D’oh [Mayor Cull can’t name all the successful manufacturers at #Dunedin]

Rather, Daaave promotes the SHONKY programmed spend on non-essential CBD tart-ups. Not reprioritising council budgets then, Daaave….. to solve the Superduper-Mystery of council-owned Aurora/Delta LOST OR MISPLACED FUNDS, WHERE DID THEY GO ? WHERE WERE THEY SPENT ? Hundreds of millions of dollars lost from Otago ratepayers and electricity users, Daaave…..
You are going to make them pay again.

ODT 25.2.17 (page 34) tweaked

[click to enlarge]

Otago Manufacturers need a Safe and Secure supply of Electricity.
The Mayor of Dunedin is making sure this won’t happen.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

No news : Appointment of Group CFO

****

Consternation of Various Sorts

We note the Dunedin City Council’s very poor financial position generally, in face of the ‘explosive’ DCC-owned Aurora/Delta collapse of the Otago power network – notable for continuing poor governance and management, with contingent lack of transparency and accountability – affecting ratepayers and residents in three distinct council areas (DCC, CODC, QLDC); the city council’s snail-like attendance to infrastructure maintenance and upgrades including implementation of three waters strategy; the city council’s ongoing out-of-control stadium fiasco; and ALL The Council Debt / debt servicing costs etc etc – for the very low, ever passive and aging ratepayer base.
FANTASTIC TIMES.

How interesting then that DCC has – as yet – failed to appoint a new Group Chief Financial Officer following the resignation of Grant McKenzie last year (see announcement 11 June 2016 via ODT).

****

Fri, 12 Aug 2016
ODT: Departure reshuffle
The departure of the Dunedin City Council’s group chief financial officer, Grant McKenzie, has triggered a minor reshuffle within the organisation. The rejig includes a temporary structure while Mr McKenzie’s replacement is recruited, but the council has also taken the opportunity to realign job titles and responsibilities for two of the council’s senior managers. […] Council financial controller Gavin Logie has also been named acting chief financial officer until Mr McKenzie’s replacement is named.

Sat, 11 Jun 2016
ODT: Sir Julian stands down, McKenzie appointed CEO
Sir Julian Smith, chairman and managing director of Allied Press, publisher of the Otago Daily Times, is stepping down from the day-to-day running of the company after nearly 40 years. Sir Julian (72), who will remain as chairman, told staff yesterday he has appointed Dunedin City Council group chief financial officer Grant McKenzie as the new Allied Press chief executive officer.

****

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
DCC Appoints Treasury Manager
This item was published on 10 Sep 2014
Richard Davey has been appointed to the new position of Dunedin City Council Treasury Manager. Mr Davey, who is originally from Dunedin, has had more than 21 years of banking experience in New Zealand and Australia. His experience centres on dealing with corporate treasuries and solving their risk management and funding issues. As Treasury Manager, Mr Davey will oversee Dunedin City Treasury Ltd – a DCC-owned company provides funding and financial services to other companies in the Dunedin City Holdings Ltd group. Mr Davey will report to Group Chief Financial Officer Grant McKenzie. Read more

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Group Chief Financial Officer Appointed
This item was published on 14 Oct 2013
The University of Otago’s Director of Financial Services, Grant McKenzie, has been appointed as the Dunedin City Council’s Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO). Announcing the appointment of Mr McKenzie to this newly-created role, DCC Chief Executive Paul Orders says, “Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and will be instrumental in ensuring the effective and efficient management of DCC group finances.” […] The new position of Group Chief Financial Officer replaces the DCC’s Chief Financial Officer (currently a vacant post), with the role expanded to include the provision of financial advice and support to the Board of Dunedin City Holdings Limited (DCHL). The role will also create more cohesive financial management between the DCC and Dunedin City Holdings Limited. Twenty eight applications were received for the position, from New Zealand and overseas.
Read more

****

It seems DCC has slumped and trailed until 27 February (20 working days) to respond formally to my request for official information – with no phone call received (see postscript).

Tomorrow Monday is D-Day. No notice of extension has been received.

HOW HARD IS IT REALLY TO ANSWER BASIC QUESTIONS—
20 working days ? Get real DCC.

█ OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST

From: [DCC Governance Support]
Sent: Friday, 3 February 2017 11:31 a.m.
To: Elizabeth Kerr
Subject: Acknowledgement of LGOIMA request

03-Feb-2017

Dear Ms Kerr,

Official information request for: APPOINTMENT OF GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Reference Number: 289707

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated 27-January-2017 for information regarding the APPOINTMENT OF GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER as follows:

1. When will the DCC appoint a Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO) to replace Grant McKenzie ? 2. For what reason(s) has this appointment been delayed ? 3. Have applicants for the position been short-listed ? 4. Is there anything thing else DCC wants to say about the appointment process ?

We received your request on 27-January-2017. We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 27-February-2017, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

Your request is being handled by [Governance Support]. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [Governance Support] on 03 477 4000. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.

Yours sincerely

[Governance Support]

P.S. I have also sent your questions to our chief executive Sue Bidrose, as she may wish to provide an answer to you directly by phone or email.

Governance Support Officer
Dunedin City Council

Related Post and Comments:
10.6.16 g’bye & ’ello

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

NEWSFLASH —Mosgiel pool, tracking [PONT] . . . .

Taieri Community Facilities Trust project manager Shaun Pont called on councillors to allocate $750,000 to the design phase of the new facility for the next financial year.

### ODT Online Tue, 12 May 2015
Mosgiel residents make plea for pool
By Vaughan Elder
Mosgiel residents made an impassioned call for Dunedin City councillors to give a multimillion-dollar aquatic facility the “green light” sooner rather than later. In recognition of the level of interest in a $15 million four-pool aquatic facility the council held part of yesterday’s long-term plan hearings at Mosgiel’s Salvation Army Hall.
Read more

—

Taieri Community Facilities Trust (aka Pooling Together)
http://www.poolingtogether.org.nz/

By December [2014] we will have completed a thorough feasibility study, ready for presentation to Council. The feasibility study for a new aquatic complex on the Taieri is now complete and has been lodged with Council.

There has been an amazing amount of work done in a short amount of time, and we want to acknowledge the stellar effort by Shaun Pont of the Logic Group.

http://www.poolingtogether.org.nz/the-project/

—

http://www.poolingtogether.org.nz/study-results/
In presenting this report, the Taieri Community Facilities Trust (Trust) is conscious of the Dunedin City Council’s twin objectives of city growth and strong fiscal management. It recognises that growth is both economic and social, and that the two are correlated. If Dunedin is to grow then it needs investment both in economic development and in facilities that enhance the city’s quality of life. A city is defined by its people. So as a city, if we are to grow and prosper then the community must stand beside Council. Only by working together can we both grow as a city and reach the Council goals for financial stewardship.

Community-based organisations are key to solving some of the most difficult neighbourhood issues. It is therefore important from the outset to understand that a swimming pool is not just about a place but about our people. Pools help to bind communities together and meet the challenges of building social inclusion within a community. They help to address the health issues within a community as we endeavour to meet national obesity and activity targets. A swimming pool is more than just somewhere to swim. It is a meeting place and heart for the community and a conduit for many activities.

The full report is available for download here: Taieri Aquatic Facility Report.pdf. The funding capability report is available here: Compton Report.

█ Other mentions at Pooling Together:

http://www.poolingtogether.org.nz/the-project/
For design we have engaged the Logic Group, who are working in partnership with award-winning architects Baker Garden and quantity surveyors Flanders Marlow.

http://www.poolingtogether.org.nz/who-we-are/
Support and Presentation Team…. Janice Pont

—

█ Public submissions on DCC Draft Long Term Plan (LTP):

Shaun Pont (Organisation – Logic group):
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/public-submissions/single-view-2015?id=492518
[excerpt] 14. Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities – Yes; 14a. – Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities Four new pools

Janice Pont:
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-long-term-plan-2015-2016/public-submissions/single-view-2015?id=494071
[excerpt] 14. Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities – Yes; 14a. – Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities Four new pools

—

Who is the Logic Group?

http://www.logicgroup.co.nz/index.htm
We provide specialist property advice and development management leadership.

