Category Archives: Sport

by Elizabeth | July 18, 2017 · 2:21 am

DCC makes no direct return from rugby or events held at Fubar Stadium

L A S T ● M O N T H ’S ● P R O N O U N C E M E N T ● F R O M ● A B O V E

ODT 20.6.17 (page 6)

ODT 26.6.17 (page 8)

Trevor Lloyd: Defeat of British rugby by the All Blacks in 1905 [pinimg.com]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

6 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Baloney, Business, Concerts, Construction, DCC, Design, Dunedin, DVL, DVML, Economics, Education, Events, Finance, Hot air, Infrastructure, Media, Name, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Public interest, Sport, Structural engineering, Technology, Tourism, Travesty, What stadium

Tagged as DCC, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Events, Fubar, No returns, Otago Stadium, Stadiums, Thugby

by Elizabeth | June 26, 2017 · 9:28 pm

Emirates Team New Zealand must WIN #AmericasCup2017

[via catsailingnews.com – click to enlarge]

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The Kiwi juggernaut rolls on while @oracleteamusa have their backs against the wall. Results and more: https://t.co/bovNMbHyBf #AmericasCup pic.twitter.com/9DfsbVbABB

— America's Cup (@americascup) June 25, 2017

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At Facebook:

35th America’s Cup match
Race 7: Emirates Team New Zealand beat Oracle Team USA by 12 secs
Race 8: Emirates Team New Zealand beat Oracle Team USA
Team New Zealand lead the first-to-seven series 6-1

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At Twitter:

.@JSpithill and @peteburling find themselves in very different positions following today's racing. #AmericasCup #ThereIsNoSecond pic.twitter.com/YoKstgObj1

— America's Cup (@americascup) June 25, 2017

.@EmiratesTeamNZ take it home in Race 8, bringing us to match point in the America's Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton. #AmericasCup pic.twitter.com/WSj1sX9jYM

— America's Cup (@americascup) June 25, 2017

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered inthe public interest.

*Image: 24/06/2017 – Bermuda (BDA) – 35th America’s Cup 2017 – 35th America’s Cup Match Presented by Louis Vuitton – © ACEA 2017 / Photo Sander van der Borch

26 Comments

Filed under Business, Construction, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Finance, Fun, Innovation, Inspiration, Leading edge, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Public interest, Sport, Technology, Tourism

Tagged as 35th America's Cup match, America's Cup 2017, Auld Mug, Bermuda, Bloody EXCITING, Emirates Team New Zeland, International yachting, Jimmie Spithill, Oracle Team USA, Peter Burling, Racing

by Elizabeth | June 10, 2017 · 5:58 pm

City Property . . . .

### ODT Online Sat, 10 Jun 2017
Property boss quits
By Chris Morris
The man in charge of the Dunedin City Council’s multimillion-dollar property portfolio has quit following a review by independent auditor Deloitte. [A] Council spokesman ….yesterday confirmed city property manager Kevin Taylor resigned last week. [DCC] responding to Otago Daily Times questions by email, declined to say what Deloitte’s review had found, insisting the final report was “still being considered”. The development came three months after the ODT reported the department responsible for property worth hundreds of millions of dollars was being reviewed ….The role was expected to change in future, with a “specific focus” on community and civic properties ….Mr Taylor’s departure was the latest upheaval for the city property department, following the departure of former city property manager Robert Clark in 2014, and his assistant manager, Rhonda Abercrombie, the following year.
Read more

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### ODT Online Fri, 10 Mar 2017
Council’s property department under review
By Chris Morris
The performance of the Dunedin City Council’s city property department is under the scrutiny of an independent auditor. It was confirmed yesterday Deloitte had been called in to examine the department responsible for property worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It is understood the review’s focus was on the department’s performance, and any suggestion of impropriety has been ruled out. Deloitte has been brought in to provide extra resources for the review, but city property manager Kevin Taylor has been replaced in the day-to-day running of the department.
Read more

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### ODT Online Tue, 15 Sep 2015
Property manager quits DCC
By Chris Morris
Dunedin City Council manager Rhonda Abercrombie has resigned abruptly, but nobody is prepared to say why. Mrs Abercrombie, the council’s assistant city property manager, handed in her notice last week but was no longer working at the council’s Civic Centre building.
Read more

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### ODT Online Tue, 29 Apr 2014
Quick exit for another DCC senior manager
By Debbie Porteous
Another senior manager is to have a quick exit from the Dunedin City Council after the announcement yesterday of his departure. Economic development and property group manager Robert Clark will clear his desk on Friday. He is returning to the commercial sector after six years with the council. Mr Clark’s withdrawal from the organisation comes after a proposal was circulated to staff last month in which his position was effectively disestablished, his responsibilities split between new positions to be created under a new council operating structure. The structure was developed by chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose in a review of the council’s property and economic development operations.
Read more

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Manager Economic Development and Property moving on
This item was published on 28 Apr 2014
The Dunedin City Council’s Group Manager Economic Development and Property Robert Clark is leaving the organisation after six years to return to the commercial sector. General Manager Infrastructure and Networks Tony Avery says Mr Clark’s last day at the DCC will be on Friday, although he will continue to do transitional consulting work in the coming months on some significant projects.
Read more

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For some weeks, independently of today’s news, the Dunedin grapevine has been rattling (autumn leaves) with tales of the missing City Property reserves, worth millions.

WHAT, you say. Noooooo.

Let’s hope our elected representatives are onto it.
Historical, it appears.

Thus the shadow boxing about town: raising all the circular questions of who and how, historically.

New blood to a system is supposed to flush out nasties, this takes hard analysis of past annual reports and investments, and of ‘figures’ present and correct —or not. Anything strange or unseemly, a mere whiff of stray fur, should be swiftly signalled to the chief executive for immediate independent audit, especially if to do with a property division.

The age-old question for local government continues to be: if you’re not a business person, how do you smell rats in your balance sheets and upon whom do you rely for sound advice, internally and externally, for the health and solid whereabouts of your ratepayer funds and assets. Indeed, without this staunch critical oversight how on earth can a council operate or even run its companies.

And how do you screen applicants; and monitor job performance.
Without great gaping holes in the cheese and skirtings, People!

[pennlive.com]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

10 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Carisbrook, Citifleet, Construction, DCC, DCHL, DCTL, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Health & Safety, Heritage, Housing, Media, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, Resource management, SFO, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Travesty

Tagged as Appointments, Aptitudes, Asset management, City Property, Deloitte, Dunedin City Council, Exits, Funds, Independent audits, Internal audits, Performance monitoring, Personnel changes, Property, Reporting, Reserves, Swiss cheese, Whistleblowing

by Elizabeth | June 9, 2017 · 8:04 pm

Council says “bag it” —we can help with that

Although, there’s no indication they like carbon monoxide (CO).
A useful part of the atmosphere in the circumstances.

****

STICK ‘EDUCATION’ UP THE PROVERBIAL

At Facebook:

The Dunedin City Council is keen to “educate all users to ensure enjoyment of our reserves and beaches”.

### ODT Online Fri, 9 June 2017
New horse dung rule pleases, riles
By Shawn McAvinue
Horse droppings must be cleaned from Dunedin tracks by riders but they can remain on footpaths and roads, a new bylaw states. A community board head says the new rules are a “step in the right direction”, but a horseman reckons the bylaw is “ridiculous”. Dunedin City Council recreation and planning facilities manager…said under the recently adopted Reserves and Beaches Bylaw, horse owners were expected to remove horse droppings from or near access tracks as a courtesy to other users. The bylaw allowed for enforcement, [they] said. […] Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said under the council’s Roading Bylaw owners were not required to clean up if their horse left droppings on a public road or footpath. The council received few complaints about the issue, he said. […] Horseman Keith Roberts (69), of Berwick, said he had ridden around New Zealand four times on his horse Zara and had never picked up her droppings. The bylaw would not change his behaviour, he said. “Never.”
Read more

TIME TO CLEAN OUT THE STABLE

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

ALL THESE THINGS BELONG ON BEACHES

Burt Munro Challenge [southlandexpress.co.nz]

[slohorsenews.net]

“We Shall Fight on the Beaches” –Winston Churchill, 4 June 1940

Leave a comment

Filed under Adventure sport, Democracy, Dunedin, Education, Events, Fun, Geography, Health, Media, New Zealand, People, Politics, Public interest, Sport, Travesty

Tagged as Access, Beaches, Biodegradable, Bureaucrats, Bylaws, Desk huggers, HORSE LOVERS UNITE, Horse shit, Leisure, Patronising, Pillocks, Racing, Recreation, Roads and footpaths, Room for All, STUPID red tape, Toys, Tracks, Vehicles, You Own The Beaches

by Elizabeth | June 8, 2017 · 8:49 pm

Stadiums, in particular the FB Aurora Delta Stadium at Dunedin

Olympiastadion München, opened 26 May 1972

Received from Gurglars
Thu, 8 Jun 2017 at 2:11 p.m.

Bayern Munich bought out TSV 1860 Munich, their 50% joint venture partners, for €11 million. The stadium cost €360 million and originally seated 80,000 pax.

This is despite the Stadium being used weekly for matches for Bayern and TS Munchen, and six World Cup games being played at the stadium.

█ Wikipedia: Olympiastadion (Munich)

What this tells us is that stadiums are worthless once built – are not assets, but liabilities.

If they are fully owned (no debt) and receipts go to the stadium owners then they can be profitable, but only if the owner is also the user. Thus the only hope is for the Highlanders/Otago to own the stadium.

The DCC have demonstrated that all they can rack up is more debt, more bills and more losses.

[ends]

****

Fat chance of Otago Rugby taking over the stadium while it continues to be subsidised by DVML – the true cost of which is not made public. ORFU is now making profits but declines to pay back the ratepayers for the ‘simple things’, like black tie dinners held at the stadium in recent times. God knows what we’re paying for while Mr Davies sits atop his rugby goal post roost, clucking inanely, looking down at the pretty (untouchable) grass.

The prima donna approach is a False Economy, but not for dullards and professional rugby thugs.

Rip up the grass, put in articial turf, and let the Otago stadium be used by more codes / more sports people.

