sound proposal rejected (via ODT)
The Dunedin City Council has rejected a call to pay for a new public address system to fix sound problems at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The council issued a statement yesterday afternoon saying the work – aimed at improving sound for “day to day” events and not concerts – could not be funded within “current budgets”.
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Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Status Quo for Stadium PA System
This item was published on 20 May 2015
A new PA system for the Forsyth Barr Stadium is not able to be accommodated in current budgets, the Dunedin City Council has decided. A DCC staff report, discussed in non public today as part of the Long Term Plan deliberations, was withdrawn following a proposed alternative put forward by Dunedin Venues Management Limited (DVML) Chief Executive Terry Davies.
The need to improve the Stadium’s PA system has been discussed by DVML and the DCC since the Stadium opened in August 2011. Mr Davies says DCC interest savings this year meant DVML had hoped a new PA system could be accommodated. However, given the pressures on the DCC budget, it became clear this could not be funded.
At its meeting, the Council noted and accepted the proposed alternative solution that involved reprioritising the renewals programme. The Council commended Mr Davies and DCC staff on their work to achieve this outcome, and authorised the release of the redacted report.
The DCC report and the attached DVML report, which have been redacted for commercial reasons, are attached.
█ Forsyth Barr Stadium Sound System – NP Report (PDF, 72 KB)
█ Forsyth Barr Stadium Sound System – Attachment (PDF, 35 KB)
Contact Grant McKenzie Group Chief Financial Officer on 03 477 4000.
DCC Link
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University Oval lights proposal gets $1m (via ODT)
Dunedin City Council voted to commit $1 million to new floodlights at the University Oval, after a more than two-hour debate. Councillors divided into two camps while arguing for the economic benefits of top-level cricket, and against spending while rates and debt levels remained a concern, before voting 9-6 for the project. Councillors also agreed to add a set of conditions for Otago Cricket to comply with, in return for the funds.
The Vote
For: Crs Thomson, Peat, Bezett, Whiley, Noone, Staynes, Lord, Benson-Pope, Hall
Against: Crs Vandervis, Hawkins, Wilson, Calvert, MacTavish, Cull
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Interest saving sparks debate (via ODT)
A saving with the potential to ease the Dunedin City Council’s budget burden instead triggered accusations of “imaginative accounting” yesterday. The debate began when councillors at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations were told the council’s books now showed a $1.8 million interest underspend.
● GCFO Grant McKenzie, speaking earlier, told councillors the underspend “does not mean you have got an opportunity to go shopping”, but it was a “genuine saving”. […] The saving was expected to grow to more than $2 million by the end of the financial year. […] Councillors would decide how to allocate the rest of the underspend.
Councillor Thomson suggested spending of interest underspend:
$1 million to University Oval cricket lights
$350,000 to design work needed for Mosgiel aquatic facility
$30,000 to Otago Rural Fire Authority, to provide covered space for one water tanker.
Oh Oh? “Councillors add a set of conditions for Otago Cricket to comply with, in return for the funds.” Is this the Ghost of Malcolm echoing from Queenstown? Remember the ‘sets of conditions’, the ‘lines in the sand’, conditional upon the DCC giving the green light for the Stadium. Every tide washed away the ‘lines in the sand’ and there in all its pristine loss making glory stands the Stadium. I do wish that councils would be finished with these ‘charades’ and just waste the money they don’t have without the BS bit.
Calvin, this is the era of hear nothing see nothing at DCC.
But, “see” new post.
CENTRAL CITY PLAN
Council pushes revamp work (via ODT)
The Dunedin City Council has backed plans to accelerate work on a nearly $40 million central city improvements programme. The proposal is for a revamped Octagon, more pedestrian and retail-friendly George St, paving replacements and other amenity improvements rolled out across the central city by 2025. It would also include further improvements to Princes St and the warehouse precinct, Queens Gardens, an eastern freight bypass, and possibly even a bridge to the harbourside zone.
● Councillors also backed the move to include further planning work for improvements in the tertiary precinct in the LTP.