(southern office) Level 4, Forsyth Barr House, 165 Stuart Street, PO Box 5857, Dunedin 9058

█ NZ Companies Register:

Search: Shaun David PONT

LOGIC GROUP SOUTHERN LIMITED (5072961) Registered
1 of 3 directors:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Samuel CADDEN, 110 Thomas St, Waikouaiti 9510
Richard WEBB, 15 The Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Chch 8081
1 of 1 shareholding:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025

LOGIC GROUP NZ LIMITED (3993939) Registered
2 of 2 directors:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Richard WEBB, 15 The Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Chch 8081
2 of 2 shareholdings:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Richard WEBB, 15 The Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Chch 8081

LOGIC FM LIMITED (3933199) Registered
3 of 3 directors:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Samuel CADDEN, 110 Thomas St, Waikouaiti 9510
Richard WEBB, 15 The Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Chch 8081
1 of 1 shareholdings:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025

LOGIC COST CONSULTANCY LIMITED (5627311) Registered
3 of 3 directors:
Barry LYNCH, 32 Dormer St, Papanui, Christchurch 8053
Shaun PONT: 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Richard WEBB, 15 The Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Chch 8081
3 of 3 shareholdings:
Shaun PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Richard WEBB, 15 The Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Chch 8081
LOGIC GROUP NZ LIMITED, Pwc, 5 Sir Gil Simpson Dr, Chch 8053

SPX 2 CONSULTING LIMITED (2075048) Registered
1 of 1 directors:
Shaun David PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
2 of 2 shareholdings:
Shaun David PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Sarah Peggy PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025

ZERO PLUS NZ LIMITED (3993918) Registered
1 of 1 directors:
Shaun David PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
1 of 1 shareholdings:
Shaun David PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025

ARROW STRATEGY LIMITED (2120916) Struck off
Former director:
Shaun David PONT, 137 Neville St, Spreydon, Christchurch 8024
Appointment Date: 21 May 2008
Ceased date: 28 Dec 2012

STILLWATER SOLUTIONS LIMITED (5685008) Registered
2 of 2 directors:
Shaun David PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
Marcus John Lee STUFKENS, 89 Gardiners Rd, Bishopdale, Chch 8051
2 of 2 shareholdings:
Shaun David PONT, 220h Kennedys Bush Rd, Kennedys Bush, Chch 8025
SIBERIAN TRUSTEES 2 LIMITED, 89 Gardiners Rd, Bishopdale, Chch 8051

—

Search: Janice PONT – family(?):

PONT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED (2299866) Registered
2 of 2 directors
Janice Mary PONT, 2 Fenty Pl, Mosgiel 9024
Russell David PONT, 2 Fenty Pl, Mosgiel 9024
2 of 2 shareholdings:
Janice Mary PONT, 2 Fenty Pl, Mosgiel 9024
Russell David PONT, 2 Fenty Pl, Mosgiel 9024

—

Related Posts and Comments:
17.5.15 Cr Vandervis on DCC project budgets
● 4.5.15 DCC: Draft LTP matter —‘Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities’
● 7.5.15 DCC Draft LTP 2015/16-2024/25 —public submissions online
● 12.4.15 Mosgiel pool trust calls on Dunedin ratepayers to fund distant complex
1.4.15 ‘Pooling Together’ (TCFT) loses chairman, resigns [see Wanaka pool]
28.3.15 DCC Draft LTP 2015/16 to 2024/25 —CONSULTATION OPEN
25.3.15 DCC Long Term Plan: Green-dyed chickens home to roost
11.3.15 Mosgiel pool trust PLAINLY hasn’t got ‘$7.5M community support’
● 6.3.15 Propaganda from trust for Taieri pool project #Mosgiel
● 2.3.15 DCC: Mosgiel Pool private workshop Tuesday (tomorrow) [renders]
● 20.2.15 Taieri Aquatic Centre: 2nd try for SECRET meeting —hosted by Mayor
● 13.2.15 ‘Taieri Aquatic Centre’, email from M. Stedman via B. Feather
● 10.2.15 Dunedin City Councillors invited to Secret Meeting #Mosgiel
14.1.15 DCC Draft Long Term Plan: more inanity from Cull’s crew pending
11.10.14 New Mosgiel Pool trust declared —(ready to r**t)
23.7.14 Mosgiel Pool: Taieri Times, ODT…. mmm #mates
16.7.14 Stadium: Exploiting CST model for new Mosgiel Pool #GOBs
● 4.2.14 DCC: Mosgiel Pool, closed-door parallels with stadium project…
30.1.14 DCC broke → More PPPs to line private pockets and stuff ratepayers
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 [see this comment & ff]
16.11.13 Community board (Mosgiel-Taieri) clandestine meetings
25.1.12 Waipori Fund – inane thinkings from a councillor
19.5.10 DScene – Public libraries, Hillside Workshops, stadium, pools
12.4.10 High-performance training pool at stadium?