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“It is a little naive to think because it is raining outside and there is water on the facilities, you can just come inside.” –Terry Davies

### ODT Online Thu, 8 Jun 2017
Unrealistic to have club sport at stadium – Davies
By Adrian Seconi
The chances of playing club sport under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium without an advanced booking are virtually nil, Dunedin Venues chief executive Terry Davies says. The issue came up in mid-April when the Dunedin City Council closed all its grounds due to poor weather. The Dunedin Rugby Metropolitan Council was reluctant to cancel round five of premier rugby and had hoped to play on the sand-based surfaces at Hancock Park and Kettle Park and possibly under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium. However, the stadium was ruled out because of scheduled maintenance. The issue came up again last month when grotty weather forced more cancellations, although premier rugby went ahead as planned. Davies said the idea club sport could be played at Forsyth Barr Stadium because of poor weather was naive. […] “The stadium was fundamentally built to deliver a real economic impact for the city. We have a number of major contracts in place with the professional rugby bodies … and there are other major events that we need to look after. On that basis we run quite a detailed maintenance schedule right through to the year it ensure we can deliver. The last thing we want to do is have a facility that is [not looking its best].”
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

30 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Aurora Energy, Baloney, Business, Construction, Delta, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, DVL, DVML, Economics, Education, Electricity, Events, Finance, Geography, Highlanders, Hot air, Infrastructure, Media, Name, NZRU, ORFU, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, Queenstown Lakes, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Travesty

Tagged as Artificial playing surface, Aurora Energy Ltd, Bayern Munich, Delta Utility Services Ltd, Dunedin Venues Ltd, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, DVL, DVML, False economy, fubar stadium, Loss-making stadiums, Premier rugby, PROFESSIONAL RUGBY, Ratepayer subsidy, Stadiums, Terry Davies, Turf

by Elizabeth | June 6, 2017 · 1:35 am

West Harbour Recreation Trail —Devastation caused to Rotary project

The three-year $200,000 West Harbour Recreation Trail project by the Rotary Club of Dunedin aims to beautify the edges of a 3km section of the cycleway-walkway, from the Otago Boat Harbour to Maia.

On May 26, a Friday afternoon, two Rotarians turned up at the boat harbour end of the Trail to set out the location of new exercise equipment for public use (in preparation for a June 10 working bee) – the next phase of the harbourside project. The men were astounded to find a council contractor, ostensibly there to repair the harbour wall, running heavy machinery across the mown green strip, seriously damaging the designated public amenity area.

While Rotary’s West Harbour Recreation Trail is a council approved project, and the extended site receives maintenance from Taskforce Green, the DCC had completely failed to advise and coordinate with Rotary before earthworks commenced for repair of the seawall. How does this happen ??!

Not such a bad job until you look westward, other side of the orange safety nets:

DCC Webmap – West Harbour Recreation Trail (damaged section)

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Apparently, DCC has assured Rotary that the damage will be put right by the contractor. However, because of no drying for some time Rotary’s scheduled work at this site is on hold (at least a five month delay).

Rotarians had raised funds from the public to carry out the project.

One of the Rotarians said he was ‘incandescent with rage’ over it – and did not often get incandescent!!

On Tuesday (May 30) I visited the area to take photographs.

This is yet another example of council ineptitude where the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand’s doing. The council’s lack of oversight and the resulting damage may necessitate deeper foundations for the exercise equipment than Rotary had anticipated and budgeted. Their working bee planned for June 10 will be reduced in scale, with only installation of exercise equipment at Ravensbourne Footbridge taking place. The working bees for July and August have been cancelled as the site won’t be in a fit state to work on. Timing of the provision of barbeque facilities as part of the landscaping project is also affected.

There is the Huge Irony that Rotary have only just been awarded 1st Place by Keep Dunedin Beautiful, for their work on the recreation trail. The award came with a $100 cash prize.

Thankfully, say Rotarians, the damage wasn’t done until after the Trees for Babies planting was done on Mother’s Day (14 May).

The Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards “celebrate and honour the people of Dunedin who are committed to beautifying their city and caring for their environment through volunteer action”.

“Each Autumn, in partnership with Rotary Dunedin, Keep Dunedin Beautiful organises tree plantings for babies and other family members in city reserves. Trees for Babies is a long-term native tree-planting project where family members can celebrate the birth of a child or any significant family milestone. It also contributes to a native re-vegetation project in a city reserve.”

Related Post and Comment:
7.8.15 Dunedin Rotary Club | West Harbour Recreation Trail

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

9 Comments

Filed under Business, Construction, Cycle network, DCC, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Health & Safety, Infrastructure, Name, New Zealand, People, Pet projects, Project management, Property, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Travesty, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Amenity, Barbeque facilities, Community projects, Contract supervision, Cycleways, DCC, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Exercise equipment, Facilities, Interpretive signage, Keep Dunedin Beautiful, Lack of communication, Landscaping, Picnic tables, Planting, Public funds, Recreation, Rotary Club of Dunedin, Seating, Taskforce Green, Volunteering, Walkways, West Harbour Recreation Trail, Working bees

by Elizabeth | June 2, 2017 · 4:30 pm

#Aurora —“What was that?!” Huh? What?! [a council mutters, suddenly]

Really, we haven’t heard much lately from the DCHL chairman about the dwindling source of funds to the city council…. counting down to June 30 perhaps, with lawn mowing to look forward to in Spring. But what of an associate commissioner’s five-year term at the Commerce Commission.
A few things are not being said in ‘above Board’ fashion.

Around a billion dollars to retrieve Aurora, is it worth it and how?
By the ~~beg,~~ borrow and ‘TAX’ ratepayers method ?? When Otago power consumers have already paid their line charges to cover network upgrades and renewals that never happened. Look at this winding garden path, so much leafy cover and fat plums for the picking, but —WHERE did the money go and WHICH ENTITIES AND WHICH INDIVIDUALS are responsible for wrongful application of lines monies to other unrelated activities.
Thankfully, in this situation, a raft of New Zealand legislation (laws) and statutory regulation applies.

—

DCC’s budget resilience, helped by accelerated debt repayments and reduced debt-servicing costs, meant the council had “some room to move”….“we are already in a constrained situation and we’ve got some buffer in the system”.

Friday, 2 June 2017
DCHL dividends to council in doubt
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council expects dividends from its companies to “flatline” as Aurora grapples with the $720million cost of rebuilding its electricity network. But Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says improvements in the health of the rest of the council’s books means it is up for the financial challenge. His comments came after council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose, speaking at this week’s council meeting, said the council faced fresh uncertainty over future dividends. […] The money helped ease the pressure for rates rises […] The change reflected the need to get DCHL’s books in order — after years of borrowing to pay dividends — and reinvest in Aurora’s network […] speaking this week, Dr Bidrose said the projected dividends were at risk because of Aurora’s investment plan. “We will be reviewing that, in light of the high level of asset maintenance required by Aurora. It seems it would be a fair assumption it will be at least longer before that dividend payment recommences,” Dr Bidrose said.
Read more

█ For more, enter the terms *aurora*, *delta*, *crombie*, *thompson*, *grady*, *luggate*, *jacks point*, *dchl*, *auditor-general*, *noble* or *yaldhurst* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

[pinterest] – shoes on line bricked by whatifdunedin

16 Comments

Filed under Aurora Energy, Business, Central Otago, Construction, DCC, DCHL, DCTL, Delta, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Electricity, Finance, Geography, Health & Safety, Hot air, Infrastructure, LTP/AP, Media, Name, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, Queenstown Lakes, Resource management, SFO, Sport, Stadiums, Technology, Town planning, Travesty, Urban design

by Elizabeth | May 27, 2017 · 4:09 pm

Profligate behaviour : MYTH paraded as fact…… just like Aurora Energy’s propaganda campaign

Council infrastructure and networks committee chairwoman Cr Kate Wilson said last night the project would go ahead “regardless”. There was funding for three years, she said, and the fourth year’s funding would be part of next year’s long-term plan, and the one after that. The project was needed for safety reasons to prevent vehicles driving into the harbour and climate change making the road undriveable. (ODT) *Emphasis by whatifdunedin

Yeah right.

### ODT Online Fri, 26 May 2017
Botched cycleway estimate short by $13m
By David Loughrey
A bungled Dunedin City Council cost estimate to complete safety improvements and a cycle/walkway on Otago Peninsula has left the project more than $13 million short. The council announced yesterday an estimate for the project on Portobello Rd and Harington Point Rd that includes a cycle/walkway from Taiaroa Head to the city had risen from $20 million to $49 million. The earlier estimate, drawn up in 2011, did not include parts of the cycleway to be built, land that had to be bought and a contingency fund to cover unforeseen expenses. […] Despite the cost rise, the council will start construction this year, with a shared cycle/walkway design.
Read more

****

Powerlines at sunset [garp.com]

Meanwhile WE will be paying for our Otago power network TWICE, at a crippling cost to business and residential power consumers well into the future —thanks to Dunedin City Council’s unsatisfactory governance of the companies Aurora Energy / Delta Utility Services and Dunedin City Holdings and, above all, the Council’s unfettered use of public funds to realise the dream of the Tartan Mafia and Professional Rugby to build the now frequently empty and under-utilised Forsyth Barr Stadium. (three concerts by Ed Sheeran in highly doubtful acoustic conditions inside ‘the roof’ does not a Christmas make).

All this because the Council conveniently fails to ensure it covers the infrastructural basics (in this instance: the safe, secure and continuous supply of electricity) – affordably – for the static if bearly stable City of Dunedin, and the sparcely populated Otago region in the mode of fast pumping growth. (There are simply too few permanent ratepayers to uphold ‘big bloated dreams’ and money siphoning on the rates take).

The Council did not ensure that Aurora Energy / Delta Utility Services were sufficiently well structured to Avoid profligate spending, making subvention payments to the stadium companies, or borrowing to pay dividends to the Council. (Probably the least of it).

There have been YEARS of dangerous neglect, embellishing the lack of repair and upgrade to the Community of Otago’s electricity network.

The Council is not well enough controlled (corporate and financial oversight) in order to Avoid its own profligate spending —so to protect, support and upgrade Otago’s power network as the solid basis for regional economic development and SAFE living —with CERTAINTY and SECURITY OF SUPPLY.

Instead, The People will now be plunged into further debt by the circus wheel of local body politicians and the morally thin and rather malevolent boards of directors (masters of spin) controlling the companies.

