DCC Annual Report 2012/2013

The annual report is now available at the DCC website and below.
It is provided by sections in .PDF format.

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Standard & Poor’s
Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, provides independent financial information, analytical services, and credit ratings to the world’s financial markets. For more information go to Standard & Poor’s.

● S&P Full Analysis Dunedin City Council (PDF, 321 KB)

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Annual Report Documents
Annual Report 2012/13 Full version (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Organisational and Financial Management Report, Significant Activities Report and Council NZIFRS Financial Statements

Annual Report 2012/13 Section 1 (PDF, 399.4 KB)
Organisational and Financial Management Report

Annual Report 2012/13 Section 2 (PDF, 448.8 KB)
Significant Activities Report

Annual Report 2012/13 Section 3 (PDF, 361.1 KB)
Council NZIFRS & Financial Statements

Annual Report 2012/13 Appendix (PDF, 172.6 KB)
Community Outcome Monitoring, Supplementary Information

Annual Report 2012/13 Summary (PDF, 531.8 KB)
Dunedin City Council Annual Report Summary

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OPEN MEETING ABOUT DCC FINANCES
When: Wednesday 27 November 5:30pm-7:00pm
Where: Meeting Room One, Municipal Chambers
ALL WELCOME – hosted by DCC Finance Committee

Related Posts:
23.11.13 DCC: Finance Committee [public forum] 27 November
17.11.13 DCC Finance Committee: Public meeting 27 November [INVITE]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Audit NZ true but pale in delivery?

### ODT Online Thu, 14 Jun 2012
Audit NZ warns of risks from debt, stadium
By Chris Morris
Rates hikes, increased debt levels or cuts to services remain a risk for the Dunedin City Council as it grapples with uncertainty over the Forsyth Barr Stadium, Audit New Zealand warns. The assessment came in two Audit NZ reports presented to the council’s finance, strategy and development committee yesterday. One report studied the council’s draft long-term plan for the next decade, to 2022, while the other scrutinised the council’s performance in the year to June 30, 2011.

Audit director Ian Lothian, in his long-term report, said council assumptions the stadium would cover its own costs and ensure rates were not affected remained a “high financial risk” to the council’s plans.

Stadium revenue projections were “as yet unproven”, dependent on income from rentals and sponsorships, and “still … a big assumption”, Lothian warned. The near-liquidation of the Otago Rugby Football Union highlighted the risks inherent in the stadium investment, he said.
Read more

Report – FSD – 13/06/2012 (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Management Report from Audit New Zealand – Long Term Plan
Report – FSD – 13/06/2012 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Management Report from Audit New Zealand – Year Ended 30 June 2011

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The council fiasco widens. Keep indulging professional rugby (HPSNZ) why not.

### ODT Online Thu, 14 Jun 2012
Council to retain building
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council has moved to retain direct ownership of High Performance Sport New Zealand’s Dunedin base. The move would see the council retain ownership of the $5.1 million building at Forsyth Barr Stadium, together with the land it sat on, worth $1.71 million. The council transferred the land to Dunedin Venues Ltd last year, and was to do the same with the building this month.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Asset sales (would Dave’s council sell us up)

YOU BETCHA BUT NOT THE STADIUM, WHY NOT THE STADIUM, MALCOLM ALWAYS SAW IT AS A LEGACY, OH, NOT TO UPSET MALCOLM THEN, ANYWAY STUART SAYS THE WATER KEEPS FALLING OUT OF THE SKY

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### 3news.co.nz Mon, 28 May 2012 7:00p.m.
Local councils under pressure to use asset sales
Assets sales are never far from the headlines, and always, it seems, controversial. The Government is pressing ahead with the partial sale of four state-owned energy companies and Air New Zealand. They made their plans clear during the elections and therefore claim a mandate to sell, but how far does that go? Because it’s no longer just state-owned assets being eyed for potential sale, local councils are under increasing pressure to consider asset sales to fund new projects and reduce debt. Auckland has already said no, and now Christchurch has suggested in a very polite fashion that central Government should sod off. The Christchurch Council and ratepayers face extraordinary costs following the earthquake, but the mayor is firm that there will be no sale of the family silver.
Read more + Video

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC living beyond its means [all spending and debt not declared]

Mr Cull said he was not alarmed by the level of debt, and believed the issues Dunedin faced could be addressed. “Headroom” created by lower debt levels was important.

