█ Message: It looks like they have pushed the panic button.
—
From: Simon Pickford Sent: Wednesday, 30 September 2015 11:54 a.m. To: Council 2013-2016 (Elected Members); Community Board – Chalmers 2013-2016; Community Board – Mosgiel Taieri 2013-2016; Community Board – Otago Peninsula 2013-2016; Community Board – Saddle Hill 2013-2016; Community Board – Strath Taieri 2013-2016; Community Board – Waikouaiti Coast 2013-2016 Cc: Executive Leadership Team (ELT); Anna Johnson; Nicola Pinfold Subject: 2GP update
Dear Councillors and Community Board members,
I just wanted to give you a brief update on the 2GP and public enquiries. As of the end of day 2 since the 2GP was notified we have had approximately 100 people through the drop-in centre on George Street whom we have answered questions for. We have also had just over 80 phone enquiries, and many emails. Staff are working overtime to return phone calls and get back to people as quickly as possible. However, with a small team of planners and a few on long overdue leave, some calls may take a day or 2 to clear. We have also received a large number of people through the DCC libraries and service centres.
Any District Plan is a difficult document for people to get their heads around and many people will need assistance. We are working hard to provide first class customer service on this project, but the first few days are always the most challenging as both the public and the planners work through this process.
We estimate around 90% of calls are related to natural hazards provisions. The natural hazard questions have related to both what the 2GP provisions are and also questions related to how things have been mapped which we have referred to the Otago Regional Council where appropriate, as they (and their consultants) undertook the scientific analysis.
We hope to get to you a list of frequently asked questions and their answers in the next couple of days so you know what people are asking and what the answers are.
We would really appreciate your support in helping your communities to be involved in this process, by encouraging people to seek advice and get involved but also help them to understand that the first few days may require some patience with the flood of enquiries and as we learn better what people are interested in so we can streamline and provide additional information around those questions.
Please also encourage them to come to the community meetings. Some suggestions provided by you that staff are responding to are trying to resource a staff member to go to the Mosgiel service centre to help with enquiries and to provide people with another option than the George Street centre. They will also look to add an additional meeting at Macandrew Bay. If you have any other suggestions or concerns please contact Anna Johnson directly so she can look to improve our service where we can.
Thank you for your support.
Best regards
Simon
Simon Pickford
General Manager Services and Development
Dunedin City Council
THEY ARE (today, already) RAISING THEIR HANDS IN DESPAIR AND WALKING AWAY
Council service centres have no printed maps for people to view.
Not all people are computer literate or have a computer that allows easy viewing – given their properties and districts may have (in MANY cases) substantial zoning change – GET MULTIPLE COPIES OF THE COLOUR MAPS PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED
…. and stop obfuscating.
Otherwise, Democracy and Natural Justice are not being served.
And you, DCC, know what that means.
A mother of a clean up exercise on your heads.
DCC wrote the PROPOSED 2GP for rob-the-poor DEVELOPERS, so TAKE THE COUNCIL TO COURT —doesn’t get more simple than this.
At last Monday’s Council meeting Mayor Cull said the [PROPOSED] 2GP had “acceptance” —given the document hadn’t been publicly notified at that date (September 21) WHY WAS HE LYING ?!
—
### dunedintv.co.nz Fri, 25 Sep 2015 DCC’s next generation plan to have significant repercussions
The Dunedin City Council is tackling some contentious issues as part of its next generation plan. The plan will have significant repercussions for land owners and developers. But before any decisions are made, staff are keen to hear from the public. Ch39 Link
And now an advertising message from an old BDSM expert:
39 Dunedin Television Published on Sep 25, 2015
DCC’s next generation plan to have significant repercussions
—
Two videos, in case (DCC thinks) your children want to make a submission:
Dunedin City Council Uploaded on Jul 28, 2015 What is a District Plan?
Dunedin City Council Uploaded on Jul 28, 2015 How might the 2GP affect my House?
—
The following has been annotated.
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
[PROPOSED] 2GP released for public submissions
This item was published on 25 Sep 2015
A framework for the sustainable management of Dunedin’s natural and physical resources is out for public feedback. For the past three years, the Dunedin City Council has been working on a review of the District Plan. This review has produced the PROPOSED Second Generation Dunedin City District Plan (2GP), which has a new set of zones and rules for the city. These proposed new rules for what you can do on your land and how it can be developed have been released today for public submissions.
[NOTE, DCC does not say in the PROPOSED 2GP how your land and property holdings can be “sustainably managed” and how their values and significance – including heritage significance – can be retained and enhanced for future generations in the Heritage City and Rural Districts. No, DCC says “developed” and that is the very brunt of the “1600 pages of rules, policies and supporting information” wrought by motherfucker overpaid deskhugger policy planners and stipend-stealing unemployable political no-hopers that sit on the present council. “Let’s do property speculation,” they say – because they don’t know of any other way to boost the domestic economy – certainly not through IP, product and service development For Export, they’re way too thick for that. Their only skill has been, and is, to steal from ratepayers —thereby placing ratepayers (the aging population) into extreme debt to the three big banks. The house of cards what blows itself down.]
Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says the community has been involved in preparing the [PROPOSED] 2GP and there has already been a lot of discussion with residents about what the new plan should contain. The process of community engagement began as part of developing the Spatial Plan for Dunedin, which was adopted in September 2012. “This is a crucial document which aims to encourage appropriate development in the right locations while protecting the features and amenities that residents hold dear. With the [PROPOSED] 2GP we aim to produce a more streamlined document which is easier to use and gives greater clarity and certainty about what activities and development can be carried out and where that can happen. Where possible, we want to reduce the need for resource consents and minimise the costs of the consent process.”
[Roll on the non-notified consents which fail to fairly identify and notify all affected parties and interested parties (COMMUNITY RIGHTS) to resource consent applications that could irreversibly change those parties’ lives and the consequent value of their assets, not in a good way.]
[The PROPOSED 2GP is not about Sustainable Management and Protection. Should we tell DCC how many Court Appeals are about to slap it in the face: unsustainably for DCC.]
Mr Cull says the [PROPOSED] 2GP also strengthens strategic policies, which look at aspects such as spatial planning and city-wide issues. It also improves how effective rules are and responds to emerging issues such as natural hazards and households wanting on-site energy generation.
[BDSM expert] DCC Planning and Regulatory Committee Chair …. says, “I really encourage people to get involved and give us their feedback. If you have questions about what the proposed changes mean, or want to get accurate information [What planet is the BDSM expert on ?] or check out what you may have heard, staff at our [PROPOSED] 2GP drop-in centre will be able to help.”