It’s time the People of Dunedin and Otago took control of their power infrastructure. Resolving, if they will, to adopt a different ownership and delivery model – one option is to form a democratically elected Community Power Trust to own and oversee the network; this is a sound regional model that is proven to work in other jurisdictions, with all due care.

WE have to Safeguard our future.
Not leave decision-making to unvetted members of the Tartan Mafia.
Especially not those in thrall to the likes of Gordon Stewart and his ilk (a vague reference to Delta’s speculative dealings at Yaldhurst, Christchurch – Delta is presently in a discovery process via an action brought to the Christchurch High Court by Caveators claiming Constructive Fraud).

DO NOT sell the ‘fragments remaining’ of the Otago Power Network (as bleated by some in power who can’t/won’t maintain a local body balance sheet – like you trust them, already?!) – to overseas corporates who will hike power prices disastrously to satisfy their shareholders.

Proceed carefully, OTAGO.

ASK QUESTIONS. RESEARCH. DO YOUR SUMS.
DON’T BE TOLD WHAT TO DO. ACT RESPONSIBLY FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF YOUR KITH AND KIN.
DO NOT PLACE FAITH IN OLD SPIN MAESTERS AND THEIR DEPUTIES.

We’ve seen them all before and have the new $1+ BILLION ‘invoice’ from Aurora Energy to prove it. Yes, we thought we had already paid over that amount in electricity and lines dues.

The suited ones bringing the clamour are looking after themselves – not US, not OUR COMMUNITY.

This is now a ransom.

The UGLY sister companies remain joined at the hip : Delta is Aurora Energy’s “preferred contractor”. And Steve is new, so don’t blame him! ….Really?

****

[propaganda – Aurora Energy]

After facing unrelenting pressure to up its game, Aurora Energy says it has stepped up to the challenge.

Sat, 27 May 2017
Dawn of a new Aurora era
By Vaughan Elder
Aurora chairman Steve Thompson said it had been under the “spotlight and the heat lamp” since accusations broke last October that it was endangering the public and workers by leaving its network, and in particular power poles, to deteriorate. That pressure turned ugly at times and workers had been verbally abused, including while out doing their supermarket shopping. Mr Thompson blamed the abuse on what he described as unfair criticism and media coverage. But Mr Thompson said in the face of adversity, Aurora and its sister company Delta had achieved a “hell of a lot” in a short space of time. The two companies were well on their way to splitting up in a divorce which Mr Thompson said would cost money in the short-term but reap huge benefits in the long-term. Aurora was also mid-way through an ambitious accelerated pole replacement programme and this week announced a $720million plan to upgrade its ageing network.
….Mr Thompson said its actions should help renew the public’s faith in both companies, but emphasised he believed that faith had been unfairly shaken by what he described as over-the-top criticism in the past seven months. He said safety concerns about the 2910 red-tagged poles across Dunedin, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes had been overblown. At the same time, Delta and Aurora’s efforts to confront the problem, both before and after the story broke in October, had been under-reported, he said.
….Despite his anger at the way Aurora had been treated by critics and in the Otago Daily Times, he was under no illusion the network was in top shape, saying it was the second oldest network in New Zealand and acknowledged major work was needed to improve it in the next 10 years. But he would not be drawn on whether the situation had come about as a result of decades of underinvestment, which has been one of the main criticisms levelled at Aurora since October. He said he was not in a position to comment given he only started midway through last year.
Read more

CRITICAL ABHORRENCE FOR TOP CHAPS IN THE AURORA / DELTA / DCHL ‘EXECUTIVE’ (PAST AND PRESENT) WILL CONTINUE UNABATED IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE UNTIL THEY AND THEIR FRIENDS ARE OUSTED AND MADE ANSWERABLE TO HIGHER AUTHORITIES.

Otago people must busy themselves.
Time for formal inquiries. Time to REMODEL.

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█ For more, enter the terms *aurora*, delta*, *epic fraud*, *poles*, *healey* or *dchl* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

9 Comments

Filed under Aurora Energy, Business, Central Otago, Climate change, Construction, Cycle network, DCC, DCHL, Delta, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, DVL, DVML, Economics, Education, Electricity, Events, Finance, Geography, Health & Safety, Infrastructure, LTP/AP, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZTA, OAG, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, Queenstown Lakes, Resource management, SFO, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Technology, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, Urban design

Tagged as Asset management, Aurora Energy Ltd, Board of Directors, Borrowing, Commerce Commission, Community Trust model, Company audits, Council owned companies (CCOs), Cycleways, Dangerous workplaces, DCC, DCHL, Degraded electricity network, Delta Utility Services Ltd, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, Energy Safety (WorkSafe), Forsyth Barr Stadium, Good Old Boys (GOBs), Health and Safety, Infrastructure networks, Investigations, Lack of accountability, Lack of transparency, OAG, Obfuscation, ODT, Office of the Auditor-General, Power facility upgrades, Power poles, Refinancing, Renewals, Shafting the power consumers, Whistleblowers, WorkSafe

by Elizabeth | May 24, 2017 · 11:10 pm

SCANDAL : Aurora Energy Ltd set to burden Otago ratepayers and residents with massive rates increases

At Facebook:

****

“Overall, the planning period will be characterised by the delivery of the largest work programme in Aurora Energy’s history.” –Steve Thompson

Read: The Otago power network is THAT DEGRADED – caused by various rugby supporting and clip-ticket gentlemen, whose names we all know so well. Described by civil words (not cuss words) that start with F and C.

The “laundry” was well and truly harsh, leaving the network in threadbare tatters…. while private pockets were filled. That’s One Billion Dollars worth of power asset the Otago ratepayers have had to pay for TWICE. Talk about ‘power’ and corruption, Bryce Edwards (?) – Dunedin in the last 30 years was built on it, solidly at source.

The “gents” might like to explain where all the money went, and how the hell they think they can make us pay for their near limitless mismanagement and fully reckless endangerment (to workers, citizens and the regional economy) over three decades …..without shoving them in deep at the NZ Court system —for processing.

█ Today an Aurora/Delta executive had the audacity (after spinning out their LGOIMA response to the 20th working day, following my request made 26 April) to want to charge me for official information at the vindictive “maximum charge” (their words) of $190.00. Shove that, boys. Other council owned companies have provided the information free of charge and very promptly and courteously.

Tuck it back in your pants Aurora/Delta, or be sliced.

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At Facebook:

● Aurora will spend $347 million on asset renewal, including a total of 14,000 poles…..

### ODT Online Wed, 24 May 2017
Aurora plans $720m upgrade of network
By Vaughan Elder
Aurora Energy has unveiled a $720 million plan to upgrade its ageing electricity network over the next decade. The plan is a more than $300 million increase on the 10-year plan the Dunedin City Council owned company released last year. […] In a press release this afternoon, Aurora Energy said the plan would have an extensive impact on the region’s economy through job creation and spill-over benefits to other businesses. […] Other major projects included a new substation at Carisbrook, which would replace the 60-year-old Neville St substation by 2019 and a new Wanaka substation on Riverbank Rd, Wanaka. […] Aurora Energy chairman Steve Thompson said an additional $81 million would be spent on growth and security of supply projects to support the region. […] The remaining expenditure was tagged to maintenance and operating expenditure ($192 million), and capital expenditure primarily related to new consumer connections and safety and reliability ($101 million).
Read more

****

The vertiginous mountain of HEALTH AND SAFETY DANGERS due to Aurora mismanagement and neglect of the power asset across Otago.

And the WorkSafe option could be “…..an infringement notice”, possibly not PROSECUTION.

Hmm, have the good old boys been dealing in the way they usually deal ??? Is WorkSafe a soft touch. To date it certainly hasn’t been Acute. Or at all worried about the danger to electrical workers or the general public. What a damnably prolonged and sordid farce this is.

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### ODT Online Wed, 24 May 2017
No decision to prosecute Aurora
By Vaughan Elder
Worksafe is yet to decide whether it will prosecute Aurora Energy over the state of its power poles. WorkSafe has been looking into Aurora and its sister company Delta since October over accusations dangerous power poles across Dunedin, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes were putting the public at risk. The government entity gave fresh details about its audit of the two companies in response to an Official Information Act request from the Otago Daily Times. WorkSafe high hazards and energy safety general manager Wayne Vernon said it had completed an “initial” audit of a sample of the network’s assets and provided a report to Aurora. […] “WorkSafe has not to date made a decision to prosecute or not to prosecute Aurora over health and safety issues associated with the state of its poles.” Mr Vernon emphasised prosecution was one of many options available to it, which also included issuing instructions to remove or minimise the potential for danger and issuing an infringement notice.
Read more

█ For more, enter the terms *delta*, *aurora*, *epic fraud*, *poles*, *healey* or *dchl* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

15 Comments

Filed under Aurora Energy, Business, Central Otago, Construction, DCC, DCHL, DCTL, Delta, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, DVL, DVML, Economics, Education, Electricity, Finance, Health & Safety, Highlanders, Infrastructure, LTP/AP, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, Queenstown Lakes, Resource management, SFO, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Technology, Tourism, Town planning, Travesty, Urban design

Tagged as Asset management, Aurora Energy Ltd, Board of Directors, Commerce Commission, Company audits, Council owned companies (CCOs), Dangerous workplaces, DCC, DCHL, Degraded electricity network, Delta Utility Services Ltd, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, Energy Safety (WorkSafe), Forsyth Barr Stadium, fubar stadium, Good Old Boys (GOBs), Health and Safety, Highlanders, Infrastructure networks, Lack of accountability, Lack of transparency, Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, Marlborough Lines, New Zealand Rugby Union, NZRU, OAG, Obfuscation, ODT, Office of the Auditor-General, Official complaints, ORFU, Otago Rugby Rugby Union, Power poles, PROFESSIONAL RUGBY, Renewals, Rugby, Story (Newshub), Terms of Reference, Whistleblowers, WorkSafe

by Elizabeth | May 20, 2017 · 7:17 pm

thoughts and faces #loosematerial

My father [never a follower of the FedUp Farmers, as he deemed them; always the campaigner for removal of farm subsidies, to enhance production and market competition] had ‘stock’ phrases with which to judge the faces of female adversaries, those with little brain or spine in politics, pretenders. One adept phrase that sticks in my mind is “like a horse eating thistles” —so I look on the following with my tinted lens, and laugh, rurally (ruefully). No one target.