### ODT Online Tue, 17 Jan 2012
As debt peaks, Cull talks of asset sales
By David Loughrey
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has raised the prospect of asset sales to deal with the city’s debt, as the amount owed hit a historic peak this financial year. The figure reached a grand total of $327.4 million this financial year which ends on June 31, just over 10 times what the city owed in 1999.

“The council could not stop developing the city, fixing things, or thinking about new things.”

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

HELP, if the elected Council was bright

The Dunedin City Council faces a financial meltdown of unprecedented proportion; a squalid bankruptcy of governance the cause. No-one knows the true dollar scale of the problem and many of the accounts are closed to public scrutiny.

In the absence of a fully developed all-encompassing strategy to bring order to the books, the implication is the Council will leave it to generations of ratepayers to foot the bills. The cost will be to every citizen. In effect, that’s what the Forsyth Barr Stadium Debt Servicing Plan report to this week’s Finance Strategy and Development Committee says. The dangers of isolationist hands-off thinking.

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Warren Larsen Report
Governance review of all companies in which Dunedin City Council and/or Dunedin City Holdings Limited has an equity interest of 50% or more.

From the time Larsen’s recommendations were adopted (Stuff 12.8.11), how long for the Council to ring changes? 6 months, a year? Longer, after the councillors are voted out or forcibly removed?

The lack of outward communication appears contrary to the imperative of Larsen’s report. By now, surely Council has an indicative critical path for release to the concerned public.

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What are some ‘unearthing’ options for information?

Pin Mayor Dave Cull for the timeline to effect Larsen recommendations.
Forensic audit.
Statutory management.
Commissioner / Panel.
Legal action.
Independent senior business commentators to talk through details of logistical steps Council must take (in response to Larsen) to get its books in order – to avoid and retire cumulative debt, at the same time manage/streamline all Council business.

It’s all about a local authority corporate re-structure, involving large sums of borrowed money to clear. It includes identifying elements of usury, mis-spending, laundering, corporate fraud, deceit, ignorance, and incompetence; and, above all, hammering with all firepower what continues as Council’s unethical immoral avoidance of the fiduciary duty of care to Community.

A clear interpretation of what is now, what has been, and what lies ahead will be difficult if not impossible to achieve while obfuscation continues at DCC, DCHL, DVML, DVL, CST, and related entities.

It’s a chill air at Dunedin.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

CRITICAL Dunedin City Council meeting #LarsenReport

UPDATED 11 August 2011

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Larsen report now available

This item was published on 11 Aug 2011

A recent governance review of the Dunedin City Council companies was conducted by Warren Larsen. A public copy of his report is now available and a related report on the future cashflows from Dunedin City Holdings Limited is also now available.

If you would like a paper copy of the report, please contact Customer Services via dcc @ dcc.govt.nz or on 477 4000.

Contact Mayor Dave Cull on 477 4000.

Related documents:

Future Cash Flows from Dunedin City Holdings Limited (PDF, 388.3 KB)
The report presented to the Finance, Strategy and Development Committee on 25 July 2011 regarding the future cash flows from Dunedin City Holdings Limited.

Warren Larsen Report (PDF, 3.9 MB)
Governance review of all companies in which Dunedin City Council and/or Dunedin City Holdings Limited has an equity interest of 50% or more.

DCC Link

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A meeting of the Dunedin City Council will be held on Wednesday, 10 August 2011, in the Conference Room, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, at 2.00 PM

The agenda lists those plentiful items to be discussed with the public excluded.