[One of Jim Harland’s ‘darlings’] DCC City Development Manager …. says the ultimate goal of the [PROPOSED] 2GP is the sustainable management of Dunedin’s natural and physical resources. “The [PROPOSED] 2GP has been prepared over several phases. At each step we have asked stakeholders [A LARGE NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED AS, OR TRUSTED AS, STAKEHOLDERS, DCC – THESE PEOPLE YOU DELIBERATELY DECIDED TO ALIENATE AND AVOID] and the wider community [DITTO, DCC] to identify issues and consider options.”
There have also been two main community consultations as part of the development of the [PROPOSED] 2GP:
● Issues and Options (November 2012 – March 2013)
● Preferred Options (August 2013 – September 2013 and June 2014 – September 2014 for natural hazard provisions).
“As part of the process, we have worked with reference groups and held informal consultation with key stakeholders, organisations and individuals [DCC, YOU HAVE PICKED OFF THE WEAK AND GULLIBLE AND THOSE YOU WANTED TO MANIPULATE OR SERVE FINANCIALLY; YOU HAVE DELIBERATELY MISSED CONSULTATION WITH CERTAIN OTHERS WHO ARE, WOOPS, PERCEIVED AS TROUBLE]. We are now at the notification and submissions stage where the process moves to formal consultation.” [Rather, this is where the process moves to private Legal Action, to protect citizen rights]
█ The [PROPOSED] 2GP is open for public submissions from Saturday, 26 September until 5pm, Tuesday, 24 November. [Two months, NOT LONG – HEAR THE BULLDOZERS COMING]
█ The [PROPOSED] 2GP, which has about 1600 pages of rules, policies and supporting information, has been prepared as an electronic plan and is most easily viewed online at www.2gp.dunedin.govt.nz. Printed copies will also be available for inspection at the [PROPOSED] 2GP drop-in centre at 11 George Street, Dunedin and at Dunedin Public Libraries and Service Centres.
█ At the drop-in centre, staff will be available from Monday to Friday to answer questions about the [PROPOSED] 2GP and show you how to make a submission. Community workshops will also be held.
The DCC is required to follow a formal process in terms of submissions and the next steps, such as hearings. More information on this is available on the [PROPOSED] 2GP website. How long it takes to fully replace the current District Plan depends on the number and nature of appeals. The first set of changes could be in place by mid 2016 if there are no opposing submissions.
In summary, here are some of the key proposed changes.
The [PROPOSED] 2GP:
● [THINK BIG, oh noes] includes a new strategic directions section that sets out key issues for the city, ‘big picture’ outcomes to be achieved, and sets up the plan’s zoning and other methods
● makes it easier to carry out earthquake strengthening of heritage buildings and easier to add and alter heritage buildings [Danger Danger AVOID Best Practice Conservation Practice – turn everything into Disneyland and fake facades] so they can be re-used
● [THIS IS FUCKING CRIMINAL] includes two new residential heritage precincts (Queen Street and Arthur Street areas) and a reduction in the area of commercial heritage precincts
● [THIS DESTROYS THE BALANCE OF GREEN SPACE IN OLDER RESIDENTIAL SUBURBS AND THERE ARE NO HERITAGE GUIDELINES OR DESIGN GUIDELINES TO GUARD EXISTING CHARACTER AND HERITAGE VALUES] makes it easier to build family flats in most zones to provide more housing options for extended families, particularly in response to an ageing population
● [MORE NEGLIGENCE] includes new rules to enable smaller events to be held, and many public amenities to be built, without the need for resource consent
● [THIS DESTROYS THE BALANCE OF GREEN SPACE IN OLDER RESIDENTIAL SUBURBS AND THERE ARE NO HERITAGE GUIDELINES OR DESIGN GUIDELINES TO GUARD EXISTING CHARACTER AND HERITAGE VALUES] includes nine new medium density areas (of 24 in total), where development density can be increased (changing from the current restriction of one dwelling per 500m2 site to enabling more than one residential unit per site over 400m2 at a density of one bedroom per 45m2)
● changes to fence height rules along boundaries with roads and reserves to maintain a visual connection with these spaces to improve safety and maintain amenity values
● reduces some on-site car parking requirements for residential properties and other activities so people have more choice in how much car parking is needed
● [THIS DESTROYS THE BALANCE OF GREEN SPACE IN OLDER RESIDENTIAL SUBURBS AND THERE ARE NO HERITAGE GUIDELINES OR DESIGN GUIDELINES TO GUARD EXISTING CHARACTER AND HERITAGE VALUES] allows garages and carports to be built in the front yards of houses, with some limitations, rather than always requiring a resource consent
● identifies some new coastal and other landscape management areas where there would be limits around the new buildings that can be constructed
● [DCC HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTH DUNEDIN, DCC IS PATRONISING] includes new hazard management areas, where it is proposed to manage development to better protect people and property from natural hazard events.
Contact City Development Manager [Anna Johnson] [deliver a complete earful, then sue] on 477 4000.
The University of Otago has expensive real estate and facilities at Dunedin, substantial numbers of heritage and modern buildings, tracts of housing, halls of residence and colleges, a space programme and a campus master plan. The university always has some sort of building and construction work going on most of the time.
The Property Services Division, headed by Barry MacKay (pictured), states its raison d’être as:
“We create, develop and maintain the Otago campuses in a way that inspires and supports excellence in all that experience them. We’re proud to support the ongoing academic mission of New Zealand’s first university by providing the best facilities, services and physical environment in which staff, students and the general public can learn, teach, live and play. From overseeing the design and construction of award-winning buildings, fixing broken light bulbs, booking office space, cutting the grass and trimming hedges, we’re the highly-trained men and women who help keep the five University of Otago campuses humming.” http://www.otago.ac.nz/propertyservices/index.html
Despite the amazing upbeat veneer of professionalism and competence….
Imagine the university’s shrill consternation over an ‘outstanding’ Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) —for work to Aquinas Hall in 2008.
Just this week the university started contacting members of the local building fraternity…. confusing particular builds and industry players, with SO MUCH BLAMING and, decidedly, no track of its own on which relevant project or missing CCC….
Turns out, the Stage 2 Aquinas job had been project managed by the university. Property Services should’ve called Property Services.
Too many light bulbs need to be changed. Not enough energy, Mr MacKay, put into your project management systems.
—
█ A code compliance certificate is a formal statement issued under section 95 of the Act, that building work carried out under a building consent complies with that building consent.
### dunedintv.co.nz Thu, 24 Sep 2015 DCHL in strong position
More than $15m has been paid out to the city council and its subsidiaries in the last financial year. Ch39 Link
39 Dunedin News Published on Sep 24, 2015
DCHL in strong position
—
Dunedin City Council – Media release
Annual Result for the year ended 30 June 2015
This item was published on 24 Sep 2015
The Board of Dunedin City Holdings Limited (DCHL) is pleased to report the financial result for the DCHL group for the year ending 30 June 2015.