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: arrowinternationalco.nz – Shaun Pont; scanned pool render by Baker Garden Architects – presented in TCFT project report during pre-draft DCC LTP meetings January 2015. [public domain]

DCC: Draft LTP matter —‘Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities’

Updated post Mon, 4 May 2015 at 5:39 p.m.

█ This afternoon an anonymous caller told What if? Dunedin that people asked to speak at the Pool meeting (initially scheduled for a different time and venue), and who were unable to attend then, have not been emailed with the new meeting information below. They haven’t been asked to re-visit their options…. DCC/Mayor Cull should clear up whether they will be re-invited to speak.

—

On the strength of public submissions received, the DCC will hold a meeting at Mosgiel that prevents many Dunedin ratepayers and residents from attending.

This is how DEMOCRACY works, DCC-style at Dunedin.

The email below was sent to those who are registered submitters ONLY on the city council’s Draft Long Term Plan (draft LTP) item, ‘Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities’. A second email from DCC explained that the first had been sent to me in error.

Elizabeth Kerr, exercising some independence, specifically did not submit on the POOL RORT that is being perpetuated against the Ratepayers and Residents of Dunedin and which multimillion-dollar project appears to be supported by Mayor Liability Cull as a political ticket for himself.

—

Received from Dunedin City Council
[sent to Elizabeth Kerr, in error]

From: Lynne Robins [DCC]
Sent: ‎Monday‎, ‎4‎ ‎May‎ ‎2015 ‎2‎:‎36‎ ‎p.m.
To: No recipients
Subject: Dunedin City Council Long Term Plan

Thank you for your submission to the Dunedin City Council Long Term Plan 2015/16 – 2024/25 on the Unfunded Mosgiel Aquatic Facilities section.

In your submission you indicated that you wished to speak to the topic.

Due to the number of submissions received on the proposed Aquatic Facility, it has been decided to set aside a session for Councillors to hear the submissions on this subject only.

The meeting will be held on

Monday 11 May 2015
4.00 pm – 6.00 or 7.00 pm (depending on the number of submissions to be heard)
Salvation Army Hall, 4 Lanark Street, Mosgiel.

The meeting will be opened with representatives from the Taieri Community Facilities Trust presenting their submission first.
This will be followed by other submitters speaking to their submissions on the proposed Aquatic Centre.

If you are unable to attend the meeting and wish to be heard at another time please contact either Wendy Collard, Jo Tiszavari
or myself on 477-4000 or by replying to this email and we will schedule you with another speaking time.

Please note that if you have submitted on many items, we will send you a separate speaking time to speak to the other items on your submission.

Kind Regards

Lynne
Governance Support Officer
Dunedin City Council

—

Comment received from Jacob
Submitted on 2015/05/04 at 12:08 pm | In reply to Mick.

Calvin. When you place your bets on the pool, make sure you only back for a place. After reading the ODT article on submissions, it would appear that the trust has been as deceitful as ever.
Remember they claimed that they had over 2000 supporters to their online survey.
Well when the push comes to shove, it would appear that only 1030 have made submissions to the LTP, and that includes those apposed to the pool.
What has happened to the other 1000+ that they claimed to have the support for the pool. Just like the $7.5 million they claim that the Mosgiel community are supposed to be fronting up with. In both cases, the pool support and the community money they claim, does not stack up. Because they are unable to back up their claims. Just cheap talk and deceitful, a copy of the stadium debacle all over again.