—

On 19 May @StuFleming tweeted: “Spend $200k, revenue projections of $2.4M to others, 10% margin yields say $240k net”
[minus ODT news photo of face]

As ratepayer not involved in tourism or hospo, I’m wondering what to spend my windfall from Trenz on. Travel? Balclutha or Hampden? https://t.co/kau4b3aDSB

— T. Optional (@TomBoyOptional) May 20, 2017

—

Rather bleak. pic.twitter.com/dI41cnqk0u

— Chris (@opetheater) May 20, 2017

—

[DUD ‘money hype’ typically depends on false multipliers, anechoic silences, and arrogant self-belief —this (yes) bleak statement applies across a broad range of proposed deals and associated marketing detritus in the city, especially to events, conferences, sport, hospitality and accommodation, and even the re-use (Not conservation) of truly rare and precious instances of historic heritage] Here’s to all the fricking horses out there, including hypocritical colleagues and friends with blinkers like demo balls prepared to squeeze the last dollar and pass us to Hell. Anyway, back to “the business”…. cargo cult tourism. The wider effects of tourism are like those of dairying. Too many eggs in one basket and everybody (I mean, everybody) ends up doing it badly —killing Our Place for generations. Greed, like endorphins, like a running addiction, binds them up. They think they’re bright, they think they’re enablers (read risk takers/investors centred on their own gains only), they think they’re entrepreneurs, better than others (but because I for one will tell you things you don’t want to hear, you’ll say “I’ll ring you tomorrow”, that silence again) but they’re just funneled, tunneled sheepybaas – doing it wrong. Like cows, deer, Chinese gooseberries (Kiwifruit!), wines, stadiums….. or ‘getting a room’ behind the poorly remembered, heavily made-up, Disney’d facade of our city and nationhood. The worst kind didn’t, or didn’t bother to, ‘grow up’ here. They get desperate, create mess, import other yes men. Ring you like nothing happened, their exploits —not to ask deeply madly who and how you really are.

### ODT Online Sat, 20 May 2017
Trenz prompts high aspirations
By David Loughrey
Next year’s Trenz conference in Dunedin is set to cost ratepayers $200,000, but the long-term pay-off should run well into the millions.
The Dunedin City Council will next week be given an idea of the costs to the city of hosting the conference from May 7 to 10, and also the estimated benefits. The city learned last week it would host the tourism industry event next year, bringing up to 1200 international travel and tourism buyers, media and New Zealand tourism operators to Dunedin. It will be the first time the event, run by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), has come to Dunedin and the first time it has been hosted outside Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch or Queenstown since it began in the 1960s. Trenz is an opportunity for New Zealand tourism operators to sell their product to buyers, effectively overseas travel agents who put together itineraries for overseas tourists. Attracting more than 350 buyers to experience the tourism products on offer here is considered a huge coup. On average, each buyer sends 4000 visitors a year to New Zealand, totalling 1.5 million. It comes as figures show New Zealand’s tourism market is expected to continue to grow strongly, topping $15 billion by 2023. Tourism contributes more than $690 million to Dunedin’s economy every year.
Read more

—

South Islanders woke up to a snowy start this morning with the first Antarctic blast of winter https://t.co/AJsIxO5Pwe pic.twitter.com/0jBfYGEORq

— nzherald (@nzherald) May 19, 2017

—

Meanwhile, although we (‘our stock’ NZ) and the UK farm gate look pretty much the same……

‘Herdwick Shepherd’ aka James Rebanks (@herdyshepherd1) farms Herdwick sheep in the English Lake District. Author of bestselling memoir, The Shepherd’s Life:

Still cold up on the fells pic.twitter.com/VsFBL9yJnX

— James Rebanks (@herdyshepherd1) May 19, 2017

Best thing this week… pic.twitter.com/CKD0DJtAxj

— James Rebanks (@herdyshepherd1) May 19, 2017

### ODT Online Saturday, 20 May 2017
OE to Britain set to get tougher
Prime Minister Bill English says the Conservative Party’s new plans to clamp down on immigration will sting New Zealanders wanting to live in the United Kingdom, including on the traditional OE, but there is little he can do until Brexit is completed. The British party’s election manifesto includes plans to drastically cut net migration from 273,000 to less than 100,000 by targeting students and those on working visas. It proposes cutting the number of skilled migrants to get visas, higher levies on employers who take on migrant workers and tripling the National Health Service immigration health surcharge from £200 to £600 ($NZ380 to $NZ1130) a year for those in the UK on visas of more than six months and 450 for international students. That surcharge increase will also affect those on the traditional OE, although there is no mention of scrapping the two-year youth mobility visa which allows young New Zealanders to get a two-year visa to work and travel in the United Kingdom. Mr English said the changes would affect those on their OE but they would have to grin and bear it until Brexit was completed. NZME.
Read more

—

Super City mayor Phil Goff has a plan for getting money from tourists – it bears some similarity to that of the Mongrel Mob……

Amid talk of hotel taxes and tourist levies, Winston Aldworth says New Zealanders are missing a bigger opportunity https://t.co/oJNUiMesTL

— nzherald (@nzherald) May 19, 2017

### NZ Herald Thu, 18 May 2017
Winston Aldworth: Seeking the smart money
OPINION What do Phil Goff and the Mongrel Mob have in common? As hundreds of travel industry figures from all around the world gathered in Auckland for last week’s Trenz conference, one of the many topics up for discussion was the Auckland mayor’s enthusiasm for a hotel bed tax on visitors to the city. Meanwhile, up north at Ahipara on Ninety Mile Beach, three German tourists were approached by two local Mongrel Mob members who told them that they were on Maori land, and had to pay koha. They also told the tourists they’d be taking a few of their cigarettes. A tobacco tax, if you will. Perhaps their plan for putting heavy taxes on visitors was inspired by the Super City mayor. Goff’s bed tax is about as blunt an instrument as the Mob’s shakedown. “Look there’s a foreigner! Let’s get a couple of bucks off them.” The airport tax introduced by John Key a year ago is equally clumsy. It’s a travesty that these tariffs are the best we can come up with for making money out of tourism. Yes, other countries put dull levies on visitor arrivals, but that’s no reason to follow suit. We New Zealanders pride ourselves on being innovators, so let’s find innovative ways to get more money out of the tourism sector. Both Goff and Key were ministers in governments that did everything they could to remove tariffs from the dairy trade. Today, the best and brightest marketing wallahs of Goff’s inner circle are putting forward a plan no more sophisticated than one devised by two Mongrel Mob members standing on a Northland beach. I’m not against making money out of tourists — quite the opposite, in fact. I think it’s terrific that our country can be boosted by an industry that encourages us to care for our environment, celebrate the things that make our culture unique and spreads revenue quickly and efficiently to the regions. But how about instead of putting a dumb tax on the visitors, we upsell them? Take their money at the gate for sure, but give them something special in return.
Read more

Enough randomising. More rain and ice falls.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

24 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Baloney, Business, Carisbrook, Central Otago, COC (Otago), Concerts, Construction, Corruption, Crime, CST, Cycle network, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Electricity, Enterprise Dunedin, Events, Finance, Freedom camping, Geography, Health & Safety, Heritage, Highlanders, Hospital, Hotel, Housing, Infrastructure, Media, Music, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, Offshore drilling, ORFU, Otago Polytechnic, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Public interest, Queenstown Lakes, Resource management, SDHB, SFO, Site, South Dunedin, Sport, Stadiums, Technology, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, University of Otago, Urban design

Tagged as Accommodation, Adaptive re-use, Business, Cargo cult mentality, Conferences, Dunedin, Economic impact studies, Events, Finance, GREED, Heritage, Hospitality, Hotels, Investment, Marketing hype, Multipliers, Other People's Money (OPM), Public funds, Ratepayers and Residents, Risktaking with OPM, Screwy deals, Seemy sides, Sport, Stadiums, Tourism

by Elizabeth | May 13, 2017 · 8:35 pm

DCC fails to meet LGOIMA request re ‘lost’ secure storage of CST files

The Dunedin City Council OWNS the Carisbrook Stadium Trust files, note.

Received from Bev Butler
Mon, 8 May 2017 at 1:40 p.m.

Subject: Complaint Dunedin City Council/storage of stadium documents

Message: Attached is the letter from the Ombudsman Office. I have sent a response to the Ombudsman letter.

[screenshot – click to enlarge]

● Download: 0_1-408161-3117439

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

23 Comments

Filed under Baloney, Business, CST, DCC, Democracy, Dunedin, Economics, Finance, Hot air, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, SFO, Sport, Stadiums, Travesty

Tagged as Agency, Carisbrook Stadium Charitable Trust, Carisbrook Stadium Trust, Complaint, Contracts, Council agents, CSCT, CST, DCC, DCC GM Corporate Services, DCC GM Strategy and Governance, Deliberately LOST files, Document security, Documents, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, DVML, File storage, Forensic audit, Forensics, fubar stadium, Invoices, LGOIMA, Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, Malcolm Farry, New Zealand, Ombudsman, Otago Stadium, Public Records Act, Secure storage, Security, Stadiums

by Elizabeth | May 13, 2017 · 7:26 pm

Condition of Warrington Domain screwed by DCC lack of enforcement #CampingControlBylaw23

Freedom campers are ignoring closed signs at Warrington Domain.

Photographs and accompanying letter received from a Warrington resident (name withheld) on Monday, 8 May 2017 at 10:52 a.m.

● All comments to the photographs are by whatifdunedin.

APPALLING
Dunedin City Council trashes Warrington ratepayers’ and residents’ recreational amenity asset:

Warrington Domain 2 May 2017, ground condition before the domain closed.

Damage to the village green is all down to the deliberate decision by Dunedin City Council to allow uncontrolled freedom camping at the Domain over the 2016/17 summer period (read no enforcement of Camping Control Bylaw 23); this for reduction and avoidance of freedom camping happening in metropolitan Dunedin. Out of sight, out of mind. The Warrington community receives no proper help from the scrubbers on the politicised local community board, to protect the asset.

It’s a bloody scandal – someone (plural) should lose their job.