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DCC Central City Plan [see LTP Consultation Document, pages 22-23] – http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/long-term-plan-consultation-document/central-city-plan
DCC Long Term Plan Consultation Document – http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/long-term-plan-consultation-document
DCC Long Term Plan Documents and supporting documents – http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/long-term-plan-documents-and-supporting-documents
We used to call this “on the never-never”. Accelerate programmes, bring them forward and borrow to fund them. As long as the pay-off date is beyond the horizon of most current Councillor aspirations, it never comes back to bite them. Until you hit a debt ceiling.
TAIERI AQUATIC CENTRE
(via 39News)
{NOTE. The points listed here from the video have since been shown to be incorrect – go to https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/dcc-draft-ltp-201516-202425-public-submissions-online/#comment-62353 -Eds}
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DCC gives support in principle for $17.5 million pool complex at Mosgiel.
● $6 million set aside for development, to be spent in 2018/19 financial year.
● Up to $300,000 made available now for detailed planning.
● Interest-free loan of $50,000 made available to Taieri Community Facilities Trust (aka Pooling Together).
● Detailed design and cost option to Council by end of October this year.
● TCFT has to come up with $7.5 million.
Video: http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/node/101699
● Up to $300,000 made available now for detailed planning.
Also known as invoice fraud. A few self-important people charging $350 per hour or $1200 per day, plus “printing expenses” (*), plus GST. This is the second phase take and enables a few people to replace their expensive modern car with a more modern expensive car.
The actual people doing the real work will be on little or nothing because the fat neck crowd know that the excitable ones work for peanuts.
It’s all going to plan to keep scamming the ratepayers.
Got to wonder what’s in it for this current crop of corrupt Councillors to continue killing off a city they were charged to protect.
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* No shit: Those people creaming it on the stadium “research” were getting over a $1,000 per day and then claiming printing costs on top of that.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 21, 2015 – 6:54pm
Council allocates funding for new lighting at University Oval
The Otago Cricket Association is getting a major financial boost to establish new lighting at the University Oval. Up to a million dollars is being allocated to the project by the Dunedin City Council. But not all councillors are seeing eye to eye over the funding.
Video
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### dunedintv.co.nz May 21, 2015 – 6:57pm
Upgrade plans for stadium PA system have been shelved
Sound problems at Forsyth Barr Stadium will continue, as a proposal to upgrade the public address system has been shelved. The stadium’s current PA system has been a headache for Dunedin Venues Management from the beginning. The company proposed putting in about 100 new speakers, a significant increase on the existing number. But the plan’s been withdrawn due to financial pressures on the Dunedin City Council. Stadium managers and councillors agree the PA system needs to be upgraded at some stage. But there’s no date for the work just yet.
Ch39 [no video available]
Cr Richard Thomson supported the project, but said it needed to be based on a ”50-year vision”, as short-term thinking resulted in ”bad decisions”.
50-year vision? A new take on 50-year debt and intergenerational debt. Bet the rich boys paid their PR team well to think that “vision” up. But damn if Richard Thomson isn’t reminding me of someone else recently.
I still can’t understand how he got voted in but suspect it would be quite interesting reviewing who or what ticked that box.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/343130/mosgiel-pool-wins-support
It’s now very simple to prevent this $300,000 being wasted. Both the well intentioned thought and likely reality are wrapped up in the following.
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22/5/2015
Report to Council Staff, Dunedin City Council
From Consultancy Team, Mosgiel Pool Trust
Dear Council Staff
The pool is viable (1).
Thank you
Consultants on behalf of the Mosgiel Pool Trust
Terms
1) (etc etc) the above finding only states what you wanted to hear and does not confirm any form of actual support for the pool (etc etc).
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21/5/2015
TAX INVOICE
Invoice 00000002
Detail:
Confirm viable.
Cost:
Consulting – $300,000.
Disbursement for printing – $60.
Unplanned costs:
Advertising in the Otago Daily Times – $30,000.
Advertising in other media – $493.12.
Subtotal $330,553.12
GST $49,582.97
Total $380,136.09
Pay now.
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20/5/2015
Invoice total of $380,136.09:
[PAID]
!!!!!!
