ODT health reporter Eileen Goodwin looks at the welfare of those adversely affected and speaks to health authorities about what they are doing to help.
### ODT Online Tue, 27 Oct 2015
It’s been ‘a constant battle’ since flood
By Eileen Goodwin
Months of stress and insurance hassles are taking a heavy toll on some people long after most have moved on from the June flood. […] The flood response lacked co-ordination, and [Aurora Health Centre GP Dr Jill McIlraith] says the likes of the health board and city council should have considered appointing a flood ombudsman or similar position as a central clearance point for three to six months.
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Dr Bidrose said she had also faced a “pretty rough” first year in the role, grappling with the fallout from the Citifleet fraud.
### ODT Online Tue, 27 Oct 2015
Council boss’ UK trips supported
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council has spent $36,000 sending chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose to leadership training courses at England’s prestigious Oxford University. Details of the four trips, which were supported by Mayor Dave Cull, were confirmed by Dr Bidrose last week, in response to Otago Daily Times questions.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
What if? Dunedin... 
Is the CE putting words in ratepayer mouths? Happy with staff performance? Value for money? Too many staff?
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### ODT Online Fri, 13 Nov 2015
Millions spent on council staff training
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council is spending millions upskilling its staff, but ratepayers are also reaping the benefits, chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose says. Figures released to the Otago Daily Times show the council has spent $2.677 million training its staff over the past five years.
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OMG
To repeat, turned down a $15,000 performance bonus [we understand Paul Orders declined to accept bonuses when he was in power] and instead received $36,000 of ratepayer funds (largesse via Dave Cull and henchies) to holiday while upskilling at Oxford. The CE could have paid for the whole exercise out of her salary (oh, but she took a holiday in Italy earlier this year according to her Facebook page – OR, was that a diversion off the side of another Oxford trip while South Dunedin was in flood, caused by poor if any DCC maintenance of stormwater drains, mud tanks and pumping station filters ?). The psychology of this defies belief.
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ODT 13.11.15 (page 10)
Comment at ODT Online:
Council squandering
Submitted by Barnaby on Fri, 13/11/2015 – 12:38pm.
Earlier this year the DCC ratepayers funded a female staff member to attend a conference on logos and branding of cities in Poland! There’s been $40,000 spent on CEO Bidrose alone, honing her “leadership skills” in the UK. Why does she need this when she’s already paid more than the PM? This is an ongoing abuse of ratepayers’ money. An absolute disgrace.