In these photos freedom campers continue to park outside the closed domain totally ignoring the DCC signage but with apparently no repercussions:

Due to email file size limits a video recording was not forwarded to What if? Dunedin. Hopefully this will come available shortly via YouTube.

—

Warrington resident receives no reply to their polite yet pointed email sent to Waikouaiti Coast Community Board (WCCB) and DCC. How surprising!

From: [Warrington resident]
Sent: Saturday, 6 May 2017 8:50 p.m.
To: Waikouaiti Coast Community Board; Dunedin City Council Customer Services; Ashley Reid [DCC]; Jendi Paterson [DCC]
Subject: Freedom campers ignore closed signs

Hi DCC and WCCB,

I became aware there are freedom camper vehicles outside the domain this evening from their music and the noise of car doors.

FYI 13 non-self-contained freedom camper vehicles are parked outside the Warrington domain tonight and a 14th is parked in the surf club carpark.

When asked they denied seeing the signs that clearly state the domain is closed to camping.

Our points are:
– the freedom campers are clearly ignoring your signs
– there doesn’t seem to be anyone controlling the area at night
– it is unreasonable for local residents that the freedom campers choose to park wherever they like

Regards
[Warrington resident]

****

Dunedin City Council
█ 23. Camping Control Bylaw 2015 (PDF, 2.5 MB)
The purpose of this bylaw is to protect, promote, and maintain public health and safety by regulating freedom camping within the district; and restrict freedom camping in public places within the district. Link
Date approved: 01 November 2015

DCC 23. Camping Control Bylaw 2015

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

2 Comments

Filed under Baloney, Business, Corruption, DCC, DCC Bylaws, Democracy, Design, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Freedom camping, Geography, Health & Safety, Hot air, Infrastructure, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, Other, People, Perversion, Politics, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Bans on freedom camping, Bylaws, Community reserves, DCC, DESTRUCTION of RATEPAYER RESIDENT AMENITY, Dunedin City Council, Environmental impacts, Freedom camping, Freeloaders, Health issues, Human excrement, Lack of DCC enforcement, National standards, Policy wonks, Poor council management, Recreational areas, Self-contained vehicles, THIS ISN'T ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Turf damage, Warrington Domain

by Elizabeth | April 30, 2017 · 10:35 pm

Good Old Boy pushes waterfront stadium for Auckland *yawn

At Twitter:

Auckland Council has been pitched a revolutionary, sunken stadium for the waterfront https://t.co/6xD5XO7FZi pic.twitter.com/BRArXbYJE1

— nzherald (@nzherald) April 29, 2017

****

### NZ Herald 5:00 AM Sunday Apr 30, 2017
Stunning stadium pitched for Auckland, sunken into waterfront
By Simon Plumb
Jaw-dropping concepts for an iconic new national stadium have been pitched to Auckland Council, proposing a state-of-the-art arena be submerged into the city’s waterfront. A portfolio of spectacular designs can be revealed from documents delivered to the office of Auckland Mayor Phil Goff last month. The Herald on Sunday has obtained them through the Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act [LGOIMA]. Dubbed The Crater, the idea centres on a subterranean multi-events venue, inverting conventional design by building below ground rather than above. Created by Auckland design and marketing figure Phil O’Reilly, three potentials factor in a core concept of a sunken bowl-type arena, as well as renderings of a roofed version. A third concept incorporates new cruise ship terminals that would flank the facility, although O’Reilly said the general idea could also work inland if the waterfront was dumped as a location. […] O’Reilly said as far as he is aware, the submerged venue would be the first of its kind anywhere in the world and was a chance for Auckland to build an iconic landmark that would be recognised the world over – but in keeping with Auckland’s natural volcanic landscape. […] Although not as large in scale, likely between 30,000-50,000 capacity, O’Reilly said a truly cutting-edge design could see the Kiwi venue punch way above its weight and become as recognised as some of the most famous on Earth.
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

27 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Baloney, Business, Construction, Design, Economics, Finance, Hot air, Infrastructure, Media, Name, New Zealand, Pet projects, Politics, Property, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Structural engineering, Technology, Tourism, Town planning, Travesty, Urban design

Tagged as Auckland, Auckland Council, boring, City access, Concept design, Does not pay, LGOIMA, Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, New Zealand, Parking, Port authority, Ports of Auckland, Stadiums, Transportation, Waterfront stadiums

by Elizabeth | April 23, 2017 · 4:15 am

Regional council builds Palace, refuses help to dredge Otago boat harbour

The ironies are Most Apparent.

The Otago Regional Council contributed $30m to the stadium roof (an activity beyond its local authority mandate), yet the council has no intention of helping the Otago Yacht Club to maintain the city’s marina, the Otago Boat Harbour.

[click to enlarge]
DCC Webmaps – Otago Boat Harbour at Mouth of Leith JanFeb 2013

Otago Yacht Club’s origin dates back to 1892, making it one of the oldest yacht clubs in Otago. The club caters for a range of sailing interests from keelboats to trailer yachts and centreboarders. The club also operates keeler haul-out facilities and welcomes visiting boats. The club manages a full events programme during summer, including harbour, coastal and ocean races. On Sunday mornings in the season the club runs ‘learn to sail’ and ‘learn to race’ programmes which cater for all ages. The clubhouse is a popular venue for private functions and for local organisations to hold meetings and events. Within walking distance of the city centre, the clubhouse offers showers, laundry facilities, email connections etc. The resident caretaker-manager will usually manage to accommodate requests for berthage for boats up to 50 feet. The alongside mooring facilities consist of several large punts inside a walled boat harbour. Due to silting, access to the boat harbour has only been tenable approximately two hours either side of high tide for boats with 2m draft. The Otago boat harbour was last dredged in 1995.
Source: otagoyachtclub.org.nz

****

### ODT Online Thu, 20 Apr 2017
Club gets go-ahead to dredge boat harbour
By David Loughrey
The Otago Boat Harbour is about to get its first dredging in more than 20 years, after the facility reached such a state rescue vessels could not leave the harbour at low tide. The work, expected to start soon, has been described as a major achievement by the Otago Yacht Club, which leases the boat harbour. Club vice-commodore Blair McNab said the cost of the project – more than $300,000 – was being paid for from grants and club membership fees. […] The club recently received resource consent from the Dunedin City Council for the work. The consent allowed the club to deposit dredged sediment and soil on land in Magnet St, behind the club, for drying. Mr McNab said once the dredged material had been dried, which took about two weeks, it would be taken to the nearby Logan Point quarry. The consent said once the work was completed, about 100cu m would remain on the grass area at Magnet St to form a barrier around its perimeter, and provide better drainage. The consent decision said the boat harbour was in such a state that at low tide, craft used for harbour rescues could not get out. […] The club had hoped the Otago Regional Council might help with the cost of the dredging, as alterations to the Water of Leith meant more spoil was coming from the nearby mouth of the stream. Mr McNab said it appeared the council was not going to help.
Read more

The Star April 2014 via Otago Yacht Club. Also at ODT Online 22.4.14

****

The Otago Regional Council’s “special consultation” over its Dunedin headquarters is flawed, writes former councillor Gerrard Eckhoff.

### ODT Online Tue, 18 Apr 2017
Review needed in lieu of proper consultation
By Gerrard Eckhoff
The Otago Regional Council’s annual plan is now open for public consultation. Implicit in the word consultation is the opening of a meaningful dialogue with the public. It would be entirely disingenuous for any local authority to enter into discussion on their annual plan by merely informing the public of council intent without showing a willingness to accept “the wisdom of crowds”.
….This year’s ORC annual plan contains four lines on “Dunedin building review” in its feedback document which could easily be missed at first reading. To its credit, the council has finally accepted its statutory obligation for “special consultation” on this $30million major project.
….The last time the council ventured forth on a new building project without any prior special consultation, it cost the ratepayers upwards of $3million for the concept design and drawings alone. The cost of that proposal was well over $30million and it was never built. It is, therefore, hard to reconcile how the new building/s is going to be around the projected $20million mark, unless building costs have halved in Dunedin from eight years or so ago. The potential cost of a new car park building must also be factored in, so the ratepayers could soon be the lucky owners of two new buildings, as well as a difficult-to-sell ORC headquarters building in Stafford St.
Read more

DCC Webmap – Dowling St carpark JanFeb 2013, ORC office site starred

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Images: Otago Yacht Club except where stated otherwise.

14 Comments

Filed under Business, DCC, Democracy, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Geography, Heritage, Infrastructure, Media, Name, New Zealand, ORC, People, Perversion, POL, Politics, Project management, Property, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Consultants, DCC, Diligence, Dowling St carpark (DCC-owned), Dredging, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Environmental monitoring, Environmental protection, Feasilibility, Fiduciary responsibility, Forgone conclusions, Headquarters, Intergenerational debt, Offices, Options farce, ORC, Otago boat harbour, Otago Harbour Board, Otago ratepayers, Otago Regional Council, Otago Regional Policy Statement, Otago Yacht Club, Port Otago Ltd, Public consultation, Public funds, Ratepayers, Rates, Silting, Stadium subsidy, Stafford Street, Water of Leith

by Elizabeth | April 16, 2017 · 6:09 pm

RNZ: Government crashes plans for a more pedestrian/cycle-friendly Christchurch

At Twitter:

Govt threatens to pull funding for Chch downtown plan https://t.co/H2NIzs9rHz

— RNZ News (@rnz_news) April 15, 2017

Christchurch City Council proposes turning Victoria St into a cul-de-sac………

### radionz.co.nz Sun, 16 Apr 2017 1:37 p.m.
RNZ News: Politics / Canterbury
Govt threatens to pull funding for Chch downtown plan
The government is threatening to cancel its funding for a plan to make central Christchurch more pedestrian and cycle friendly if changes are not made. The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Gerry Brownlee, said the government was paying 60 percent of the funding for the Accessible City plan, but last week he was granted authorisation by Cabinet to suspend its funding. Mr Brownlee said the plan, which has been partially implemented, risked creating a dysfunctional central city. “Its absurd. I’m hearing all the time from people who are going to have lunch or coffee in the central city and simply can’t park their car. Or end up parking such a long way away from it that they decide they may as well just drive to one of the suburban malls.”
Read more

****

Video link received Sun, 9 Apr 2017 at 9:53 p.m.

From the folks who brought you the self-driving car!