I have it on good authority that the sorting machine recently purchased by the library at a cost of around $1m is a lemon. Apparently it spends half its time being repaired and when it does function it is no more efficient that the previous system. That would explain why I can never return my books through the new slots anyway.
And BMW, did that marvellous machine produce cost savings in staff time/labour or did the inoperable machine result in extra staff to keep the machine AND sort the books. Many of us older people will remember the proposed enormous labour cost savings expected due to the introduction of computers which has lead to the increase in staff at the DCC from 350 to the current 750 plus Delta, plus Aurora, plus plus plus.
DCC LTP considerations (via ODT):
UNPOPULAR CAPITAL PROJECT – TAIERI AQUATIC CENTRE
NOTE: The conditions stated by 39 Dunedin News last night were incorrect.
Mosgiel pool wins support
Dunedin City councillors have thrown their support behind a Mosgiel aquatic facility, despite a staff warning about council missing its debt targets. Councillors at yesterday’s long-term plan hearings voted in favour of building a facility “in principle”, subject to a number of conditions.
● Taieri Community Facilities Trust to raise $7.5 million towards project.
● Council has allocated a placeholder budget of $6 million for the facility in the 2018-19 financial year.
● Budget of up to $300,000 approved for council staff to investigate project costs, design options and site location
● Staff to report back to council by April next year, at which point councillors would decide whether to proceed with the project and how.
● Councillors voted that council staff and the trust develop a new memorandum of understanding.
Council to seek legal advice after claims about stadium documents
The Dunedin City Council is to seek a legal opinion after claims the Carisbrook Stadium Trust is refusing to hand it documents relating to millions of dollars of spending. The move was signalled at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations after Mayor Dave Cull said the assertion from stadium critic Bev Butler was the trust had withheld documents from the council.
● Council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose would be asked to prepare a report for council on the CST’s documents, including a legal opinion on the council’s right to access them.
Regent to receive $110k to offset loss
Dunedin city councillors have approved an extra $110,000 a year for the Regent Theatre Trust to offset the loss of ticketing revenue. Councillors at yesterday’s long-term plan deliberations were considering the change after the council had earlier informed the trust it was to lose its ticketing role for the Dunedin Centre suite of venues.
● Council staff recommended the trust receive an extra grant of $110,000 a year to compensate for lost revenue from ticketing role. The grant would be found by reducing existing subsidies to DVML by the same amount.
● Councillors will allow DVML to use $150,000 of its $750,000 community access fund to promote use of Dunedin Centre venues – including the town hall – by community groups.
Mayor not happy over safety spend
The Dunedin City Council has decided to fund the City Safety Programme, despite Mayor Dave Cull’s “resentment” at having to do so. The decision came after central government signalled it would no longer support the programme, which paid for city safety officers, from July 1.
● Council to add $40,000 a year to its books to support the programme.
Council $75k for Cosy Homes trust
The Dunedin City Council is to dip into its electricity fund to help support the newly created Cosy Homes Charitable Trust’s efforts to improve the city’s housing stock.
● Councillors voted to take $50,000 from Consumer Electricity Fund, used to help people struggling to pay their bills, to support the Cosy Homes trust.
● Another $25,000 would be taken from general funds to add to the trust’s funding, meaning a total of $75,000 in 2015-16.
### dunedintv.co.nz May 22, 2015 – 7:16pm
Further investigations into a South Dunedin public library to be made
More work will be done to investigate the possibility of putting a public library inside the South Dunedin Mall.
Video
DCC LTP considerations (via ODT):
$245k for arts, culture strategy; branding link
The Dunedin City Council has approved $245,000 of funding for its new arts and culture strategy, and has appointed Cr Aaron Hawkins to lead the body tasked with its implementation.
● Funding comprises $100,000 for community arts development
● $60,000 for creative-sector economic development
● $50,000 for establishing an Urban Dream Brokerage franchise
● $25,000 for advancing public art objectives
● $10,000 for creative sector projects in Enterprise Dunedin.
● Involves hiring new council staff; one role likely based in Enterprise Dunedin to connect arts strategy with city branding
● Staff given more time for South Dunedin investigation.