Agenda – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 132.2 KB)

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 451.4 KB)
Final 2010/11 Carry Forward Budgets

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
Dunedin (New Zealand) Masters Games Governance Changes

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 67.4 KB)
Development Contributions Policy Review – Hearings and Deliberations Process

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 660.5 KB)
Octagon Free Wireless – Internet Access

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 59.9 KB)
Maori Participation Working Party Membership

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
Strategic Cycle Network

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 86.6 KB)
Representation Review

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 86.8 KB)
Security for Borrowings

Report – Council – 10/08/2011 (PDF, 502.6 KB)
Electoral System For Future Local Authority Elections

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This part of the Council meeting was held on Monday, 8 August 2011, at Otakou Marae, Tamatea Road, Otakou, following a powhiri commencing at 11.00 AM

Agenda – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 71.6 KB)

Report – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Draft Pukekura Reserves Management Plan – Approval for Public Consultation

Report – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 808.7 KB)
Māori Participation Processes

Report – Council – 08/08/2011 (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Kāi Tahu Engagement with the Dunedin City Council

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

chinchin #whatisdebt

### radionz.co.nz Monday 8 August 2011 at 14:10
Afternoons with Jim Mora
Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium
Dunedin ratepayers are facing the prospect of even higher rates to pay for the $200 million stadium. Rates next year could go up by nearly 12 per cent because of a looming budget shortfall. Jim talks to former Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin and project critic Dunedin City Councillor Lee Vandervis.
Audio Ogg Vorbis MP3 (17′10″)

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The dormouse sleeps.

### ODT Online Fri, 5 Aug 2011
Ex-mayor Chin named in constitutional panel
Former Dunedin mayor Peter Chin is among a dozen high-profile New Zealanders who have been selected to oversee a review of the nation’s constitutional arrangements.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Garrick Tremain

Cartoon – 5 August 2011

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

RUGBY, awful quiet

Tweet (04 Aug 15:09):

@whatifdunedin Short comment on rugby’s free lunch and Dunedin City Council’s financial ruin http://bit.ly/pMu5RD | ODT Online

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

D Scene broke the news

Register to read D Scene online at
http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

### D Scene 3-8-11
Lights, camera… (page 1)
The spotlight has been turned on the Forsyth Barr Stadium. The new venue is under scrutiny not just because it is being officially opened on Friday, but because a major row has erupted over servicing Dunedin City Council’s debts – including money intended to fund the stadium project.
See pages 3, 5 and 21. #bookmark

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Grand stadium opens (page 3)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin is invited to the opening of Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday. At an early morning ceremony, the facility will receive a formal Maori blessing and Prime Minister John Key will do the official opening honours. Media and dignitaries are expected to attend the hour-long 7am event, which will unveil the facility, the only multi-purpose arena in the world with a fixed roof and a natural grass turf.
{continues} #bookmark

What the stadium means to me now – Bev Butler (page 3)
For me, the physical reality of the stadium is a constant reminder of a divided community…It has never added up, financially, as a prudent project for the council to spend money on. The consultants’ reports told us so. Even David Davies, Dunedin Venues Management manager, has admitted that the stadium’s “bread and butter” will be “conferences and meetings”.
{continues} #bookmark

What the stadium means to me now – Malcolm Farry (page 3)
While controversy may continue to cause debate over the coming year or two, there is no doubt that history will show this achievement to be a milestone in the development of Dunedin and the region…The benefits in economic impact, quality and vibrancy of life will be seen to be a major step forward.
{continues} #bookmark

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Solutions would be tabled along with the two reviews at the next full council meeting set for Wednesday, August 10.