Google Nederland Published on Mar 31, 2016
Introducing the self-driving bicycle in the Netherlands
This spring, Google is introducing the self-driving bicycle in Amsterdam, the world’s premier cycling city. The Dutch cycle more than any other nation in the world, almost 900 kilometres per year per person, amounting to over 15 billion km annually. The self-driving bicycle enables safe navigation through the city for Amsterdam residents, and furthers Google’s ambition to improve urban mobility with technology. Google Netherlands takes enormous pride in the fact that a Dutch team worked on this innovation that will have great impact in their home country.

****

Link received from Hilary Calvert
Thu, 6 Apr 2017 at 7:53 p.m.

Message: Cycle lane cyclist truck turning left. Very dangerous.

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 07:03, Apr 7 2017
Former Hamilton teacher killed in collision with truck at Hamilton roundabout
By Phillipa Yalden – Waikato Times
Mike Leach taught Fairfield College students for 34 years. Some of the things he was involved in at Fairfield were outdoor education and building drama sets. He was a geography and social sciences teacher, and also a Dean. On Wednesday, as he cycled through the rain down Te Rapa Straight, the father of two’s life was cut short in a collision. The 67-year-old was killed when his bike and a B-train truck and trailer collided at the Te Rapa Road and Sunshine Avenue intersection at lunchtime on Wednesday. […] Quite a few people witnessed the crash on Wednesday, Waikato road police Senior Sergeant Gill Meadows said. “There are a number of people who were quite traumatised by the incident and we have referred them to Victim Support. There is quite a bit of work to be done on that particular incident.” Initial inquiries showed that the Halls refrigeration B-train truck was heading north along Te Rapa Straight when it went to turn left at the roundabout into Sunshine Avenue. “He was in the lane to turn left, and the cyclist was going straight ahead, and was on the left side of the truck. But we are still doing inquiries in regards to that.” There is a cyclist lane that runs along the straight, feeding into the roundabout. The crash occurred metres from shops and cafes at 11.30am.
Read more

Hamilton roundabout crash site [Christel Yardley/Fairfax NZ via stuff.co.nz]

—

█ For more, enter the term *cycle* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

1 Comment

Filed under Business, Construction, Cycle network, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Geography, Health & Safety, Hot air, Infrastructure, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZTA, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Amsterdam, Built environment, Christchurch, Cycleways, Cycling, DCC, Death, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin Strategic Cycle Network, FAVOUR CARS IN CBDs, Hamilton, Health and Safety, Left-turning trucks, New Zealand Transport Agency, NZTA, Parking, People in place, SH1 segregated cycleways, Urban design

by Elizabeth | April 5, 2017 · 5:46 pm

Town Belt Traverse 2017

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Leave a comment

Filed under Democracy, Dunedin, Education, Events, Fun, Geography, Health, Heritage, Inspiration, Leading edge, Name, New Zealand, People, Project management, Property, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Urban design

Tagged as Birdlife, Birds, City Rise, Community, DAS, Dogs, Dunedin, Dunedin Amenities Society, Ecological assets, Ecology, Events, Exercise, Free lunch, Green areas, Habitat, Health and Fitness, Heritage City, Pathways, Plantings, Recreation, Recreational assets, Self-guided walks, Southern Cemetery, Town Belt, Town Belt Traverse 2017, Trees, Walking events, Woodhaugh

by Elizabeth | March 30, 2017 · 6:03 pm

Famous Fat Bros’ Aurora/Delta news trickles in…. but can the sisters divorce

### channel39.co.nz Wed, 29 Mar 2017
Delta and Aurora Energy to separate
About 95 Delta employees are expected to transfer to Aurora Energy by mid-year as the two companies separate. The business divorce is one of the recommendations from an independent review by Dunedin City Holdings Limited. Delta and Aurora Energy Chair Steve Thompson says they expect no redundancies from either business. Delta will employ just over 500 staff following the transition. Aurora Energy will be a network company with network renewal as its priority, while Delta will provide electricity distribution, green-space and solid waste services.
Ch39 Link

█ Review of Aurora Energy Limited / Delta Utility Services Limited – Network Safety Concerns (December 2016). Deloitte.

****

### radionz.co.nz 9:22 pm on 29 March 2017
Dunedin’s Aurora Energy to take on Delta workers
Almost 100 employees from Dunedin power lines company Delta will transfer to its sister company Aurora Energy as the two firms separate.
The split of the council-owned companies was sparked by the discovery that thousands of power poles in Otago were rotting.
A whistleblower last year revealed thousands of power poles managed by Delta and Aurora were failing.
The Dunedin City Council released a report in December that recommended splitting the council-owned companies into separate entities, after three official inquiries.
A report by Deloitte recommended separate board management structures.
In a statement today, Delta said 95 employees would transfer to Aurora by mid-year, and there were no expected redundancies.
RNZ Link

****

DCHL/DCC farming of the conjoined twins deserves a break….

█ The devilish ongoing loss of one billion dollars of Otago line user and ratepayer funds. And Steve Thompson can’t be contacted. Oh brother.

Yes we really believe the two council-owned companies have great governance and superb management!? We also totally believe DCHL is a solid grounded entity!? Pity about the number of executive and staff resignations from Delta to date, and the resulting inability to fill job vacancies. Would you touch these blighted babies. Oink.

At Facebook:

****

### ODT Online Thu, 30 Mar 2017
Restructure proceeds
By Vaughan Elder
Dunedin City Council-owned companies Delta and Aurora are a step closer to becoming separate entities. Aurora and Delta announced in a joint press release yesterday about 95 Delta staff were expected to transfer to Aurora Energy by mid-year as part of the companies’ transition to standalone entities. The transition comes after a Deloitte report into accusations Aurora dangerously mismanaged its power network and failed to replace compromised poles recommended the two companies be split. According to Aurora’s annual report, it employs no staff and the management of the company is carried out by Delta, which is also contracted to carry out network maintenance. The Deloitte report said the closely linked arrangement was “fraught” with challenges, but acknowledged Aurora had been working on a restructuring programme which would have split the two companies in any case. Delta and Aurora chairman Steve Thompson, who was not available to answer questions about the press release, said significant progress had been made in the reorganisation of both businesses.
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█ For more, enter the terms *aurora*, *delta*, *grady*, *poles*, *asset management plan*, *dchl*, *auditor-general*, *epicpolefail* or *epic fraud* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: monsters international via blogspot.com – Siamese Twin Pigs by Alicia B Lim, ink on watercolour paper (US), tweaked by whatifdunedin

24 Comments

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Tagged as Asset management, Aurora Energy Ltd, Change management, Commerce Commission (industry regulator), Company audits, Company debt, Council owned companies (CCOs), Customised price-quality path, Dangerous workplaces, DCC, DCHL, Delta Utility Services Ltd, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, DVL, Employment, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Good Old Boys (GOBs), Graham Crombie, Health and Safety, Infrastructure networks, Job vacancies, Lack of accountability, Lack of operational capital, Lack of transparency, Lines users, Obfuscation, Official complaints, ORFU, Penalties, Power outages, Power poles, Ratepayers and Residents, Renewals, Restructuring, Stadium, Standards, SUBSIDISING PROFESSIONAL RUGBY, Whistleblower, WorkSafe

by Elizabeth | March 28, 2017 · 5:09 am

Brain Injury #Concussion

Flyers available from the main foyer display at Dunedin Hospital:

[click to enlarge]

****

### ODT Online Sat, 25 Mar 2017
Editorial: Using your head over concussion
OPINION It is the headache that will not go away. Concussion in sport is again in the headlines and has, sadly, shown the vast difference in how two high-impact codes, rugby and league, handle the issue and the welfare of their players. […] It has taken a long time for sports bodies to accept the full impact of concussion. In years gone by it was considered “a knock to the head” and players were encouraged to get back on their feet and into the game. Last year, The New Zealand Herald wrote a compelling series about the long-term effect of head knocks in sport. It discovered five cases of dementia among the successful Taranaki rugby side of 1964, which their families attributed to concussion during their playing days. […] The NZRU this year launched a blue card initiative, which is aimed at getting concussed players off the field. The blue card can be issued when a referee suspects a player has suffered a concussion. The player must immediately stand down for at least three weeks, and obtain medical clearance to return to play.
Read more

[2016 concussion series at nzherald.co.nz]
█ The Longest Goodbye: Rugby and the Dementia Dilemma

****

### NZ Herald 5:00 AM Sun, 26 Mar 2017
New study finds stronger necks mean fewer concussions
By Kirsty Wynn – Herald on Sunday
Rugby coaches are being urged to concentrate on improving players’ neck strength in a bid to avoid debilitating concussions. A ground-breaking New Zealand study has found players with weaker and uneven neck strength are more vulnerable to severe impacts that may cause concussion. The experiment by Otago University’s Dr Hamish Osborne and Research Fellow Dr Danielle Salmon used bluetooth sensors behind the ears of 23 players in the Otago Mitre 10 Cup rugby team to measure acceleration, or g forces, during impacts in five games. The neck strength of each player was also measured using especially designed equipment. Salmon said the weaker the neck the more severe the damaging “whip-lash” type movement. A higher acceleration force was also recorded.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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Tagged as Blue cards, Brain injury, Brain Injury Assn Otago Inc, Concussion, Dementia, Health, Knocks to the head, Medical research, Neck strength, NZRU, Research, Rugby, Rugby League, Rugby union, Sports injury, University of Otago School of Medicine

by Elizabeth | March 27, 2017 · 10:34 pm

Strong Opinion #lost(rugby)balls

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 16:35, March 27 2017
Rugby Heaven
Marc Hinton: With apologies to ballroom dancing, Aussie rugby decline hits new low
OPINION: Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for Australian rugby, along comes this. Fellow Kiwis, please keep your sniggering to acceptable levels.

Latest research from Australia shows that rugby union now ranks alongside ballroom dancing in terms of participation levels.