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Council sets 3.8% rates rise
An accusation of an “ambush” over finances tested tempers as the Dunedin City Council’s long-term plan hearing process concluded yesterday with provisional confirmation of a 3.8% rates rise. Councillors also approved a debt limit of $230 million by 2021, and got through the last individual proposals in the long-term plan.
Excellent ODT editorial today. Balanced and truth telling. The onus is completely on the political arm of the DCC to be prudent, something they have failed to do. I can’t for the life of me understand how these councillors can live with themselves, including those who supposedly support struggling people whom they continue to hammer. Shame on you.
Agree, Peter.
See new post:
DCC rates rise | ODT editor nonplussed
### ODT Online Sun, 24 May 2015
More time given to look at library-mall plan
By Eileen Goodwin
Dunedin City Council staff have been given more time to investigate a proposal to locate a South Dunedin library in the South City Mall.
An urgent measure had been agreed earlier this week to try to accelerate development of a library in the half-empty mall, but on Friday [it was]acknowledged staff needed more time for issues to be ”teased out”.
Read more
There’s more emphasis on the “library” as a social centre (“hub”) than on its library function – internet access, meeting place, coffee……….. haven’t councillors and South Dunedin Library advocates heard of internet cafes?
### ODT Online Wed, 27 May 2015
Support for pool welcomed
By Vaughan Elder
The Dunedin City Council’s support for a Mosgiel aquatic facility means the project is one step closer to proceeding […] The approval of a $50,000 loan to help with fundraising costs was also a positive, but given the size of the campaign and preparation required it would be up to 10 months before it began. […] The proposal for the pool attracted widespread support among councillors, with only Crs Lee Vandervis and Jinty MacTavish opposing a motion to support it “in principle”.
Read more
@Support for pool welcomed
By Vaughan Elder on Wed, 27 May 2015
Amid all the blather in this article the only bit that made any sense was this:
“What part of no money do you people here not understand?”
Cr Vandervis asked the other councillors who voted for the project.
Unfortunately:
I think both Lee Vandervis and Bill Feather already know the answer to this – it goes something like we’ll do a Furbar Furbar Furbar again Furbar Furbar Furbar
“Support for the Pool Welcomed”
What support ? The council have actually taken the project away from the trust, and placed it fairly and squarely in the hands of council staff. Where it should have been right from the start (that would have saved the ratepayers $30,000). The trust has become like some of its members, redundant. The trust has been sacked, and good riddance to the incompetent mob.
The comments from the chair of the Mosgiel Taieri community board Bill Feather: “The council made the decision the board had been pushing council for. The council through its decision, has acknowledged the need for a pool and the fact that it supports it.” Come on Billy boy. What part of the council’s decision don’t you understand. Your board and the self’-appointed trust have had the project taken away, and put in its rightful place. Back to the council staff, and who knows what council staff will recommend.
Council have certainly learnt from the Carisbrook Stadium Trust debacle, and appear to have no appetite for a repeat.
If the board members had anything between their ears, rather than trying to put it in their pockets, they would have retained full control of the project, and called in the assistance of council staff, to do exactly what the council is now proposing.
After all the bullshit and lies that we were told about the community fronting up with $7.5 million, it is no surprise to read comments of the chair of the trust Irene Mosley: “The approval of a $50,000 loan to help with fundraising costs were positive, but given the size of the campaign and preparation required it would be up to 10 months before it began.”
Funny that when we were told that the community were standing in line to throw money at it.
Another coincidence is the fact the trust require 10 months for preparation. That is about the same time that council staff have been asked to report back.
Hopefully, that will be the final nail in the trust’s coffin. After returning the $50,000.
If they can’t raise their own $50,000 ‘to help with fund raising costs’, how in the hell can they raise $7.5m? Their logic is, at best, dumb.
This lot should be told to piss off.
Exactly, Peter.
“The approval of a $50,000 loan to help with fundraising costs were positive, but given the size of the campaign and preparation required it would be up to 10 months before it began.”
The original promise (premise?) was that they were already aware of willing donors. So collect those donations first and use them for fundraising – or was it all bullshit floated by gasbags?