Highlights
● Profit after tax and subvention payments for the group was $12.9m.
● We have distributed to the Dunedin City Council (DCC) and its subsidiaries outside the DCHL group a total of $15.7m consisting of $4.5m in dividends, $5.9m in interest and $5.2m net in subvention payments.
● Cash from operations continues to remain strong at $32.3m. This was after paying the budgeted subvention payments of $7.9m to Dunedin Venues Limited.
● Total borrowings across the group have reduced by $23m to $598m. ● The financial result for the year reflects the hard work and focus of the staff and directors of the DCHL group of companies, which is much appreciated.
Profit after tax for the group was $12.9m for the year consistent with last year’s result of $12.5m. The result for the year is a continuation of the solid returns for the group.
Aurora Energy Limited invested significantly in its network during the year, resulting in an overall increase of $23m in its asset base. This is a reflection of work being undertaken by the company in renewal investment on the Dunedin network and investment in the Central Otago network driven by growing consumer demand. Overall capital investment in the network over the next 10 years is expected to be $372m.
Now that Delta Utility Services Limited has fully exited its water and civil construction operations, it was able to have a full year concentrating on its core services. This saw a marked increase in demand and reflected positively on its results. Overall the company returned a surplus after tax of $4.7m.
City Forests Limited continues to consolidate its financial position through reduction in borrowings, an increase in its forestry investment and maintenance of its dividend distribution. The company had a net surplus of $7m after tax.
Taieri Gorge Railway Limited has turned around from a loss last year to record a surplus after tax of $173,000 in the year to 30 June 2015. The positive result is a reflection of an increase in passenger revenue and continued focus on costs within the business.
Dunedin International Airport Limited achieved an operating surplus of $1.7m for the year, consistent with its result of $1.8m for the previous financial year. The company was able to increase its dividend to DCHL in the year from $565,000 in 2013/14 to $640,000 in 2015/16.
A pleasing aspect of the financial performance is the continued drop in borrowings within the group’s balance sheet. Borrowings have decreased from $621 million at June 2014 to $598 million at June 2015. Most of this decrease has come from improved cashflow management within the group assisted by significantly reducing the interest costs for borrowing entities. All of the subsidiaries, other than Aurora Energy Limited, were able to reduce their debt levels during the year. An increase in debt levels by Aurora Energy Limited is expected given their capital investment programme.
Cash from operations continues to remain strong at $33m. The ability of the group to maintain strong operational cash flows is imperative to ensure that it can meet its dividends and capital investment requirements.
DCHL has signalled to the DCC, via its annual Statement of Intent, that its distributions to the Council will decrease from $15.7m to $11.2m over the next three years. With the planned capital investment being undertaken by Aurora, it is prudent that Aurora reduces dividend distributions to DCHL over the next three years to ensure the funds are invested into capital and to maintain an appropriate equity to total assets ratio. This naturally impacts in the distribution that DCHL can make to the Council.
Overall the upcoming 12 months for the group looks favourable. The capital investment by Aurora will provide financial stability for the company, Delta continues to grow its core contracts while maintaining its current contract base and improvements in the tourism market will continue to assist Taieri Gorge Railway. A favourable interest rate environment will assist in the cost of debt for Dunedin City Treasury Limited, and City Forests continues to operate well in the fluctuating forestry environment.
Contact DCHL Chair Graham Crombie on 0274 363 882 DCC Link
Chris Burland Published on May 15, 2015 cycling and john wayne
Music: “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (From “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”) (Titles)” by Ennio Morricone (Google Play • eMusic • iTunes)
█ For more, enter *cycle* in the search box at right.
The Dunedin courthouse is one of the city’s finest historic buildings, and part of a heritage cluster impossible to match anywhere in this country.
We await an “unequivocal commitment” from the Government to return court services to their Dunedin home.
### ODT Online Tue, 22 Sep 2015 Editorial: ‘Nonsense’ courthouse costs
OPINION Really? Would earthquake strengthening of Dunedin’s courthouse really cost more than $15million as officials claim? Or is this another example where supposed post-earthquake costs are used as an excuse? Or can the Government simply not design and commission building work for reasonable prices? There is probably a bit of both. Read more
—
Dunedin structural engineer Stephen Macknight called the Government’s $15million strengthening figure “absolutely ridiculous”.
Director of Dunedin construction company Lund South, Russell Lund, said his experience suggested the $15million figure was “just not even credible”.
### ODT Online Sat, 19 Sep 2015 $15m bill for court rejected
By Craig Borley
Dunedin engineers and construction experts have rubbished the Government’s claims the city’s historic courthouse needs earthquake strengthening work worth more than $15 million. […] Lou Robinson, director of Hadley Robinson Engineering, said he knew the courthouse intimately after being involved in the 2002 work on the complex. He estimated an “upper limit on strengthening of perhaps $3 million”. Read more
[Mayor Dave Cull] voted against the motion, along with Crs Richard Thompson, David Benson-Pope, and Aaron Hawkins.
### ODT Online Tue, 22 Sep 2015 Council says no to online voting trial
By Craig Borley
Dunedin residents will not be taking part in an online voting trial at next year’s local body elections. […] Dunedin city councillors voted 10-4 at yesterday’s full council meeting to terminate the plan. Read more
—
DCC Public Forum 21.9.15
Online Voting Trial
Speakers against ‘voting experiment’ —
Chris Burgess, Beau Murrah and Stu Fleming
### dunedintv.co.nz Mon, 21 Sep 2015 DCC will not take part in nationwide online voting trial
The city council’s heeding public calls against its involvement in an online voting trial for local elections. Councillors have voted not to spend $165,000 taking part in the nationwide trial. And that’s a relief for some residents, who say the costly move comes with significant risk. Ch39 Link
39 Dunedin Television
DCC will not take part in nationwide online voting trial
—
Online voting depended on the security not only of the voting process itself, but the digital devices used by individual voters, many of which were vulnerable.
### ODT Online Mon, 21 Sep 2015 Fears for online voting security
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council is being warned online voting could open democracy’s door to hackers. The concern comes from Dunedin based web developer and data protection specialist Chris Burgess, as the council prepares to consider joining an online voting trial. Read more
BAD UTTERLY BALD moral decrepitude —roll on corruption/rorts/rorters Delta, Luggate/Jacks Point, Noble Village, Carisbrook Stadium, Otago Rugby Football Union, Carisbrook Stadium Charitable Trust, Town Hall Redevelopment, Wall Street, High Performance Sport NZ, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, et al.
—
In future, property matters could be referred to the new board of Dunedin Venues Ltd, the company which owned the stadium building.