Can the news get any more dire for a code in a spiral of decline across the ditch?
In fact this latest body blow might now make it official: Australian rugby is in the toilet. No one flush the dunny. Australian teams have played a collective 24 matches in 2017. They have won just six of them. On top of the continuation of the abject performances by Australian Super Rugby teams, whose record against Kiwi opposition this season now reads played seven, lost seven, and the recognition they now lack the resources to field five teams in the southern hemisphere’s pre-eminent franchise competition, the playing numbers debacle might represent the knockout blow.
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—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: clipartall.com – football 3209_1969

4 Comments

Filed under Democracy, Fun, Hot air, Media, Name, People, Public interest, Sport, What stadium

Tagged as Australia, Australian Super Rugby, Ball sport, Marc Hinton, Rugby balls, Rugby Heaven, Rugby union, Sport

by Elizabeth | March 27, 2017 · 9:07 pm

Mosgiel Pool site options, survey twists

At Facebook:

****

### ODT Online Mon, 27 Mar 2017
Delay in approving pool site irks trust
By John Lewis
The Taieri Community Facilities Trust has made a decision on the preferred site for the new Mosgiel pool, but will have to wait another two weeks before it is considered by the Dunedin City Council …. [Trust chairwoman Irene Mosley] said the trust voted about 10 days ago to ask the DCC to go with an amended Site A, which was near the existing pool. “The trust had 447 responses; 52% were for Site B (Memorial Gardens), and 40% were for Site A …. However, once the comments were taken into consideration, along with the actual votes, the trust discovered that many of those in favour of Site B were in favour because of concerns about the existing pool being closed during the new pool build, potential parking issues and road safety concerns at the proposed entrance off Gordon Rd. The trust believes by locating the new pool further into the existing caravan park, and moving the park towards the Reid Ave side of the fields, these concerns can be mitigated.”
Read more

****

Old footage / older survey:

Channel 39 Published on Aug 13, 2015
Proposed Mosgiel pool site submissions being analysed
More than three hundred public submissions on the proposed Mosgiel pool site are being analysed. The city council’s earmarked four possible locations for a new swimming complex. And a clash with existing assets is upsetting some residents.

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Related Post and Comments:
14.12.16 Mosgiel pool site options —muddy water from mainstreet businesses

█ For more, enter the term *mosgiel pool* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

47 Comments

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Tagged as Car parking, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, DCC, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Long Term Plan (LTP), Long Term Plan 2015/16 - 2024/25, Memorandum of Understanding, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel mainstreet, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, ORC, Otago Regional Council, Pooling Together, Pools, Public consultation, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Road safety, Rorts, Secret meetings, Site options, Stadium funding model, Staging concerns, Subdivision, Surveys, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Targeted rates, Vested interests, Warren & Mahoney Architects Ltd

by Elizabeth | March 18, 2017 · 5:09 pm

DCC Proposed Reserves and Beaches Bylaw : Real-deal submission

[click to enlarge]

Dunedin City Council
Current consultations: Proposed Reserves and Beaches Bylaw 2017

****

Received from JimmyJones
Sat, 17 Mar 2017 at 10:03 p.m.

Subject: RE: Reserves and beaches consultation failure

Message: Find attached an outstanding submission on the horse-hating bylaw. I am sure there were many good subs, but I noticed this one from an 11-year-old who has a horse called Tonka. She makes a very good case for freedom. Like many of the other submitters, she bypassed the professionally organised DCC misinformation and understood that the DCC are threatening a total ban on horses on beaches.

I think other people should see it, I have removed her name from the submission in case she wasn’t expecting widespread publicity.

The submitters tell us that no other Council has a ban on horse riding on beaches in New Zealand.

—

Related Post and Comments:
8.2.17 Hands Off Enjoyment of OUR Beaches #DCC

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

14 Comments

Filed under Adventure sport, Business, Corruption, DCC, DCC Bylaws, Democracy, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Events, Geography, Health, Health & Safety, Heritage, New Zealand, ORC, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Public interest, Resource management, Sport, Tourism, Transportation, Travesty, What stadium

Tagged as Beach racing, Beaches, Bylaws, Coastal communities, Coastal environment, Cultural heritage, Cultural heritage amenity, DCC, DCC Parks and Reserves, Democracy, Dunedin City beaches, Dunedin City Council, Dunes, Freedom to move, Horse training, Horses, Leisure, Otago beaches, PC WANKERS, Policy planners, Public consultation, Recreation, Red-tape MORONS, Riding, Sand dunes, Shared history, SLANT questionaire, Sport, Submissions, Tradition, Visitor industry

by Elizabeth | February 22, 2017 · 2:59 pm

SH1 Cycleways : the real story

Received from Hilary Calvert
Wed, 22 Feb 2017 12:40 p.m.

[begins]

NZTA has produced a Q and A sheet for their project news update on our cycle lanes along the one-way streets.

An annotated version is provided for reality junkies:

Q: Why is there a need for separated cycleways on the one-way system?

NZTA: Cyclists and pedestrians are over represented in fatal and serious injury crashes. There have been 2 fatalities since 2011. Short-term safety measure were put into place in 2013. Separated cycle lanes are the long-term solution.

Reality: There have been no deaths since the cycle lanes were widened in 2013. The two deaths since 2011 were likely contributed to by the very act of creating cycle lanes in the blind spot of vehicles. Had these cyclists been on the road they would have been safer.

Q: Where else in the country are they using these?

NZTA: These lanes are becoming familiar in major cities including Christchurch. Busy urban routes such as the one-way streets in Dunedin need higher standards of cycle lanes.

Reality: No one in their right mind would direct cyclists to State Highway 1, where all the trucks go. If these two parallel roads were returned to two-way streets, you might put trucks on one and bikes on the other. But this is mad.

Q: Why put the cycleways on the right rather than the left?

NZTA: Because it increases cycle safety and separates them from bus stops.

Reality: Bingo! NZTA has finally realised delivering cyclists to the blind side of trucks is very dangerous. But it was NZTA who chose to do that last time. A simple sorry would be a start.

Q: why not on the right-hand side from Duke St to Otago Museum then?

NZTA: This has been done in response to feedback received and supported by further cycle surveys. And there is a large number of cyclists who use this route who would have to cross the road.

Reality: Really? So feedback overcomes safety? Surely this brings into question whether they really understand the safety issues with the left-hand side. WE all know that cyclists are no different from the rest of us, they will take their bikes on the shortest route they can find. Which will mean that they are spending most of their time not on the new cycle lane. Actually, most of their time will be spent walking around campus because the University won’t let cyclists inside – safety issues, apparently.

Q: What impact will this have on parking?

NZTA: Keeping the cycle lanes on the unsafe side of the road will mean we lose 20 fewer parks. Parking will be provided in high demand areas. (see revised plans).

Reality: We will lose hundreds of parks, particularly in the highest parking areas around the hospital (made worse by the DCC proposal to build on the car parking area at Frederick St). Parking is already squeezed in high demand areas. These guys are in la la land, and I don’t mean the award winning movie.

Q: Will these cycle lanes disrupt traffic flows?

NZTA: The lanes are likely to smooth traffic flows and provide more reliable travel times because there will be fewer parking movements.

Reality: Yes more reliably longer times, which are likely to double for anyone using the one-way streets. More phases for cyclists and pedestrians, more traffic trying to find parks, more time needed to get to hospital appointments. It wasn’t that broke. Why are those from out of town so determined to get in the way of traffic in Dunedin?

Q: How many cyclists are likely to use the cycle lanes?

NZTA: Current usage peaks at 500 per day, but this could easily double. We will measure the change.

Reality: Weasel words. Try looking north from Lower Stuart St along the one-way street. There will be several vehicles on the cycle lanes and likely not even 1 cyclist. The reality is that we are likely to have fewer than 1 cyclist per kilometre of cycleway in Dunedin at any one time. The maximum of 500 is not relevant to the usage in general. (And indeed 500 per day is 500 over 1440 minutes, about one every 3 minutes. At the absolute peak. For a moment in time. So it may double to 1 cyclist at the absolute maximum every 1.5 minutes.) And having measured it later, we are still stuck with the cycle lanes even if they don’t create double the usage. Meanwhile there is no proposed monitoring of the time wasted on getting to hospital appointments, or the time spent by students walking further from free car parking to lectures, or any other flow-on effects of decreased parking where it is currently available.

Q: When is work likely to start?

NZTA: May 2017, taking around 15 months and in such a way as to ensure the one-way system is able to operate effectively and any disruption is kept to a minimum.

Reality: These streets are groaning at the seams already. Our entire one-way system will become impossible to operate usefully, and it will take double the time. By this time those who came to Dunedin because the traffic wasn’t so bad will have the start of every working day diminished and their Dunedin experience effectively destroyed around the central city. We have an elderly population, and this will be the last three years of the lives of some of us.

Q: Who pays and what will it cost?

NZTA: NZTA will pay for the work directly related to the cycle lanes. $8million.

Reality: More weasel words. There are large costs not included in the direct costs. Agencies are keen on doing guestimates of the multiplier effect of benefits to the city for, say, acts at the stadium. What about a study of the likely costs to the city of loss of parking revenue, loss of time spent driving around, loss of time spent walking from vehicles, anxiety around hospital appointments, loss of business for those relying on easy car access for their custom etc. There are also costs for the work connecting roads and footpaths etc between the cycleways and the rest of our DCC infrastructure, and the inevitable landscaping in the vicinity. And then the costs of fixing what we had to redo because none of the agencies are working together. An expensive nightmare.

Q: What is being done to provide more integrated transport in Dunedin?

NZTA: NZTA, DCC and ORC are implementing transport related projects: this is one. These cycle lanes will connect with cycling lanes being considered in North Dunedin linking University, Hospital, Otago Polytechnic and the CBD.

Reality: These institutions are already handy to each other. As regards the University the biggest obstacle to cycling is the size of the campus which cannot be crossed by cyclists.

****

Pity NZTA doesn’t have a booth in the heart of Dunedin where they could come and sit and listen to the issues. Perhaps on the corner of Stuart St and the one-way streets?

[ends]

—

█ NZTA Dunedin Urban Cycleways Programme
Cycling in Dunedin contributes to improving transport options, providing a more efficient and integrated transport network, improving health, economic and social outcomes and city liveability. The Urban Cycleways Fund, subject to council approval, will help to accelerate the City to Harbour Bridge and the Central City and North East Valley cycle network.