It has been reported from out at Mosgiel. That a large whale spout in anger was seen after the trust’s toy was taken from it.
Intriguing, Andre. Surely the trust must feel some relief at only now having to fundraise, rather than project manage the multimillion-dollar pool project as a whole and risk turning into Malcolm Farry cardboard cut-outs, with Arrow escapees like Pond and Cadden ruling the roost through expensive billing cycles…. Now all that’s left to the trust is fundraising which it has always professed is straightforward given the $7.5M commitment it has from the local community. It has to trust DCC to do its job in diligence. Good luck with that, TCFT.
Supporting something ‘in principle’. We know what that means. Deja vu… a la stadium process… till they got what they wanted.
Interesting comments from Cr Thomson in the letters to the editor column today, on matters concerning the Mosgiel pool.
“What that pool looks like and what its resultant capital and operational costs are will need to be determined before any final decisions are made.”
Excuse me Richard old boy. What was the $30,000 given to the trust for ? Now you have thrown another $50,000 at them, for What ? When they have assured us that they have the Taieri community right behind them financially. Or haven’t you bothered to read all the propaganda that came out of the trust ?
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{Will scan and post. -Eds}
Cr Thomson’s reply was notable for its switches between speculation and certainty.
It’s along the style of – points “for” his point of view may happen, are expected to result in [good things]. Carefully not making any promises!
Points the letter writer raised as reasons for extreme caution, at the very least, Cr Thomson dismisses as definitely won’t and can’t.
I am about to shock you care of ODT muttering on 39 News last night.
Govt has Dunedin shortlisted for funding to fast track an overbridge between Harbourside and Queens Gardens at Rattray St. Bastards. How to KILL cultural heritage landscape – the Kettle Plan view shaft to the water; the spatial and architectural integrity of NZ Loan & Mercantile Building and more.
Fuck. And any shortfall will come at us as always. Blame bloody Glen for this overspend too.
No doubt friends Van Brandenburg have something to do with this.
Cheaper more efficient to do a rail crossing at grade with automatic controls. KiwiRail will not capitulate, however.
If we’re lucky we’ll not make first base with Govt. Even if Glen does himself !!
But then he’d just shove us with the full cost of $10M debt funding.
Maybe Elizabeth. The bridge will make it easier to attract another highrise to be built close to the Chinese Garden, with views over the harbour to the front and over the city out the back.
Maybe we can call it the Brandenburg Gate.
(Gate from the original Norse, meaning ‘way’)
Anywhere else in the world, there would be a serious architectural design competition for the bridge or way (!!) to cross – so to attract the best design outcome rather than immediately writing the Council cheque to ‘friends’.
Last days, site searches for Betterways…. but shouldn’t they be for Ms Jing Song and husband, to reacquaint the gap at 41 Wharf St ? To bridge relations, perhaps Mayor Cull is at China learning old calligraphy – not Japan, Cities of Literature (junket).
I should say in review of site stats there have also been a number of searches of waterfront hotel posts across the last month. What has been going on in non public at DCC. We all know Glen liked the Betterways hotel design, which really conflicts his office of policy planner – heritage.
RAIL OVERBRIDGE
There are GOOD design alternatives to this Hazelton/Brandenburg cycleway carbuncle. More time should be given – especially given Dunedin’s low population and the general lack of public engagement with the rough and raw undeveloped INDUSTRIAL harbourside at this time. Don’t forget the need for ORC to rebuild the north-side sea wall to the steamer basin and the wharf structures over this for public safety. Megabucks. And Ruthie babe in her new role – maybe she got sick of politics around the SH6 Kawarau Falls Bridge replacement for Eiontown.
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### ODT Online Thu, 28 May 2015
Bridge on funding short list
By Chris Morris
A multimillion-dollar bridge linking Dunedin’s inner city and waterfront has been short-listed for Government funds. The Otago Daily Times has learned the bridge is among only a few New Zealand projects vying for the next allocation from the Urban Cycleway Fund. An announcement is expected next month, and, if successful, the bridge could be considered for construction over the next three years.
Read more