The group would advise council on its $89million investment property portfolio, including Wall Street mall, although council would still make final decisions about the portfolio’s future.
### ODT Online Mon, 21 Sep 2015 Wider advisory role mooted for stadium board
By Chris Morris
A new board being recruited to oversee Forsyth Barr Stadium’s physical requirements could also advise the Dunedin City Council on its $89 million investment property portfolio, it has been suggested. Council staff have been referring significant property matters to the full council in recent years, after an earlier property subcommittee lapsed after the last local body elections in 2013. But a council staff report, to be considered at today’s full council meeting, suggested that could be about to change. Read more
Anyone home at Dunedin City Council ?
[indicators only serve to show New Zealand hasn’t been properly measured and reported for corrupt practice in this and previous decades, dodgy as]
—
### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 14:30, September 17 2015 CAANZ: Rising corruption a serious threat to New Zealand
By Ellen Read
Rewarding whistle-blowers and ensuring companies have anti-corruption policies are just two things needed to help fight financial corruption and protect New Zealand’s reputation.
That is according to Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand (CAANZ), which released a trans-Tasman report Are Australia and New Zealand corrupt? in Sydney on Thursday along with a strong message that complacency is not an option.
A high level roundtable is planned to follow the launch with New Zealand represented by Serious Fraud Office director Julie Read, Financial Market Authority head of enforcement Belinda Moffat and Suzanne Snively, head of Transparency International NZ.
While New Zealand ranked a healthy second in the 2014 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, it was a slip from the top place it had held for many years. Denmark now holds the top spot. Australia is ranked 11th, the second consecutive drop.
“Not only do reports indicate that rates of corruption in [Australia and New Zealand] may be rising, we are also doing more business with countries that have different ethical frameworks from our own,” CAANZ president Fred Hutchings says in the report.
Of New Zealand’s top 10 trading partners two rank poorly in the Transparency International Index – China sits in 100th place (out of 176 countries surveyed) and Thailand at number 85.
There is no measure or estimate of how much corruption costs New Zealand each year but the CAANZ report singled out recent finance company collapses and director prosecutions as costly examples. Read more
### charteredaccountantsanz.com 17 September 2015
NEWS Calls for action in fight against corruption
Australia and New Zealand risk losing their global standing in anti-corruption efforts, prompting our calls for a holistic and sustainable approach to addressing bribery and corruption in the region. Corruption is on the rise according to our latest future[inc] publication, Are Australia and New Zealand Corrupt?, with both countries increasingly trading with countries considered to be corrupt.
Research suggests bribery and corruption has increased by upwards of 80% and both Australia and New Zealand have fallen in global rankings for transparency and corruption.
Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO Lee White said that while both Australia and New Zealand have traditionally traded on reputations of honesty and integrity, this reputation is at risk if the issue isn’t addressed, and steps put in place to mitigate the threat. […] The report suggests legislation alone will not stamp out corruption, but does outline a series of recommendations which could be adopted across Australia and New Zealand. Recommendations include compulsory anti-bribery and corruption policies in NZX and ASX listing rulings, regulation to prohibit the awarding of public sector contracts for those with past convictions, and a prohibition on rewarding public sector contracts to companies without corruption policies. Read more
The latest salvo came after Cr Lee Vandervis made public an email exchange with Crs Benson-Pope and Richard Thomson, copied to other councillors and staff, earlier this week.
Cr Vandervis did not respond to ODT requests for comment yesterday.
In his emails, published online, he blamed a lack of information coming from council staff for the “tedious” need to resort to Information Act requests.
Biblical proportion…. [thanks RMN]
Matthew 23:23-25
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence….
Limp wrists, institutionalised rip-offs, with yet another trumped up (managerial) job title: “organisational development and performance group manager”.
Photo: RNZ/Ian Telfer
—
About 60 council staff had access to council cars to take home, but the review showed many no longer needed to.
### ODT Online Fri, 18 Sep 2015 DCC tightens up on private car use
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council is tightening control of its vehicle fleet after finding dozens of staff have been taking cars home at night for no valid reason. The finding came after a review launched earlier this year which found “ad hoc” processes governing the personal use of council cars by some staff. Read more
—
█ Sample comments dredged up from What if? Dunedin archives (from 36 of 134 pages pertinent to the site moderator’s search, is all….):
Mick, the investigation brief to Deloitte, as weak as it was, was not limited to Citifleet. Of course Citifleet was the main focus, but the opportunity was given to carry out a general stocktake of DCC internal practices. Many of the internal interviews conducted had no relationship to Citifleet. Bad practices within other departments were identified with the help of staff, and recommendations given. As you say, the value of the report will be in how effectively the recommendations are enforced.
Terribly unfair. How will current Assistant department managers be able to get cheap maintenance from DCC contractors on their home air conditioning systems cheaply installed by DCC contractors now ? Or get their kitchen remodelled for half of the market rate ? How are these highly valued public servants supposed to survive if they have to live like normal people ?
I remember a few years ago when a (former) department manager telephoned all the contractors and asked them not to send Christmas gifts into the DCC offices. He offered instead to drive out to each contractor (presumably in a DCC fleet car) and collect the gifts himself. That’s going the extra mile.
Still on the list are the remainder of the senior staff who have been identified by Deloitte as being involved in serious and ongoing conflict of interest business dealings. Awarding uncontested contracts to family members with no internal checking, identifying a need for specialist equipment or services within their DCC department, buying the equipment/services privately, and then hiring it back to their own department. Most of the managers identified to date are long term managers with 20 years in the role. It seems that the younger staff elevated to management roles have a higher professional integrity level than their elder colleagues. I suspect a few more early retirements are on the horizon.
I’m more impressed (or depressed) by the revelation that there are 43 current DCC staff members who earn in excess of $100k a year. Given that there are nowhere near 43 departments within DCC (more like half that number) that means that ridiculous salaries are not merely confined to heads of departments.
Cars, the number of vehicles actually required by DCC is being included in the process. Specifically mentioned in the internal memo released to staff by the CEO today was the private use of DCC vehicles by staff, which is a positive and overdue move. DCC assets are no longer available for direct purchase by staff or elected officials. Any and all potential conflicts of interest are now required to be formally registered. I think that Sue Bidrose is handling this as well as anyone faced with such a situation could. She could not have foreseen this mess. It was interesting in discussions last night that one of the few people within the organisation who spanned the entire fraud period, which pre dates Brent Bachop, was Athol. How did he miss this, given that he had the finance portfolio the whole time ? Not suggesting that Athol is involved but when you are talking about $1.5m, the buck has to stop somewhere.