[ends]

—

Related Posts and Comments:
● 12.4.15 Mosgiel pool trust calls on Dunedin ratepayers to fund distant complex
● 1.4.15 ‘Pooling Together’ (TCFT) loses chairman, resigns [see Wanaka pool]
28.3.15 DCC: Draft LTP 2015/16 to 2024/25 —CONSULTATION OPEN
● 11.3.15 Mosgiel pool trust PLAINLY hasn’t got ‘$7.5M community support’
● 6.3.15 Propaganda from trust for Taieri pool project #Mosgiel
● 2.3.15 DCC: Mosgiel Pool private workshop Tuesday (tomorrow) [renders]
● 20.2.15 Taieri Aquatic Centre: 2nd try for SECRET meeting —hosted by Mayor
● 13.2.15 ‘Taieri Aquatic Centre’, email from M. Stedman via B. Feather
● 10.2.15 Dunedin City Councillors invited to Secret Meeting #Mosgiel
11.10.14 New Mosgiel Pool trust declared —(ready to r**t)
23.7.14 Mosgiel Pool: Taieri Times, ODT…. mmm #mates
16.7.14 Stadium: Exploiting CST model for new Mosgiel Pool #GOBs
● 4.2.14 DCC: Mosgiel Pool, closed-door parallels with stadium project…
30.1.14 DCC broke → More PPPs to line private pockets and stuff ratepayers
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 [see this comment & ff]
16.11.13 Community board (Mosgiel-Taieri) clandestine meetings
25.1.12 Waipori Fund – inane thinkings from a councillor
19.5.10 DScene – Public libraries, Hillside Workshops, stadium, pools
12.4.10 High-performance training pool at stadium?

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Mosgiel pool trust calls on Dunedin ratepayers to fund distant complex

PROPOSAL — TAIERI AQUATIC COMPLEX, AND GYMNASIUM
Cr Mike Lord supports added gymnasium (not costed)

NOT ENOUGH MONEY OR PEOPLE IN MOSGIEL CATCHMENT TO HOLD UP PROPOSAL INITIATED BY HOUSING DEVELOPERS, HIGHER PERFORMANCE SPORT/RUGBY AND MOSGIEL BUSINESS

NOW CALL GOES OUT TO DUNEDIN RATEPAYERS….

ODT 11.4.15 (page 30) —TCFT advert, bidding on DCC LTP

—

Dunedin City Council estimates the pool will cost $18.2 million, with an ongoing yearly shortfall of $2.3 million to run a four-pool complex.

### ODT Online Sun, 12 Apr 2015
Call to support new pool
By Timothy Brown
The Taieri Communities Facilities Trust hopes the wider Dunedin community will support its push for a new aquatics centre in Mosgiel. The trust hopes Dunedin residents will join with the Taieri and make submissions in favour of the $15 million pool during consultation on the Dunedin City Council’s draft long-term plan. The project is included for consultation as an unfunded item.
Read more

—

Related Posts and Comments:
1.4.15 ‘Pooling Together’ (TCFT) loses chairman, resigns [see Wanaka pool]
20.3.15 DESTROYED, beautification project —Railway corridor, Gladstone Road
11.3.15 Mosgiel pool trust PLAINLY hasn’t got ‘$7.5M community support’
● 6.3.15 Propaganda from trust for Taieri pool project #Mosgiel
● 2.3.15 DCC: Mosgiel Pool private workshop Tuesday (tomorrow) [renders]
● 20.2.15 Taieri Aquatic Centre: 2nd try for SECRET meeting —hosted by Mayor
● 13.2.15 ‘Taieri Aquatic Centre’, email from M. Stedman via B. Feather
● 10.2.15 Dunedin City Councillors invited to Secret Meeting #Mosgiel
11.10.14 New Mosgiel Pool trust declared —(ready to r**t)
23.7.14 Mosgiel Pool: Taieri Times, ODT…. mmm #mates
16.7.14 Stadium: Exploiting CST model for new Mosgiel Pool #GOBs
● 4.2.14 DCC: Mosgiel Pool, closed-door parallels with stadium project…
30.1.14 DCC broke → More PPPs to line private pockets and stuff ratepayers
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 [see this comment & ff]
16.11.13 Community board (Mosgiel-Taieri) clandestine meetings
25.1.12 Waipori Fund – inane thinkings from a councillor
19.5.10 DScene – Public libraries, Hillside Workshops, stadium, pools
12.4.10 High-performance training pool at stadium?