Council living beyond means (page 5)
By Mike Houlahan ad Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin City Council (DCC) is in damage control this week in the wake of revelations last Friday it was facing a financial crisis. In an early evening press release, mayor Dave Cull announced an $8 million funding annual revenue shortfall, revealed in two internal reviews tabled at the previous day’s Finance, Strategy and Development Committee meeting. The reviews, one by the council’s Council-owned Companies (CCO) liaison group, the other by consultant Warren Larsen, found Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DHCL) would not be able to continue paying $5 million annual dividends anticipated by council.
{continues} #bookmark

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Personality debate ignores real issues (page 20)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull is defending his 11th hour announcement last Friday night that the city is in financial trouble…Cull is adamant council has been trying to pin down Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL) on what dividends it could sustain, in the wake of concerns during the past year on its ability to pay out…Cull said he was among those who voiced concerns about hiking demands on council company dividends, as far back as 2008.
{continues} #bookmark

Sources close to council say the Larsen report is scathing of DCHL.

Cr refuting claims of board neglect (page 20)
Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL) Chairman, Cr Paul Hudson, is refutung claims his board neglected to clarify its ability to meet dividends expected by Dunedin City Council (DCC). Hudson said the facts had been misrepresented in a press release announcing a city financial crisis on Friday, after Thursday’s Finance, Strategy and Development Committee meeting tabled the findings of two reviews…Councillors voted it was not appropriate for him to remain in the meeting, given his DCHL role…Hudson said he spent the weekend digging out documents to back up the DCHL stance on the matter.
{continues} #bookmark

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin City Council in meltdown

### ch9.co.nz August 1, 2011 – 7:26pm
Fractures emerge as budget strains
Fractures are emerging between some of Dunedin’s civic leaders, as revelations about the Council’s ability to stick to its budgets begin to surface. The Mayor believes the problem is a major one, and claims it has only become apparent recently. However other parties say the issue has been forecast for a long time, and has come about due to the DCC’s overly extravagant spending habits.
Video

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

WE ALL SAID IT #DunedinCityCouncil #SHAME

ACTUALLY IT’S A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN $8 MILLION… MORE NEWS TO COME, FOLKS

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 18:39 29/07/2011
Financial crisis for Dunedin City Council
By Mike Houlahan and Wilma McCorkindale – Southland Times and DScene
Dunedin City Council is facing a financial crisis, with two internal reviews warning it faces a $8 million revenue shortfall. Dunedin Mayor Mayor Dave Cull was an angry man when breaking the news, saying “hard choices” would probably need to be made to rescue the city’s financial position.

“Despite earlier suspicions, council has only just ascertained the full extent of this, and has not yet had time to decide on measures to address them. Council needs to pursue that with the utmost urgency.”

At the heart of the city’s fiscal problem lies projected revenues from Dunedin City Holdings Limited – the council’s holding company, which oversees firms such as City Forests Ltd, Delta Utility Services and Aurora Energy Ltd. DCHL has already had to borrow to deliver projected revenues to council. Cull warned that DCHL could become insolvent within a few years if it continued to pay council what was budgeted.
Read more

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Dunedin City Council – Media Release

Statement re DCHL and DVML Funding

This item was published on 29 Jul 2011.

Over the past year or so, concerns have been raised about the ability of Council and Council companies to service debt. This raised further questions about communication and governance. As a result two significant reviews have been undertaken by Council.

The first was conducted by the Council’s CCO Liaison Group specifically to address concerns about current information flows between DCHL and the Council.

The second review is of the governance of the Council-owned trading entities: the DCHL companies, DVL and DVML and DCC Property. The aim was to ascertain if and how governance and efficiency could be improved and, if so, what a better governance model might look like. The independent reviewer, Mr Warren [Larsen], was also invited to make any other observations and suggestions he thought pertinent.

To an extent these two reviews overlapped both in terms of area of interest and conclusions. In addition, analysis was done regarding the projections included in the DVML Statement of Intent.

The conclusions include:

• The Council owned companies cannot sustain into the future the level of dividends projected to be paid to Council and which Council has budgeted for. From the next financial year, 2012/2013, there will be a $5 million dollar per annum shortfall from this source.