Well there’s an interesting development. In 2006, former DCC Group Manager, Grant Strang, buys a 1996 Hyundai Sonata for $2,500 from City Fleet. Hands a “Non Negotiable” stamped cheque to DCC Finance Department for said amount, and receives a receipt.
I have a couple problems with this story. In 2006 I was also working at the DCC. I was employed in a managerial role in the Civic Centre building although, to be fair, not at the level that Grant Strang was employed. But enough to see a few things. In 2006, Grant Strang ordered a $5,000 office chair for his room. I know this because I was shown the receipt by the 2 staff members who took delivery of the chair. I even took a spin in it. If you see a $5,000 office chair, you simply have to know what it feels like. Feels pretty good, I have to say. Anyway, the same man who thought he deserved a $5,000 chair, thought it was a good idea to buy a 10 year old Hyundai. Not knocking Hyundais, but sound like the same person ? We’ll get back to that.
As I said, I worked in the Civic Centre building in 2006. In the course of my duties, I had cause to be in the City Fleet garage about 4 times a week. For a few years either side of 2006. Most often I was there to make use of a City Fleet vehicle. Pretty uneventful stuff like going grocery shopping, taking the dog to the vet, picking up kids from school. Typical car pool activities. But one observation from that time bugged me today. Bugged me enough to contact a few of my former DCC colleagues. We all came to the same conclusion. In all our trips out in City Fleet vehicles, over all our years combined, not one of us could recall ever driving a fleet vehicle that was 10 years old. We struggled, in fact, to think of an instance when we drove a fleet vehicle that was more than 5 years old. How many companies find it economical to have 10 year old cars in their fleets ? Especially a company with the discount buying power like DCC. Sure, we had driven Hyundais, but they were all new models. We could only come up with one Sonata during that period and that was a car which, for some weird reason, was especially reserved for use only by one Rodney Bryant. We won’t get into that one.
The cheque. First up, how many people write cheques in this age of electronic bank transfers ? To the same company that you work for. In the same building. Grant Strang’s office was on the second floor of the Civic Centre building in 2006. Finance lived on the third floor. According to Grant Strang, he walked up one flight of stairs and delivered them a cheque for $2,500. He was so worried about the 15 metre internal journey, and so mistrusting of the staff in the Finance Department of the same company in which he was a senior manager, that he felt the need to cross the cheque as Non Negotiable. Seriously ? I worked probably 50m away from Finance and I knew them all by first name.
Now, I have no doubt that Grant Strang wrote a cheque for $2,500 and gave it to DCC Finance Department. And I have no doubt that he received a receipt for that $2,500 as the payment for a 1996 Hyundai Sonata. I’m sure that the financial paperwork is very clean and deliberate. My question is, what car did he drive away in that day ?
I’m trying to get my head around the numbers as well. I’m assuming that the Citifleet stocks include for the likes of the Water Dept, Library buses etc. From memory there are about 300 people working in the Civic Centre, so 200 vehicles is a hell of a lot to service just the Civic Centre. Some vehicles were permanently reserved for particular people, but even so.
The issue of “take home” vehicles has always annoyed me. The Chief Building Inspector does not need to take a DCC car home every night. He is not on the roster for after hours call-outs. Neither is the head of the Environmental Health department. On the subject of call-outs themselves, I would say that 80% of those who work in the Civic Centre live no more than a 10 to 15 minute drive from their home. Should they be required to attend something out of hours, it is not unreasonable to expect them to drive their own car to the Civic Centre, park it in the Civic Centre garage, and then take out a DCC car. It’s not a Health and Safety issue as they use private transport to get to their place of work every day. There is absolutely no reason why the car pool needs to get emptied out at 5pm every evening. Part of the problem, I believe, is that the majority of vehicles are unmarked. People would be far less likely to park up in the Countdown carpark on a Saturday evening if there was a thumping great DCC logo painted on the side.
If Paul Orders is hunting for more suggestions, he can take a look at the ridiculous “retention” money being paid to lower and middle DCC managers over and above their listed salary. Bumping up the gross income to between 30 and 50% higher than the salary listed for them. No staff member in the DCC is that indispensable. Likewise to the staff members receiving 105% of their graded salary, year after year, supposedly reserved for a “one off action”. This practice has been going on for so long now that staff are expecting it as a right.
Speaking of DCC and transport, I heard a big grizzle from inside the hallowed halls a couple of days ago. Paul Orders’ latest economy drive (pardon the pun) effort has been to put the brakes (another goody) on the practice of staff routinely taking home DCC cars at night. Good on you, Paul, and not a day too soon. A bouquet from me. This blatant abuse used to annoy the hell out of me. 50 cars in the DCC car pool that would disappear at 5pm every evening. You would get mowed down if you dared walk in front of the garage driveway at 30 seconds past 5pm. The majority of cars are now unmarked (big mistake), removing the ability to monitor private usage of publicly funded vehicles. They should all be marked. The only area potentially requiring stealth is noise control, and that’s carried out by private contractors (in their own MARKED vehicles, I might add). There is no reason why staff members need to take DCC cars home at night and weekends. 99.9% of the staff are not on a 24 hour callout. Of those who might be called out (once every 6 months), the majority live no more than 15 minutes from the DCC garage. They can easily drive to the Octagon and collect a DCC car if they need. The Chief Building Inspector does not need a DCC 4wd car parked up in his Wakari driveway every night. No one from the I.T. department should be driving to and from Fairfield to work in a DCC car. City Property staff do not need free undercover carparks 2 minutes from the Octagon. Rodney Bryant did not need a dedicated unmarked DCC car which no other staff member was allowed to use (although that may have been a passive smoking Health and Safety issue to protect the rest of the staff). My alltime favourite was the Environmental Health Officer who used to schedule his restaurant inspections for 8am every day (every day), so that he would “have” to take a DCC car home the night before. It’s childish behaviour and good on the CEO for doing what these supposed professionals should have had the decency to do themselves.
ODT 17.9.15 Wave surge warning for Otago
New Zealand’s southern marine and beach areas can expect strong currents and unpredictable water flows from wave surges following the earthquake.
Coastal Otago residents are being urged to watch out for wave surges from a tsunami generated by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake near Chile today. Read more
What most people don’t realise is that Dunedin probably wouldn’t be able to attract an international tsunami of this size if we didn’t have the FB Stadium. So well done to Mr Davies and all those at the DVML/DVL for all your hard work.
It looks like the tide is finally turning. . .