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium: Who is being protected?

Received from Russell Garbutt
15 July 2014 at 4:30 PM

What is an advertisement, and what content of an advertisement needs to be able to be verified?

Readers of the Otago Daily Times, and followers of the on-going stadium debate which shows no signs of lessening in its intensity may be intrigued to know just where the sensitivities of the ODT lie.

Let us look at some simple facts which cannot be in dispute.

The Carisbrook Stadium Trust which was acting as an agent of the Dunedin City Council, decided to publish a full page advertisement in the 31 May 2008 issue of the ODT. The advertisement was headed up “The Facts about the New Stadium”.

In this advertisement it was claimed that “The funding target establishes a debt free stadium. On this basis the business plan for the stadium shows that it makes a profit. Unlike nearly all other Council owned facilities it will not need annual funding support. This assessment has been confirmed by two of New Zealand’s leading accountancy firms”.

This is published and accessible and the wording of the advertisement cannot be interpreted in any other way as the heading refers to all that followed as “facts”.

The advertisement also claimed that the Trustees of the CST were “committed to delivering this stadium, under budget, on time and to achieve its financial, social and economic goals”.

Now of course some advertisements for wrinkle cream use all sorts of phrases like “clinical tests prove etc etc”. Many people are ready to pounce on claims that are unable to be substantiated, or are untruthful, or are misleading, or cannot be proven. In other words, the makers of the wrinkle cream need to be able to show that there were indeed “clinical tests”. The fact that the clinic may have been part of the company making the cream is sometimes understood, and in any case, the makers of the cream hardly ever claim that “totally independent clinical trials using double blind processes found what we are claiming is true”.

But this is not some pot of wrinkle cream.

The CST claimed a number of facts in their advertisement that they said were verified by two of New Zealand’s leading accountancy firms.

So, I submitted a very brief letter to the Editor of the ODT that simply asked this:

Dear Sir

In light of the continuing operating losses of the Awatea Street Rugby Stadium, and the on-going debt costs from its construction, it would be interesting to be informed of just who the two leading NZ accountancy firms were that confirmed the Carisbrook Stadium Trust’s claims published in the ODT in 2008 that the stadium would be built debt free and would return an annual operating profit. Maybe these two companies could now tell us how the reality differs so much from the published claims.

Yours sincerely

The ODT has informed me that my letter was noted but not selected for publication. This is newspaper speak for it’s been binned.

Why should this be?

Should the ODT not be interested in ensuring that an advertisement of a major size on a subject that had divided the City was not at all misleading in the same way that claims were made that may not be able to be substantiated, or could be shown to be unfactual?

Is the ODT particularly sensitive to the views of those that decided to publish this advertisement?

Had the ODT entered into any understanding or arrangement that the paper would support the stadium project which may have led to less than stringent standards of advertising being followed in this case?

But perhaps more telling is that to my knowledge, the ODT has not followed up on the obvious story of just who these two leading NZ accounting firms were that supported the claims of a debt free stadium and an annual operating profit. My point is that time and distance show us that these claims were so at odds with the claims made and published, that serious questions remain unanswered on just how the CST and these two companies got it so wrong.

Maybe another newspaper sees the story that the ODT doesn’t?

[ends]

█ Legible copy: CST Advertisement, ODT 31 May 2008 (PDF, 200 KB)

—

Related Posts and Comments:
9.7.14 John Ward, no mention of stadium or CST trusteeship
23.5.14 Stadium | DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 ● Benson-Pope…
9.5.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 Submission by Bev Butler
12.3.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust: Financial statements year ended 30.6.13
8.3.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust subject to LGOIMA
24.2.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust: ‘Facts about the new Stadium’ (31.5.08)
22.2.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust costs
24.1.14 Stadium: It came to pass… [stadium review]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium costs $23.4144 million per annum

Received from Bev Butler
Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:43:05 +1200

Cover note:
According to the latest DVL/DVML six monthly reports the debt is growing not reducing – that is a concern. The $146.6 million debt was passed over to DVL, many millions were poured into servicing the interest and capital repayments for this debt but even with that happening the combined short term/long term debt of DVML/DVL now stands at $157.6 million – $11 million more! The long term debt of $146.6 million has been reduced to $138.8 million but short term debt stands at $18.8 million. It is a major concern that the combined debt is growing not reducing – and this is during the stadium’s honeymoon period.