• The $3 million revenue from DCHL provided for in Dunedin Venues Management Ltd’s Statement of Intent is not sustainable either.

• In total there is an $8 million per annum shortfall in revenue across the “family” of Council Controlled Organisations.

This has largely been caused by the need for increased capital expenditure within the DCHL companies. With fewer funds available, the companies have had to borrow to pay dividends. That is not sustainable. Were DCHL to continue to pay dividends at the rate projected in Council budgets, it could become insolvent within a few years.

• The composition of, and skill-sets on, the DCHL boards needs to better reflect the companies’ core activities.

• Reporting mechanisms from the Council-owned companies to Council need to be greatly improved and made more transparent.

These conclusions have a number of major implications:

• First there is clearly an urgent need for Council to address the funding shortfall. This is an extremely serious priority. The possible options for doing that include reducing Council operating expenditure, reducing or deferring Council capital expenditure, increasing DCHL revenue, and reducing DCHL costs. Whatever option, or more likely combination of options, is chosen, some hard choices will probably need to be made.

• It is clear that this information will also impact significantly on projections previously approved for the repayment of stadium debt. Models are currently being reworked and the impact on stadium debt servicing and repayment will be reported back to the next F S & D committee.

• Secondly, the fact that the information regarding the funding shortfall from DCHL to Council was not communicated to Council in a timely manner indicates seriously inadequate communication mechanisms. This vindicates the need for the CCO Liaison Group enquiry, but also underscores the fact that such a confidential reporting group is neither adequate nor appropriate on an on-going basis.

CONCLUSION:
All Council has done so far is to clearly identify the problems. Despite earlier suspicions Council has only just ascertained the full extent of this and has not yet had time to decide on measures to address them. Council needs to pursue that with the utmost urgency.

Contact Dave Cull on Mayor of Dunedin.

DCC Link

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC borrowing capacity

### ODT Online Tue, 30 Nov 2010
$250m rise in DCC borrowing capacity
By Stu Oldham and David Loughrey
The Dunedin City Council looks set to increase its capacity to borrow by $250 million to provide security for gross debt that should hit $712 million by 2013. Its finance, strategy and development committee yesterday agreed by just one vote to get the council to increase Dunedin City Holdings’ (DCHL) uncalled capital to $850 million.

Crs Brown, Bill Acklin, John Bezett, Neil Collins, Paul Hudson, Andrew Noone and Richard Thomson voted to recommend the council increase DCHL’s capital by $250 million. Crs Wilson, Vandervis, Jinty MacTavish, Chris Staynes, Teresa Stevenson and Mayor Dave Cull voted against the recommendation.

Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

Calvin Oaten does it again!

### ODT Online Mon, 19 Jul 2010
Opinion: Debt accounting deception
Calvin Oaten has been sifting through the DCC’s accounts and finds nothing but dismay. “No wonder Dunedin’s rates are so high.” The avalanche of demands on the local public purse is staggering. Combine that with the seemingly inevitable growing weight of council bureaucracy and the internal pressures that brings, and the city has a recipe for both increasing rates and increasing debt.
Read more

See related comments posted yesterday at DCC: Residents’ Opinion Survey

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The future for the whole of Dunedin City will involve the retirement of debt in ways we’ll probably find unpalatable. Some of us will be dead and in the ground by then.

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC rates 2010/11

### ODT Online Tue, 22 Jun 2010
Overall increase of 5.5% as council sets rates
The Dunedin City Council’s rates were officially set for the year yesterday, with a 5.5% overall increase.

The city had always managed its debt “very, very competently”.
-Richard Walls

Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

ODT: ‘voters expect a frugal council’

### ODT Online Mon, 8 Feb 2010
Editorial: A spendthrift tendency
Track Dunedin City Council rate increases over the past 15 years and a pattern emerges. As expected, most increases outstrip inflation levels. Councils have complained about being saddled with more responsibilities, major infrastructure upgrades have been required and it is the nature of local government to spend more and more. Empires built on other people’s money will expand without assiduous and active watchdogs. But less obvious is the effect of elections.