█ NZTA Urban Cycleways Programme [general information]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

█ GREEN ATTACK ON YOUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Two-way separated cycleway on Beach Road, Auckland [nzta.govt.nz]

15 Comments

Filed under Business, Construction, Cycle network, DCC, Democracy, Design, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Geography, Health, Hot air, Infrastructure, Name, New Zealand, NZTA, People, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, University of Otago, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as #GigatownDunedin, Bureaucracy, Cost-benefit analysis, Council debt CRISIS, Cycle lanes, Cycleways, Cycling, Cycling-free Campus, DCC, DCC Transportation Planning, Deterrents, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin Cycle Network, Dunedin Strategic Cycle Network, Hideous spending, Hilary Calvert, Inconvenience, New Zealand Transport Agency, NZTA, Separated cycle lanes, SH1 one-way system, Transportation planning, Uber welcome to #DUD, University of Otago, Unscrupulous spending, WE LOVE CARS

by Elizabeth | February 15, 2017 · 5:39 pm

Warrington : DCC dictates loss of community’s grassed recreation reserve to freeloaders

Received.
Tue, 14 Feb 2017 at 9:57 p.m.

Due to recent heavy rain part of the domain at Warrington has been fenced off by DCC. This hasn’t stopped 90 freedom camping vehicles from jamming into the remaining part of the domain ….think of the camp fees greater Dunedin’s commercial campgrounds are missing out on —this is a normal Tuesday night, middle of the week, and 90 vehicles are parking for free in the domain.

Thanks to Dunedin City councillors and council staff Warrington’s domain has been allowed to turn into an unregulated free-for-all camping site – contrary to the council’s own Camping Control Bylaw 2015.

And with so many vehicles continuing to drive on the domain there is less and less grass, and more mud and dirt, and more gravel going to be placed to cover what used to be the local community’s grassed recreational reserve.

[images supplied]

Quick video scan of site:

iDunedin Published on Feb 14, 2017
Warrington Domain February 14 2017

****

To reiterate:

DCC 23. Camping Control Bylaw 2015

Section 9. Offences and penalties
1. In accordance with section 20(1) of the Act, every person who breaches this bylaw commits an infringement offence.
2. In accordance with section 27 of the Act, an enforcement officer may issue an infringement notice to anyone who the enforcement officer believes on reasonable grounds has committed or is committing an infringement offence as set out in section 20(1) of the Act (a copy of which is included as Schedule D of this Bylaw for information only).
3. A person who commits an infringement offence is liable to a $200 infringement fee for each offence.

****

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

3 Comments

Filed under Business, DCC, DCC Bylaws, Democracy, Design, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Finance, Freedom camping, Geography, Health & Safety, Heritage, Hot air, Infrastructure, LTP/AP, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Politics, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Bans on freedom camping, Bylaws, Community reserves, DCC, Dunedin City Council, Environmental impacts, Freedom camping, Freeloaders, Health issues, Human excrement, National standards, Poor council management, Recreational areas, Self-contained vehicles, THIS ISN'T ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Warrington Domain

by Elizabeth | February 6, 2017 · 10:42 pm

Uncontrolled freedom camping at Warrington Domain this weekend —DCC ‘hell model’ [no enforcement]

Fair-minded councils ban freedom campers from parks and reserves.

DCC is not a fair-minded council.

Last year DCC staff told local residents that this summer (2016/17) the council intends to allow freedom camper vehicles to take up the whole domain at Warrington….

DCC 23. Camping Control Bylaw 2015

[click to enlarge]
Warrington Recreation Reserve, February 2016. Annotated overlay shows designated areas for freedom camper vehicles according to Bylaw 23 (see above Map, or go to page 20).

****

Note: Maps installed by DCC at the Domain aren’t consistent with the Bylaw Map above (page 20), and don’t represent the Bylaw conditions (page 7):

****

T H E ● L O N G ● ‘W A I T A N G I’ ● W E E K E N D

*Remember, no DCC enforcement applies.

Last night (Sun, 5 Feb) 110 vehicles were counted in Warrington Domain — plus tents. It’s estimated that 30% were New Zealanders getting a free camp ground.

In terms of costs…. if DCC is spending $80,000 per year on freedom camping and if 8,000 people per year are staying at Warrington Domain, then Ratepayers are paying $10/night on their accommodation. As opposed to the campers paying.

There was also a party there last night with loud music until after midnight.

Images supplied.

● Sunday evening, 5 Feb 2017 [click to enlarge]

● Monday morning, 6 Feb 2017 [click to enlarge]

The council contractors said they emptied the bins yesterday (Sunday), so this is just one night’s worth of rubbish:

****

Date approved: 01 November 2015

** Review date: [No date given. However, DCC is currently consulting on the Proposed Reserves and Beaches Bylaw 2017 and seeks public submissions by February 10, 2017. As part of the bylaw review DCC is considering restricting numbers of vehicles at Warrington to 50 vehicles per night. This is still too many as it equates to over 100 people living in the domain every night. Warrington has a resident population of around 400 people so an additional 100+ is a big increase.]

Within Section 3. [Interpretation] of the bylaw, it says:
Freedom camp means to camp (other than at a camping ground) within 200m of a motor vehicle accessible area or the mean low-water springs line of any sea or harbour, or on or within 200m of a formed road or a Great Walks Track, using one or more of the following:
(a) A tent or other temporary structure;
(b) A caravan;
(c) A car, campervan, housetruck, or other motor vehicle.

In this bylaw freedom camping does not include the following activities:
(a) Temporary or short term parking of a motor vehicle;
(b) Recreational activities commonly known as day-trip excursions;
(c) Resting or sleeping at the roadside in a caravan or motor vehicle to avoid driver fatigue.

Freedom Camping has the same meaning as freedom camp

Self-contained vehicle means a car, campervan, housetruck, or other motor vehicle designed and built for the purpose of camping which has the capability of meeting the ablutionary and sanitary needs of occupants of that vehicle for a minimum of three days without requiring any external services or discharging any waste and is certified that it complies with New Zealand Standard 5465:2001 Self Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans.

The bylaw includes the following sections:

Section 4. Purpose
The purpose of this bylaw is to:
Define the local authority areas in Dunedin where freedom camping is restricted, and the restrictions that apply to freedom camping in those areas, and to define the local authority areas in the City where freedom camping is prohibited, to achieve one or more of the following purposes:
(a) The areas are protected
(b) The health and safety of the people who may visit the areas is protected
(c) Access to the areas is protected

Section 5. Restrictions on Freedom Camping
(a) A person must not freedom camp in any local authority areas within a prohibited zone, as identified in Schedule A of this bylaw.
(b) A person may only freedom camp in any restricted area, as identified in Schedule B, if they are using a self-contained vehicle where they comply with specified conditions in this schedule or displayed on the site.
(c) A person may freedom camp in any area where freedom camping is unrestricted, as identified in Schedule C where they comply with specified conditions in this schedule or displayed on the site.
(d) A person freedom camping in accordance with 5 (b) or (c) must not stay at any one local authority area for more than two consecutive nights.

****

There has been no response from DCC to my LGOIMA request dated 22 January 2017. See previous post:

█ 1.2.17 “Fake news” from DCC boffins & Community Board re freedom camping at Warrington Domain #TheBlight

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

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Filed under DCC, Democracy, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Finance, Geography, Health, Heritage, Hot air, Infrastructure, Media, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Perversion, Pet projects, Pics, Politics, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, What stadium

Tagged as ABUSE of Reserves, Bans on freedom camping, Bylaws, Community reserves, DCC, Dunedin City Council, Environmental impacts, Freedom camping, Freeloaders, Health issues, Human excrement, National standards, Poor council management, Recreational areas, Responsible camping, Self-contained vehicles, THIS ISN'T ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Warrington Domain

by Elizabeth | January 24, 2017 · 4:18 pm

SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF

140 Hanover St [rankedbyreview.co.nz]

Pool upgrade supposed to happen a year ago this month.

### ODT Online Mon, 23 Jan 2017
Grant lost as physio pool work stalls
By Eileen Goodwin
A $120,000 grant has been pulled from the Dunedin physiotherapy pool upgrade because no-one yet knows when — or even if — it will happen. And the Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust has confirmed a second grant, of $100,000, is subject to an extension review and a decision is awaited.
Pool trust secretary-treasurer Neville Martin […] hopes to know more by June, when the Ministry of Health is expected to release a shortlist of site options for the $300 million Dunedin Hospital rebuild.
Read more

“To avoid closure of the pool by the Southern District Health Board, the trust has been required to cover all operating costs since the beginning of 2015.” –Neville Martin

—

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Tagged as 140 Hanover Street - Dunedin, Building upgrade, Disabilities, Donations, Dunedin, Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin Physio Pool, Governance, Hydrotherapy, Otago Therapeutic Pool, Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust, OTPT, Parking, Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy pool, Plans, Public pool facilities, Recovery, SDHB, Seismic strengthening, Site development, Southern District Health Board, University of Otago

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Category Archives: Sport

DCC makes no direct return from rugby or events held at Fubar Stadium

Emirates Team New Zealand must WIN #AmericasCup2017

City Property . . . .

Council says “bag it” —we can help with that

Stadiums, in particular the FB Aurora Delta Stadium at Dunedin

West Harbour Recreation Trail —Devastation caused to Rotary project

#Aurora —“What was that?!” Huh? What?! [a council mutters, suddenly]

Profligate behaviour : MYTH paraded as fact…… just like Aurora Energy’s propaganda campaign

SCANDAL : Aurora Energy Ltd set to burden Otago ratepayers and residents with massive rates increases

thoughts and faces #loosematerial

DCC fails to meet LGOIMA request re ‘lost’ secure storage of CST files

Condition of Warrington Domain screwed by DCC lack of enforcement #CampingControlBylaw23

Good Old Boy pushes waterfront stadium for Auckland *yawn

Regional council builds Palace, refuses help to dredge Otago boat harbour

RNZ: Government crashes plans for a more pedestrian/cycle-friendly Christchurch

Town Belt Traverse 2017

Famous Fat Bros’ Aurora/Delta news trickles in…. but can the sisters divorce

Brain Injury #Concussion

Strong Opinion #lost(rugby)balls

Mosgiel Pool site options, survey twists

DCC Proposed Reserves and Beaches Bylaw : Real-deal submission

SH1 Cycleways : the real story

Warrington : DCC dictates loss of community’s grassed recreation reserve to freeloaders

Uncontrolled freedom camping at Warrington Domain this weekend —DCC ‘hell model’ [no enforcement]

SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF

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