———

From: Bev Butler
To: Sue Bidrose; Sandy Graham; Kate Wilson; Richard Thomsom; Chris Staynes; John Bezett; Lee Vandervis; Hilary Calvert; Doug Hall; Andrew Whiley; Mike Lord; David Benson-Pope; Neville Peat; Andrew Noone; Jinty MacTavish; Dave Cull; Aaron Hawkins
CC: Calvin Oaten; Grant McKenzie
Subject: Stadium $23.4144 million per annum
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:43:05 +1200

Dear Mayor Cull and Councillors

As a result of further discussions and more information obtained through further searching Council documents Calvin Oaten and I have updated the annual stadium costs which now stand at $23.4144 million. (See attached word document). No changes have been made to the spreadsheet I sent earlier which I prepared.
There are some costs which have not been included due to the difficulty in quantifying them to the accuracy of which I would be comfortable.

This $23.4144 million figure does not include any payments which may have not been fully transparent through the Council books.
By this I mean that I understand there were approaches by Darren Burden, former CEO of DVML, to obtain payments for bills which DVML were unable to pay but which another Council Department had shown some willingness to transfer their surplus unspent funds from that Department to DVML. In that particular case, I understand the transfer did not happen. However, I have no access to information as to whether this had occurred on previous occasions through other departments.

█ Also attached are Terry Wilson’s calculations coming from a different angle but which come to $23.1 million per annum. (See attached spreadsheet prepared by Terry Wilson).

Yours sincerely
Bev Butler

Downloads:
● FB Stadium=Annual Ratepayer Costs=V2 (PDF, 9.47 KB)
● Stadium Costs $23.4144 million per annum (DOC, 30.5 KB)

—

Related Posts and Comments:
2.6.14 Stadium costs ballpark at $21.337 million pa, Butler & Oaten
23.5.14 Stadium | DCC DAP 2014/15 ● Benson-Pope asserts himself
9.5.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 Submission by Bev Butler

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium costs ballpark at $21.337 million pa, Butler & Oaten

Received from Bev Butler
Monday, 2 June 2014 4:10 p.m.

Message: During the presentation of my submission on the draft annual plan I was asked by Council to produce the figures to back up my claim that the stadium was costing approximately $20 million per annum. David Benson-Pope made a general statement questioning whether the claims in my submission were correct – though he didn’t elaborate when I asked him. I have followed up the Council’s request and the final figure is $21.337 million.

Please note there is a huge disparity between what the DCC has published in the Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 and what can be shown by the DCC’s own figures that are very difficult to find and interpret. The ratepayers should not continue to be kept in the dark – the real costs are more than double what is being published.

This has now been sent to the Mayor and Councillors.

Regards
Bev

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From: Bev Butler
To: Sue Bidrose; Sandy Graham; Kate Wilson; Richard Thomson; Chris Staynes; John Bezett; Lee Vandervis; Hilary Calvert; Doug Hall; Andrew Whiley; Mike Lord; David Benson-Pope; Neville Peat; Andrew Noone; Jinty MacTavish; Dave Cull; Aaron Hawkins
Cc: Calvin Oaten
Subject: Stadium Cost $21.337 million per annum
Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 22:49:43 +1200

Friday 30 May 2014

Dear Mayor Cull and Councillors

Attached is a Word document prepared by Calvin Oaten outlining the annual stadium costs. The final figure of $21.337 million is based on figures sourced from and cross-referenced with DCC/DVML/DVL/DCHL documents.
Also attached is a spreadsheet, containing four spreadsheets, prepared by Bev Butler, showing the treatment of the $146.6 million portion of the stadium debt.