‘the post-election prospects for ratepayer purses are bleak’

Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

More on “misleading or incompetent”

And DCC duckshoving…
Wherein the true meaning of “start-up capital” defeats the deputy mayor.

### ODT Online Sat, 6 Feb 2010
DVML funding over to council
By David Loughrey
A decision to provide start-up capital for the company that will run the Forsyth Barr Stadium one year earlier than expected was behind the impost of $2.48 million approved for the company this week, Dunedin deputy mayor Syd Brown says. And the oversight was not the responsibility of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust, but the Dunedin City Council, it emerged yesterday.

The sudden and seemingly unexpected financial hit has reignited fears the stadium and related ventures may result in just this sort of unexpected budget requirement in the future.

Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

‘October’s vote should not be about “payback”’ – WHY NOT!?

### ODT Online Sat, 6 Feb 2010
Councillors, courts and construction
By David Loughrey
The Forsyth Barr Stadium is rising from the Awatea St dirt at a remarkable rate, but while the opening day closes in, the end of the debate about the issue does not. Senior Dunedin City Council reporter David Loughrey looks at the latest flash-point issue, in the context of a looming local body election.
Read more

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### ODT Online Sat, 6 Feb 2010
Issue still very much alive for local voters
By David Loughrey
At this year’s local body election, the Forsyth Barr Stadium will, no doubt, be sitting high on the list of matters voters will consider when they make decisions about the candidate they choose.
Read more

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### ODT Online Sat, 6 Feb 2010
Stadium claims rubbish – Farry
By David Loughrey
Claims there have been design changes to the Forsyth Barr Stadium, or any change to the number of seats at the facility, have been scotched by Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry.
Read more

Stadium seating capacity

South stand: 10,784 permanent seats.
North stand: 8450 (6458 permanent seats, 1992 standing).
East stand: 6060 (4324 re-locatable seats, 1696 standing).
West stand: 5220 (re-locatable).
Total: 30,514

8.2.10 ODT Link to comments received about seating numbers.

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

Channel 9 News: A further $1.6m for stadium expenses has opponents seeing red

[[[ Like we didn’t ask CST and DCC where the operational budget was from the start. That said, Mr Davies sounds to be a rational man. ]]]

When David Davies, chief executive of Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, began his job he didn’t have “a single piece of marketing collateral for this venue that I can give you as any inducement to bring a show here, or you to buy a seat”.

He won’t be asking for any more funding before the stadium is built and open.

OK. Expect further funding requests after the stadium is built and open.

Don’t forget Cr Syd Brown says it’s necessary to do a bit of a tidy-up in Dunedin (presentation, presentation) before we host rwc 2011. How much????

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### Channel 9 Online February 4, 2010 – 8:38pm
Latest News
Stadium allocated an extra $1.6 million
With the recent allocation of a further $1.6m of Council money for stadium expenses, stadium opponents have had more reason for discontent.
Asked to explain the extra hand-out, the Stadium’s boss says it’s necessary to provide the product required, and while he would have preferred not to have to ask for the money, he doesn’t have time to dwell on any poor management that may have led to the shortfall in budget.
Video Link

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

ODT on “fiscal creep” + the 3 Waters bonanza

### ODT Online Sat, 30 Jan 2010
Editorial: Restraint inertia
It is good finally to see some vigour coming from Dunedin City councillors as they examine ways to tackle spiralling rate increases, even if such efforts are years too late. The mayor and councillors for far too long have acquiesced to plans and proposals that have ratcheted up costs.
Read more

Related Post:
20.1.10 ODT sounds the warning!