—
█ ‘Bread and Circuses – The Shady, Slimy and Corrupt World of Taxpayer Funded Sports Stadiums’ | posted by Michael Krieger at libertyblitzkrieg.com
[via zerohedge.com —see comments]
—
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
*Image merge by whatifdunedin: tsunami [commonsenseevaluation.com] + fubar stadium [trendsideas.com]
39 Dunedin Television Published on Sep 17, 2015
Historic prison restoration gets kickstart
● Resource consent granted for conservation and repair
● Funding from Otago Community Trust
● New visitor centre
● Prison tours
● Restaurant for courtyard
### dunedintv.co.nz Thu, 17 Sep 2015 Historic prison restoration gets kickstart
A $90,000 grant is kickstarting the project to restore Dunedin’s historic prison to its former glory. The money will enable the Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust to start exterior repairs. And that means members are finally able to turn their vision into reality. Ch39 Link
—
[click to enlarge]DCC Webmap – 2 Castle Street, former Dunedin Prison [Jan/Feb 2013]
It’s with some fascination if not repulsion that Whatiffers can observe bullying by standing committee chairmen continuing unabated on the mayor’s watch.
Cr Thomson’s historical on camera stunts of addressing or referring to Cr Vandervis as “my good friend” are, how shall I say, unchaste and deceptive in the context of what follows below.
Two emails received tonight.
—
Received from Lee Vandervis
Wed, 16 Sep 2015 at 9:26 p.m.
█ Message: Differing Councillor views that may be of interest.
Cheers, Lee
—
—— Forwarded Message From: Lee Vandervis Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:41:19 +1200 To: Richard Thomson, Grace Ockwell, Sue Bidrose, Sandy Graham Cc: Dave Cull, Kate Wilson, Chris Staynes, Jinty MacTavish, David Benson-Pope, Hilary Calvert, Aaron Hawkins, Mike Lord, Andrew Whiley, John Bezett, Doug Hall, Neville Peat, Andrew Noone, Ruth Stokes Conversation: OIA Request Subject: Re: OIA Request
Actually Richard, the Lamborghini has become symbolic of many other very visible excesses, but let us stick to Council issues.
For many years I used to make all the information I had available in very candid discussions with staff, who often then failed to investigate appropriately. Citifleet is a prime example, and this and other examples has taught me that a publicly funded organisation is poorly motivated to investigate itself.
Without my LGOIMA requests the incredibly belated Citifleet ‘investigation’ might never have happened, as it did not happen for over a decade before. Have you counted the cost of that multimillion dollar fraud as a percentage of the cost of processing my LGOIMA requests?
Do you not realise that most of my LGOIMA request arise from questions and allegations from members of the public that I represent?
Even when an internal investigation does prove that for instance over quarter of a million of public funds was paid to a contractor to clear mudtanks and none were cleared, nothing appropriate seems to happen at the DCC without publicity. Hence my now having to get the public involved when things are not sorted internally.
When you claim that needing information “of how the information relates to possible wrong doing” is necessary to get information, this is absurd. It is much easier to simply search ‘Stihl chainsaws’ and forward what DCC files information appears. Similarly a vehicle registration number. Just search the registration number and forward the files – easy, quick, no thinking required, little time wasted considering whether ‘particular staff have been involved in possible wrong doing’ etc.
Why is it that our staff can have all this information, but not want to share it with us the supposed decision makers when we request it?
Answer – information is power – and bureaucracies generally do not want to share it, especially with supposed decision makers.
Don’t you dare suggest that I do not give a toss, as you have no way of knowing the state of my mind or the work that I do, and don’t you dare suggest that my approach has failed to identify fraudulent behaviour, as you similarly do not know what has gone into, for instance, Citifleet, Jacks Point/Luggate, mudtanks, Noble, Town Hall redevelopment, or the almost complete turnover of senior managers at the DCC in the last few years.
I will continue to carry on in the manner I believe to be appropriate, and I do not seek any advice on my manner from of you.
Regards,
Cr. Vandervis
———————————
On 15/09/15 9:48 pm, “Richard Thomson” wrote:
Actually Lee my concern is quite the opposite. If there is fraud taking place I want to see it caught. That is why in the Otago DHB when someone came to me with an anonymous tip off and no evidence to back it I initiated a full investigation within half an hour. And I know what some of the consequences are of taking action. They include having to have endless questioning of your integrity/intelligence/ etc by people such as yourself and your fellow travellers on the likes of What If. You have no idea how terribly amusing it is to regularly be accused, because you did the right thing, of “failing to notice the Lamborghini in the carpark”. Never mind that I never had a carpark so didn’t go in the carpark building, or that the fabled Lamborgini was only owned for a few days. Or indeed, had I gone in the carpark building for a random look around and spotted a Lamborghini I would probably have assumed it belonged to a surgeon anyway. So bearing that personal history in mind here is what really pisses me off.
When you make accusations but when virtually begged to make the information available to the CEO so it can be investigated you respond that the “only way you will be making the information available will be through the pages of the ODT”. As you did at the Audit Committee meeting.
When you put in OIA requests and refuse to give any indication of how the information relates to possible wrong doing. Lets think chain saws here. So in the end the only way the OIA can be responded to is to make general inquiries all over the place thereby pretty much ensuring that if there has been dishonesty the person involved will have plenty of time to bury any evidence.
When you seek “all documentation” about a motor vehicle without giving a toss whether the inquiries around that might harm any investigation if there has been wrong doing because the people responding to the request will have no idea if they are going to tip off unknowingly a suspect.
It ought to be of some concern to you by now that your methods and approach have failed to catch any fraudulent behaviour but that the methods of Mr McKenzie that you so disparage have caught a number. Perhaps the fact that people do come to you with info might actually result in people being caught if you worked with people instead of carrying on in the manner you do.
R
[contacts deleted]
———————————
From: Lee Vandervis To: Richard Thomson; Grace Ockwell; Sue Bidrose; Sandy Graham Cc: Dave Cull; Kate Wilson; Chris Staynes; Jinty MacTavish; David Benson-Pope; Hilary Calvert; Aaron Hawkins; Mike Lord; Andrew Whiley; John Bezett; Doug Hall; Neville Peat; Andrew Noone Sent: Tuesday, 15 September 2015 8:59 PM Subject: Re: OIA Request
Re: OIA Request
I note Richard, that you and some others are quite happy to get on with running a city without knowing who is stealing what or how much things cost to run the city.
My regular voting against Council spending motions often arises because there is simply not enough information made available to justify voting for.
If staff reports provided adequate relevant information, and if rate-paid reports like the $300,000 Deloitte investigation information were made available to us who need to make related decisions, none of this tedious LGOIMA process would be necessary. It is a shame that I have to go to so much effort just get basic information, and that so few others can be bothered.
Cr. Vandervis
———————————
On 15/09/15 5:27 pm, “Richard Thomson” wrote:
Hi,
Could I please file an official information act request asking what the cost to Council has been of answering Cr Vandervis’s official information act requests over the last year.
on second thoughts, please don’t. I’d prefer you got on with running a city..