Yours sincerely
Bev Butler

Explanatory Note for Calvin Oaten’s Word document:
I have expressly not mentioned nor quantified costs of what I would term ‘collateral’ effects of the Stadium Project. These of course are very real additional financial burdens to the citizens. These are: the realignment of SH88, the forgiving of considerable debt owed the city by the Otago Rugby Football Union, the costs of the purchase and sale of Carisbrook including the holding of same in the interim period. And of course, the ongoing operational losses of DVML’s operations. These particularly are proving to be a continual drag on the financial conscience of the ratepayer. It seems that if council cannot, or will not bite the bullet and raise the “pay to use” level to at least a break even figure then professional rugby is destined to have the last laugh at our expense. It is simply not fair.
I remain, without prejudice
Calvin Oaten

Explanatory Notes for Bev Butler’s spreadsheets:
1. Sheets 1 & 2 titled “$117.541m” and “$29.059m” respectively outline the calculations for the two tranches of stadium debt outlined in the DVL six-monthly report, dated 31 December 2013. This report states that the $146.6m stadium debt has been divided into two tranches of $117.541m and $29.059m. The $117.541m is for a term of 17 years and the $29.059m is for a term of ten years with a weighted average of 6.05%pa. In the calculations I have assumed monthly compounding periods and assumed the first payment(s) were made between 30 June 2013 and 31 December 2013. If the compounding period is shorter then there would be a small reduction in the payments.
Note that in the DVL six-monthly report it states that a mortgage has been issued to pay for the two tranches. This is the first time this has been mentioned in the DVL reports so it is assumed that the mortgage was issued sometime between the last DVL Annual Report (YE 30 June 2013) and the DVL six-monthly report (31 December 2013). There is also mention of a GSA having been signed. I assume this is a General Security Agreement to secure the payment of the debt in the event of the stadium folding or the rental payments not being met. I acknowledge that I am unsure about this as I have no further information. Perhaps the Council staff could clarify this aspect.

2. Sheets 3 & 4 titled “$146.6m monthly” and “$146.6m weekly” respectively outline the calculations for the stadium debt had [regular repayments been made] from the time the stadium opened. It appears from the calculations and the DVL Annual Reports that this was not happening. If it was then the debt would have reduced to approximately $134 million. The DVL long term debt as of 31 December 2013 stands at $141.090m. So up until the mortgage was secured, it appears the debt repayments were for interest only on the bonds (and an average annual capital injection of $2m) which were issued to pay for the stadium land and other stadium debt.

[ends]

Downloads:
● Stadium Costs $21.337 million per annum (DOC, 30.2 KB)
● Stadium debt calculations FINAL (XLS, 59.3 KB)

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Related Posts and Comments:
9.5.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 Submission by Bev Butler
23.5.14 Stadium | DCC DAP 2014/15 ● Benson-Pope asserts himself

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

D Scene: Judge weighs up consultation concern

### D Scene 22-4-09 (page 6)
All ready for stadium finale
By Michelle Sutton

The High Court will focus on consultation with Dunedin ratepayers when it decides the fate of Otago’s $200 million stadium tomorrow.
{story continues}

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

What councillors said at Monday’s key meeting:
Neil Collins: “We need to have facilities that we are proud of and this will be one.”
Michael Guest: “We should thank Malcolm Farry, and the Mayor. It’s a wonderful project for Dunedin.”
Paul Hudson: “We haven’t communicated this well enough for our ratepayers.”
John Bezett: “You have to understand a lot of information has been given to the council that we haven’t been able to release.”
Teresa Stevenson: “As the community have said we don’t want it, we have become more firm in our view as council and have been fixated on the stadium.”
Dave Cull: “I think the issues are both funding and the public ownership. They are both financially problematic.We are rushing this to put this through. We are making decisions without detail.”
Andrew Noone: “People want us to make a decision. Dunedin has a history of punching above its weight.”
Chris Staynes: “We have an obligation to listen and we should be waiting until we have had the submissions.”

HOW THEY VOTED
YES Peter Chin, Syd Brown, Bill Acklin, John Bezett, Neil Collins, Michael Guest, Paul Hudson, Andrew Noone, Richard Walls and Colin Weatherall
NO Dave Cull, Chris Staynes, Teresa Stevenson, Kate Wilson