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### ODT Online Sat, 30 Jan 2010
Water infrastructure challenges identified
By Chris Morris
Climate change, peak oil and a $1 billion bill are just some of the challenges identified in the Dunedin City Council’s 3 Waters strategy document. However, the 3 Waters Strategic Direction Statement 2010-2060, to be considered at Monday’s infrastructure services committee, also outlined the high-level thinking behind plans to tackle each, as well as identifying opportunities.
Read more

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### ODT Online Sat, 30 Jan 2010
City’s $1b water bill
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council is facing a billion-dollar bill to maintain existing water services over the next 50 years. The forecast costs were outlined in the council’s “3 Waters” strategy, along with a warning “trade-offs” would be needed – reducing funding for some non-essential water services – to minimise the effect.

Cr Butcher said the [“3 Waters”] document showed the council’s decision to invest in the Forsyth Barr Stadium, despite concerns held by some about the financial position of the council, was “coming home to roost”. She also accused staff of deliberately withholding details of the pending bill during earlier stadium deliberations. “I’m pretty upset about it . . . We should have had this information before we made the stadium decision, because it makes a huge difference.”

Read more

>> Agenda and reports for the Infrastructure Services Committee meeting on Monday 1 February, Edinburgh Room, Municipal Chambers, commencing 2pm.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin City Council meeting Monday 01/02/2010

Starting at 10am in the Edinburgh Room, Municipal Chambers, the meeting to consider the Pre-Draft Annual Plan held on 21 January resumes. Apologies have been received from Councillors Paul Hudson and Richard Walls.

UPDATED 30.1.10
The agenda and reports are now available on the DCC website.
They were uploaded this morning.

Agenda – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 56.5 kb, new window)

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 54.8 kb, new window)
Water and Waste Services – Proposed Changes to Annual Plan Measures

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 230.0 kb, new window)
Tahuna Wastewater Treatment Plant Stage 2 Upgrade

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 123.2 kb, new window)
2010-2011 Community Housing Rent Increase Proposal

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 205.7 kb, new window)
Library – Rate Funding Reduction Options

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 190.3 kb, new window)
Stadium 2010/11 Draft Annual Plan Update

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 2.7 mb, new window)
Kerbside Recycling – Clarification of Financial Modelling in the Pre-Draft Plan 2010/11

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 108.5 kb, new window)
Dunedin Venues Management Limited Budget 2010/11

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 289.7 kb, new window)
Logan Park Public Toilets and Change Rooms

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 87.0 kb, new window)
2010/11 Pre-Draft Annual Plan Update – Development Contributions

Report – Council – 01/02/2010 (PDF, 594.6 kb, new window)
Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin Centre, Regent Theatre – Opportunities for Staging

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Make what you will of the Dunedin Venues Management Limited Budget.
The budget recommendation raises many questions about the way funds are being amassed and siphoned for DVML.

The bold assumptions, the lack of financial transparency and diligence underlying the report demonstrate the poor thinking of senior executive staff and that of at least two senior councillors, heading Finance and Strategy Committee and Dunedin City Holdings Limited (DCHL) respectively.

Starter questions:
Will the Council call the bluff of the report writers?
Will councillors ask the hard questions on Monday?
How is money being prioritised to the stadium in this way, what are the processes?
Has no consideration of spending priorities (legitimate issues and options) been given to the money?
Should the sums be put to alternative use – or other investments with better returns?
How can this ‘report’ skim to the top of annual planning considerations without honest open hard talk?
Why does the Council operate on back room deals of this magnitude?
What shoddy manipulations of power and money are at play?

…oh no, not us, we would never let down the ratepayers…

yeah, right

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What was that we heard? That a further $900,000 (or so) is sloshing around in the Annual Plan budget – for the stadium, to be spread across two years.

Meet the runaway stadium project, AGAIN.