R
[contacts deleted]
—— End of Forwarded Message
—
Received from Lee Vandervis
Wed, 16 Sep 2015 at 9:27 p.m.
█ Message: And this…
—
—— Forwarded Message From: Lee Vandervis Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:50:07 +1200 To: David Benson-Pope, Richard Thomson, Grace Ockwell, Sue Bidrose, Sandy Graham Cc: Dave Cull, Kate Wilson, Chris Staynes, Jinty MacTavish, Hilary Calvert, Aaron Hawkins, Mike Lord, Andrew Whiley, John Bezett, Doug Hall, Neville Peat, Andrew Noone Conversation: OIA Request Subject: Re: OIA Request
You might well have stopped for a moment David, to consider the cost of not making LGOIMA requests, or of the enormous savings to ratepayers had LGOIMA requests been honestly and promptly complied with as required by the LGOIMA Act.
It has been recently proven that ex CEO Harland misled Councillors making LGOIMA requests to find out what Farry and Co were up to with Stadium planning/funding, by falsely claiming that the Carisbrook Stadium Trust were not subject to LGOIMA information disclosure requirements. Ex-CEO Harland did this despite having two legal opinions, one local and one ex Wellington, saying that the CST were absolutely subject to LGOIMA information requests. Harland’s deceptions have only come to light as a result of many subsequent LGOIMA requests.
Had Harland processed LGOIMA requests as legally required during his tenure it would highly likely have saved ratepayers many millions in a variety of areas, if not hundreds of millions wasted on our Stadium liability.
If all my 2011 LGOIMA requests for Citifleet information, including all credit card information had been made available as requested under LGOIMA, think how many subsequently stolen vehicles would have been saved and perhaps even the life of a bent manager. Put a price on that David and make sure to request the full cost thereof.
The horrendous cost of not having required relevant information on which to make decisions is the reason we have LGOIMA.
In my opinion, not using the LGOIMA process suggests that you are not doing your job as an elected representative.
Regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis
———————————
On 15/09/15 6:04 pm, “David Benson-Pope” wrote:
While I agree with the sentiment … If he won’t I wil
This is therefore a request for full details of all lgoima requests made to the dcc by any councillor in the current triennium and the full cost thereof
Yours etc
David Benson-Pope
Sent from my Windows Phone
———————————
From: Richard Thomson Sent: 15/09/2015 5:27 p.m. To: Grace Ockwell; Sue Bidrose; Sandy Graham Cc: Dave Cull; Kate Wilson; Chris Staynes; Lee Vandervis; Jinty MacTavish; David Benson-Pope; Hilary Calvert; Aaron Hawkins; Mike Lord; Andrew Whiley; John Bezett; Doug Hall; Neville Peat; Andrew Noone Subject: OIA Request
Hi,
Could I please file an official information act request asking what the cost to Council has been of answering Cr Vandervis’s official information act requests over the last year.
on second thoughts, please don’t. I’d prefer you got on with running a city.
R
[contacts deleted]
—— End of Forwarded Message
—
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
*Image: toonpool.com – Cat Whisperer by Goodwyn (tweaked by whatifdunedin)
Jonathan Howard, Heritage New Zealand’s Otago Southland Area Manager, will talk on the exhibition now showing Dunedin 1865: A City Rises. This is a 2015 Dunedin Heritage Festival event.
█ The exhibition closes on Sunday, 27 September 2015.
—
EXHIBITION NOTICE Archives New Zealand Dunedin Regional Office currently has an exhibition on display, until 16 October 2015, featuring the Testimonial presented by the citizens of Dunedin to the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade to thank them for all their work in the fires of early 1865. Also on display, there are archives showing the work of the Dunedin Sanitary Commission, about the conversion of the Exhibition Building for the Dunedin Hospital and a proposal for new Provincial Government Buildings.
Archives New Zealand Dunedin Regional Office at 556 George Street
█ Open weekdays from 9.30am to 5.00pm. For more information, contact dunedin.archives @dia.govt.nz —or telephone 477 0404
### ODT Online Wed, 16 Sep 2015 Final Citifleet fraud report not finished
By Chris Morris
Dunedin police are still working to finalise a report into the $1.5 million Citifleet fraud, despite announcing in June no charges would be laid, it has been confirmed. The development came as it was confirmed an earlier police report into the Dunedin City Council’s long-running fraud was released to media despite internal concerns from senior police it was out of date, emails showed. Read more
● The Department of Internal Affairs was keeping a close eye on the Dunedin City Council’s handling of the Citifleet fraud investigation, documents show. (ODT)
█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *bachop*, *bidrose* or *vandervis* in the search box at right.
This is Dunedin City Council, Cr Jinty MacTavish (Chair, DCC Community and Environment Committee), Mosgiel Taieri Community Board, and the Taieri Community Facilities Trust (TCFT) keeping Dunedin ratepayers and residents THOROUGHLY INFORMED.
Read all about it at NBR, why not. [thanks Anon Anon]
Corruption, backroom deals, vested interests, Anyone?
—
National Business Review Warren & Mahoney clinches three big sports contracts
Chris Hutching · Friday September 11, 2015
Today’s sports centres accommodate a diverse range of disciplines under one roof and are social hubs and health centres. “Their design should have clarity of access, and a welcoming pathway which encourages maximum participation in recreation. The scale of the recent commissions varies. At the Mosgiel Aquatic Centre, the $14 million budget is earmarked for lane swimming, as well as pools for learners, leisure and warm water.
Received from Rrrrrrrrrruf Rrrrrrrrrruf
Tue, 15 Sep 2015 at 2:15 p.m.
[click to enlarge]
█ Message: Photo taken at 11:45 a.m. today. Note the DCC van is illegally parked on the wrong side of the road while the officer searches the park for law breaking dog owners. The fine for this is $40. It is a case of do as I say, not do as I do. Still, although hypocritical, on a cost benefit analysis maybe worth the risk as the dog off a lead [failing to control] fine is $200.
███ A “MUST” WATCH
Vincent Eastwood Published on Sep 14, 2015 Local Governance & Corruption, Paradigm Episode 2 Vinny Eastwood
Episode 2 of PARADIGM broadcasted on Face TV Sky Channel 083 on September 14th 2015 at 9pm NZT
TOPIC: Local Governance & Corruption
GUESTS: Bruce Rogan from the Mangawhai Residents and Ratepayers Association with activist and Mayoral candidate Penny Bright.
● How privatisation and secretive powerful roundtable groups (comprised mostly of large companies) have led to the rise of unelected, unaccountable officials.
● The utter refusal of EVERY SINGLE AUTHORITY in New Zealand to investigate corruption.
The police, the judiciary, the ombudsman, the minister for local government, the auditor general, political parties, the list goes on, every authority whose job is to investigate, prevent or punish corruption actually supports it!
● Why local citizens have no rights and why local government has no rules.
FACE FACT KIWIS
Believing NZ is corruption free was the very mechanism by which criminals took control of our country. The only reason NZ is #2 on Transparency International’s “perceived” least corrupt countries in the world list, is we’re the 2nd best in the world at concealing our corruption.
—
Vincent Eastwood Published on Sep 12, 2015 Paradigm Episode 2 coming soon! Local Government Corruption PLEASE SHARE THIS!
Help me get as many people as possible to watch the show tomorrow night!
9pm NZT
—
Received. [names deleted]
Mon, 14 Sep 2015 at 4:00 p.m.
Re: DOCO ON CORRUPTION, AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL.
Tonight (14 September, 9:00pm) on Sky channel 83 there will be an episode of Paradigm which will feature the Kaipara Scam. Paradigm is a program that is the brainchild of a guy called Vinny Eastwood, and it is not an exaggeration to say that Vinny has picked up the ball that John Campbell (or rather Channel 3) dropped. Promo for the programme is at https://www.facebook.com/vincenteastwood/videos/10153220793607879/
Vinny has a deceptively casual and disarming manner that belies a very serious commitment to exposing corruption and fraud (he calls it scumbaggery).
As an MRRA member you will already be aware of the degree of scumbaggery besetting Kaipara, but it is highly unlikely that your friends and relations will grasp the scale of what is happening in New Zealand. Please do yourself a favour and send this email to everyone in your circle, especially your adult children, who are going to be wealth-stripped by the corporates that are taking over. Add your personal plea that they take a few minutes away from Coronation Street and watch something that might actually affect their lives.
Our financial year ends on 31 October. We want everyone to renew their membership please and we want new members from all over the country (world!) as we mount the final campaign to get justice for the country’s ratepayers. Please renew – don’t just leave it to the other guys to carry all the water. What other association can you think of that supplies over forty free informative newsletters per year?!, and has an executive team that is prepared to go to jail to defend your rights! (informative might be stretching it, but beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, going to jail is still a real possibility!).
The annual sub is still only $15.00 per family, or $10.00 single, and we have put no limit on donations, because we do not want to discourage that philanthropic person out there with $100,000 they have no further use for.
The account number is 38 9012 0318164 00 or cheques to MRRA at Box 225 Mangawhai 0540. Make sure please to include your membership number […], and if you are a new member please provide a name and phone number so we can call you and get all the details.
Kind regards,
MRRA Executive Committee.
[Mangawhai Residents and Ratepayers Association]
3.9.15 ODT: Staley ‘ready to go’ from iD Fashion
iD Dunedin Fashion Committee chairwoman Susie Staley yesterday announced she was stepping down from the role she has had for 15 years. Ms Staley said it was expected committee member Cherry Lucas would take on the role of chairwoman.
—
█ Message received today:
“Have a look at this rates information, and see who is in ownership. Note that they do not pay rates. WHY ????”
█ RE: COUNCIL LIABILITY AND RISK | COST TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND RATEPAYERS —Non-notified v Notified Resource Consents
GUILTY PARTIES:
Mayor and Councillors, Hearings Committee, Chair of Infrastructure Services Committee, Chief Executive, General Manager Infrastructure and Networks, General Manager Services and Development, Group Manager Water and Waste, City Planning, City Development Team, Resource Consents Team et al.
█ Cr Kate Wilson says cycleways will bring myriad benefits to Dunedin.
ODT Online Sat, 25 Jul 2015 Why Dunedin is investing in cycling
By Craig Borley
Dunedin appears divided over the cycle network. Some see it as unnecessary. Others see it as vital. ODT reporter Craig Borley spoke to Dunedin city councillor Kate Wilson, chairwoman of the infrastructure services committee, about why the city is investing in cycle infrastructure. Read more
—
█ The Dunedin City Council is sleep-walking to yet another poorly thought out cycleway project. (ODT)
### ODT Online Thu, 20 Aug 2015 Time to put brakes on cycleway
By Hilary Calvert
OPINION Somehow, the Dunedin City Council has been so beguiled by the gift-horse that is the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) that it seems to have completely forgotten to carry out its proper role of looking after the interests of the citizens of Dunedin in respect of the State Highway 1 cycleway plans. Read more
—
ODT 26.8.15 (page 8)
– shot in a half-lit Dunedin café off the beaten cycle paths
—
█ Proposed: Separated cycle lanes to run along north and south one way routes, between Botanic Garden and Queens Gardens.
### ODT Online Thu, 10 Sep 2015 Dedicated cycle lanes get closer
By Craig Borley
Nationally-funded separated cycle lanes along Dunedin’s one way system are now two steps closer as the project moves swiftly through the New Zealand Transport Agency machine. Read more
NZTA said it had resolved to:
• Incorporate high turnover short term parking for businesses, particularly those reliant on short stay kerbside parking and deliveries
• Incorporate medium term parking close to the hospital and museum.
Updated plans were now being prepared to show where the parking would be included. The plans will be available for public comment at the end of the month.
![Dunce = DCC [via cliparts.co]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/dunce-dcc-via-cliparts-co.png)
![Denis O'Rourke NZ First 2 [Parliament TV]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/denis-orourke-nz-first-2-parliament-tv.jpg)
![Denis O'Rourke NZ First 1 [Parliament TV]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/denis-orourke-nz-first-1-parliament-tv.jpg)
![redpeak_1aulca1-1aulcb3 [via nz.news.yahoo.com]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/redpeak_1aulca1-1aulcb3-via-nz-news-yahoo-com.jpg)
![DCC vehicles [Photo by RNZ Ian Telfer]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dcc-vehicles-photo-by-rnz-ian-telfer.jpg)
![Merge render tsunami [commonsenseevaluation.com] + fubar stadium [trendsideas.com]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/merge-render-tsunami-commonsenseevaluation-com-fubar-stadium-trendsideas-com.jpg)
![Cat Whisperer by Goodwyn [www.toonpool.com] tweaked 1](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/cat-whisperer-by-goodwyn-www-toonpool-com-tweaked-1.jpg)
![Google Street View - 556 George Street, Dunedin [Feb 2010]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/google-street-view-556-george-street-dunedin-feb-2010.jpg)
![NBR 11.9.15 W&M clinches three big sports contracts [screenshot tweaked]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/nbr-11-9-15-wm-clinches-three-big-sports-contracts-screenshot-tweaked.jpg)
![DCC Rates - 295 Wairongoa Road RD2 Mosgiel 9092 [ID 2109501]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/dcc-rates-295-wairongoa-road-rd2-mosgiel-9092-id-2109501.jpg)
What if? Dunedin... 