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

D Scene – “hoping the stadium roof provides good shelter for the city”

### D Scene 27-1-10 (page 2)
Looking into stadiums – for research
By Mike Houlahan, editor
As you read this, I will be in Melbourne checking out roofed stadiums.
{continues}

Ratepayers may bear cost (page 4)
By Michelle Sutton
Dunedin’s ratepayers in future years have been eyed up to shoulder a larger chunk of city costs. At last Thursday’s Dunedin City Council meeting, depreciation costs for water and waste was suggested to be deferred in order to reduce rates in 2010-11. Cr Noone was wary of the impact deferring 100 per cent depreciation would have on future years, and young ratepayers.
{continues}

Rates plan under fire (page 4)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Head of one of Dunedin’s foremost charitable organisations, Gillian Bremner, believes Dunedin City Council should have considered the impact of the recession sooner. D Scene asked Bremner, chief executive of Presbyterian Support Otago, for her views on the affordability of a rates rise for Dunedinites.
{continues}

Register to read D Scene online at http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

Support there Brown says (page 5)
By Wilma McCorkindale
A Dunedin City councillor who this week called for a report into deferring three large developments says supporters are stopping him in the street. Syd Brown called for the report from council managers into the implications of deferring developments at the Dunedin Town Hall, the Otago Settlers Museum, and the Regent Theatre to reduce this year’s rate hike.
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Talk: Dunedin on Dunedin (page 11)
Your say: Letters to the editor

Stadium veil of secrecy
By Peter Attwooll, Dunedin
CST / DVML Chief Executive, David Davies, refuses to show D Scene stadium construction drawings with stand dimensions and rows. (D Scene 20.1.10) Yet they hotly dispute Dr Rob Hamlin’s figures showing a scaled-down stadium, given his sighting of the latest plans, at the Stadium Open Day a number of weeks ago.
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Annual Plan
By KJ Hale, St Kilda
In regards to the financial problems that our mayor and his councillors are presently trying hard to address. It is becoming quite obvious that what the majority of ratepayers including business people and academics predicted is now a reality.
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Lovelock Avenue
By Calvin Oaten, Pine Hill
Cr Michael Guest, at the council budget forum made the surprising comment that there were “still at least 600 residents in the Opoho area strongly opposed to the plan to remove Lovelock Avenue from the Gardens precinct”.
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Details: The finer points (pages 12-13)
Sports academy sets bar high
In a quiet corner of Logan Park, some of New Zealand’s top athletes and coaches are honing their skills. Mike Houlahan tours the South Island Academy of Sport.
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Game: Beyond the scoreboard (page 20)
Hoping for a good 2010 team
By Mike Houlahan
The Highlanders have to learn from their mistakes if they are to be a force in this year’s Super 14, flanker Alando Soakai says.
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Post by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Annual Plan: classic comment at ODT Online

Libraries, or rugby and a stadium – the sweetest of damned comparisons.

### ODT Online Sun, 24/01/2010 – 12:01pm.
Comment by kkeogh on DCC priorities
The Highlanders and Otago rugby teams show alarming reductions in home attendances, which I estimate would be down to around 50,000 total at Carisbrook for a season. For their efforts they get a quarter billion stadium built for them. Cont…
Read full comment

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

ODT sounds the warning!

Ah, prudence…

### ODT Online Wed, 20 Jan 2010
Editorial: Annual plan sham
After 50 hours of annual plan meetings last year, the Dunedin City Council managed to achieve a reduced rate increase for the following financial year of a mere .9% down from an anticipated 7.8%. Ratepayers, anxiously observing this week’s commencement of the annual plan process, ought not on this record to expect a great deal from a council which has been as profligate as any in the city’s history.

The draft at the moment proposes an increase in rates for the next financial year of 7.3% – considerably more than the annual rate of inflation.

Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC and ORFU…

### ODT Online Wed, 20 Jan 2010
DCC expecting best practice from ORFU
By David Loughrey
The Dunedin City Council is expecting best-practice governance from the Otago Rugby Football Union in return for its decision to underwrite the union’s debt for the next three years.
Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr