Tag Archives: Meetings

by Elizabeth | November 29, 2016 · 7:08 pm

Delta Workers met with ‘mgmt’

Tomorrow’s ODT….

Day editor Dave Cannan at Channel 39 News:

“Delta workers today met with management to put some questions to them.”
“We’ll have a good story about that.”

We wait.

—

Or something.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Images: dilbert.com by Scott Adams via pureparents.com | joyreactor.com | businessinsider.com

4 Comments

Filed under Aurora Energy, Business, Central Otago, Delta, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Electricity, Events, Finance, Geography, Health, Infrastructure, Media, Name, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Politics, Project management, Public interest, Resource management, What stadium

Tagged as Accountability, Aurora Energy Ltd, CCOs, Central Otago, Commercie Commission (ComCom), Dangerous workplaces, DCC, DCHL, Degraded network, Deloitte (soft audit), Delta Utility Services Ltd, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, Energy Safety (WorkSafe), Executive Leadership Team, Grady Cameron, Graham Crombie, Health and Safety, Lines staff, Management, Meetings, Pole replacement, Power network, Transparency, Unions, WorkSafe

by Elizabeth | September 11, 2016 · 10:51 pm

Whiley, buying the mayoralty with Dunedin Ratepayers’ money ?

Much hoo-haa over a very expensive community pool.
Who pays for it.

Andrew Whiley probably loves former Greater Dunedin candidate Irene Mosley (Taieri Community Facilities Trust aka Pooling Together) who appears to support taking major projects off DCC to project manage privately….
[Carisbrook Stadium Trust tricks].

Or, does the mayoral and council hopeful love – So Much – For Votes – the residential developers carving up Taieri paddocks with bunker-style housing on cul-de-sacs, who might or might not say no to a ‘greater Dunedin’ rates-funded pool complex over their back fence. Dunno.

Would Professional Rugby rather its own pool complex at the Logan Park sport and recreation hub ?? Since Mosgiel is far flung, and all that’s really needed is an upgrade to the township’s existing pool !!

Now, about targeted rates for the Taieri Area population to afford their Expensive Four-Pool Complex.

What Should happen.
Consider very carefully who you rate when voting.

Received today:

█ For more, enter the terms *mosgiel*, *taieri* and *pool* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

19 Comments

Filed under Baloney, Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, District Plan, Dunedin, Dunedin Amenities Society, Economics, Finance, Fun, Geography, Health, Housing, Infrastructure, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Pet projects, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Town planning, Travesty, What stadium

Tagged as 2016 local body elections, Backroom deals, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, DCC, Developers, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Election campaigns, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Local body elections 2016, Logic Group, Long Term Plan (LTP), Long Term Plan 2015/16 - 2024/25, Mayoral race, Meetings, Memorandum of Understanding, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Pooling Together, Pools, Public consultation, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Subdivision, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Vested interests, Vote catching, Warren & Mahoney Architects Ltd

by Elizabeth | July 23, 2016 · 6:12 pm

Mosley’s Pond now a Dunedin Community ‘asset’ to fund

Taieri Times 13.7.16 (page 1)

Taieri Times 20.7.16 (page 8)

Taieri Times 20.7.16 (page 7)

Epitaph. Prudence said she couldn’t swim in the DCC pool at Mosgiel, nor Moana, they both drowned.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election year. This post is offered in the public interest.

*Images: shortzilla.com – duck in pond | dadvmom.com – blacknwhiteswim

9 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Finance, Geography, Health, Infrastructure, Media, Name, New Zealand, OAG, Ombudsman, People, Pet projects, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Resource management, Site, Sport, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, Urban design, What stadium

by Elizabeth | March 17, 2016 · 3:57 pm

Invitation to the Otago Peninsula Community #DCCAnnualPlan

Received from Paul Pope
Thu, 17 Mar 2016 at 2:38 p.m.

—

█ DCC Otago Peninsula Community Board
This page lists profiles of Otago Peninsula Board elected members plus minutes and agendas and the Community Plan.

█ Paul Pope on the Peninsula
My life and issues on the Otago Peninsula Community Board [blog]

Paul is Deputy Chair of the Otago Peninsula Community Board.
He is also on Facebook.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: Design by Paul Pope

DCC report: Mosgiel Pool Future Aquatic Provision

█ Full Council Meeting Monday 30 November 2015 at 1:00 p.m.
Council Chamber, Municipal Chambers, The Octagon

█ Agenda – Council – 30/11/2015 (PDF, 39.6 KB)

Other Reports to be tabled.

—

Item 16

█ Report – Council – 30/11/2015 (PDF, 7.1 MB)
Mosgiel Pool Future Aquatic Provision

[Extract]

Council 30 November 2015
MOSGIEL POOL FUTURE AQUATIC PROVISION
Department: Parks, Recreation and Aquatics

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. This report presents high level concept design options and associated capital and operating costs for a new aquatic facility in Mosgiel. A decision is required on which, if any option should be progressed to developed design stage to enable more detailed operating costs, capital costs and whole of life cost options to be developed.

2. Staff have conducted a robust process, assisted by aquatic facility development and operation experts, using architects and quantity surveyors with substantial aquatic experience (including Selwyn) and with the input of Sport New Zealand. Despite this, and whilst reaching agreement on a preferred site, there is a fundamental difference between the staff position and that of the Taieri Community Facilities Trust (the Trust).

3. Council staff consider they can deliver a high quality aquatic facility containing two bodies of water that provide for casual recreation (leisure), casual fitness (lap swimming) and learn to swim that will be valued by the Mosgiel community. The Trust does not agree.

4. The estimated total capital cost for this option is approximately $14.4m, based on benchmarking, which can be refined and reduced through developed design, value management and procurement processes.

5. The Trust position is that for the same amount of money, ie approximately $14.4m, a four-pool proposal, as presented in 2014, can be delivered. The staff assessment of this position is that the capital cost is more likely to be approximately $18-20m, based on feedback from Sport New Zealand and the quantity surveyor.

RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Council:
a) Decides that Site A, located adjacent to the existing Mosgiel Pool is the preferred site for the development of a new aquatic facility.

b) Directs officers to progress the option of two bodies of water, delivering leisure, lap and learn to swim activities through to developed design including further refinement of capital costs, operating costs, and the development of whole of life facility costs, and report back to Council in May 2016.

c) Notes the estimated capital cost of the current concept for two bodies of water is $10,458,000 (buildings, siteworks and infrastructure) plus $2,379,500 (fees, consents, furniture and equipment) plus $1,567,000 (project contingency and ground improvement provision); a total of $14,404,500.

d) Notes that the estimated capital cost excludes an escalation provision, currently estimated at 2.8% per annum for the three years until the Council funding is available.

e) Acknowledges the continued commitment of the Taieri Community Facilities Trust to the project, through their participation in the steering group and input into the concept design process.

Author: Jendi Paterson, Parks and Recreation Planning Manager
Authoriser(s): Richard Saunders, Group Manager, Parks, Recreation and Aquatics; Ruth Stokes, General Manager, Infrastructure and Networks

—

DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL PROPOSED TAIERI AQUATIC CENTRE – MOSGIEL
19 October 2015
Feedback on Taieri Community Facilities Trust Feasibility Study (November 2014), Warren & Mahoney Architects (WAM) and Barnes Beagley Doherr (BBD) Master Plan and Cost Estimate (September 2015).

[Extracts]

1. General observations – There is universal acceptance that the existing Mosgiel Community Pool is an asset at the end of its usefulness and fit with existing and future community needs. The Taieri Community Facilities Trusts (the Trust) Feasibility correctly establishes that historical reports, information and recommendations along with DCC support this view. What is unclear or fully evidenced in the study is:
– What needs assessment and demand are evident and directly related to the size, scale and component mix for the facility required? E.g. need for a FINA certified 10 lane competition pool.
– Confirmation of the likely and sustainable catchment that the centre will serve?
– The impact of the proposed facility on the existing aquatic network?
– What is the projects full capital cost and whole of life affordability for the community?

3. Site and location – It is agreed that Memorial Park is the preferred site for the development of a new aquatic centre. The Feasibility Study promotes the use of a site that impacts significantly the existing Memorial Park Gardens. This option seems unnecessary given the other options available at the park to DCC. Of the subsequent locations within the park proposed by Warren and Mahoney Architects (20.09.15) those sites favoured are those that enable the existing pool to operate during any development period, impact adjacent residents the least, provides multiple points of entry, maximises existing car parking and allows for future expansion should be considered. In this context Site A and Site B are favoured. Site A may offer the opportunity to upgrade and integrate the Caravan Park operation into the new facility, management model and provide a positive revenue stream for the centre.

6. Funding Strategy – the expectation placed on the Trust to raise 50% ($7.5m) of the capital cost of the project is considered unrealistic and unfair. Despite the optimism of the Trust would be unachievable by the second half of 2016 as identified in the Trusts timeline for achieving the pledged funding target. Undoubtedly, this would place extreme pressure of exiting funding agencies and fundraising organisations delivering alternative community outcomes and services for some time. One needs to ask the question – is the same expectation places on communities of interest to raise 50% of funding for developments of public libraries, community halls, sport parks and other public amenities?

Conclusion, the size scale and complexity of the proposed aquatic centre seems to address the wants rather than the needs of the community. Justification of the overall component mix, the need for 10 v’s 8 lanes, competitive aquatic sport needs v’s wider community recreation, wellness and entertainment (youth and older adults) would benefit from closer consideration given the significant level of investment under consideration. The size and extent of the projected catchment population may be inflated and with minimal consideration given to the impact of the new centre on the existing aquatic network of facilities and in its current form designed to compete rather than compliment Moana Pool. The assessment of capital cost seems consistent based on similar south island projects and assessment of construction rates without due consideration to those costs currently excluded. The projected operating budget is not inclusive of all relevant costs (debt repayments and depreciation) nor does it consider the whole of life costs for the assets which will require the need for an ongoing level of operational subsidy.

[screenshots – click to enlarge]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

34 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Geography, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Transportation, University of Otago, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Backroom deals, Bev Butler, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, Cr Jinty MacTavish, Cr Lee Vandervis, Dave Cull, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), greater Dunedin trollops, GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Logic Group, Long Term Plan (LTP), Long Term Plan 2015/16 - 2024/25, Mayor Cull, Meetings, Memorandum of Understanding, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, MOU, Otago Daily Times, Pool designs, Pooling Together, Pools, Public consultation, Public submissions, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Shaun Pont, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, The Logic Group, Vested interests, Vote catching, Warren & Mahoney Architects Ltd

by Elizabeth | September 16, 2015 · 12:20 pm

DCC Please Explain —Mosgiel pool design to Warren & Mahoney

This is Dunedin City Council, Cr Jinty MacTavish (Chair, DCC Community and Environment Committee), Mosgiel Taieri Community Board, and the Taieri Community Facilities Trust (TCFT) keeping Dunedin ratepayers and residents THOROUGHLY INFORMED.

Read all about it at NBR, why not. [thanks Anon Anon]
Corruption, backroom deals, vested interests, Anyone?

—

National Business Review
Warren & Mahoney clinches three big sports contracts
Chris Hutching · Friday September 11, 2015

Today’s sports centres accommodate a diverse range of disciplines under one roof and are social hubs and health centres. “Their design should have clarity of access, and a welcoming pathway which encourages maximum participation in recreation. The scale of the recent commissions varies. At the Mosgiel Aquatic Centre, the $14 million budget is earmarked for lane swimming, as well as pools for learners, leisure and warm water.

█ http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/warren-mahoney-clinches-three-big-sports-contracts-ch-178407

—

[screenshot – click to enlarge]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

22 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, CST, DCC, DCHL, DCTL, Democracy, Design, Economics, Enterprise Dunedin, Geography, Hot air, LGNZ, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, OCA, Ombudsman, ORFU, People, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, SFO, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Town planning, University of Otago, Urban design, What stadium

by Elizabeth | September 10, 2015 · 5:26 pm

Tale of two pools & very different community boards #Mosgiel #Wanaka

ODT 8.9.15 (page 8)

[click to enlarge]

The Mosgiel Taieri Community Board is heading for disestablishment. (tick)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

6 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Geography, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, ORFU, People, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Backroom deals, Bev Butler, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, Cr Jinty MacTavish, Cr Lee Vandervis, Dave Cull, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Logic Group, Long Term Plan (LTP), Long Term Plan 2015/16 - 2024/25, Mayor Cull, Meetings, Memorandum of Understanding, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, MOU, NZRU, ORFU, Otago Daily Times, Otago Rugby Football Union, Pooling Together, Pools, PROFESSIONAL RUGBY, Public consultation, Public submissions, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Shaun Pont, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, The Logic Group, Vested interests

by Elizabeth | August 7, 2015 · 1:01 pm

MOU DCC and TCFT New Aquatic Facility #MosgielPool

In previous weeks, with receipt of the DCC Long Term Plan 2015/16 – 2024/25, contributors to What if? Dunedin seized upon the fact (page 166) that the Council has somehow (if by political vote-catching, deception and or undemocratic business method?) — facilitated by the Mayor of Dunedin — taken on the whole cost of the proposed ‘Taieri Aquatic Centre’ for Mosgiel, to be loaded onto UNSUSPECTING Dunedin ratepayers.

This is contrary to what was discussed, and understood, at the time of the draft LTP hearings.

[click to enlarge]
DCC LTP Section 3 – Forecast Financial Statements (PDF, 877.9 KB)
Forecast Financial Statements (financial statements, gross debt chart, accounting policies, 10 year capital expenditure programme, prospective information, significant forecasting assumptions, inflation adjusters, reserve funds, long term plan disclosure statement)

—

In reference to page 166, Bev Butler (23 July) emailed all Councillors about the figures for Aquatic Services new Capital Expenditure: Mosgiel Pool $410,000 in 2016/17 and $14.478 million in 2018/19.

In email reply, Cr Richard Thomson, chair of the Finance Committee, noted an asterisk:
‘you will see that the figure is asterixed and that this references back to notes that these are projects which have “full or partial external funding”. In this case the pool is subject to the community fundraising their share but that is included in the capital spend. you will see a similar situation with the cricket lights at Logan park where $2.2m is being spent but Council has approved up to $1m of its money only…’

This is what ODT reported on 22 May:

ODT: Mosgiel pool wins support
Dunedin City councillors have thrown their support behind a Mosgiel aquatic facility, despite a staff warning about council missing its debt targets. Councillors at yesterday’s long-term plan hearings voted in favour of building a facility “in principle”, subject to a number of conditions.
● Taieri Community Facilities Trust to raise $7.5 million towards project.
● Council has allocated a placeholder budget of $6 million for the facility in the 2018-19 financial year.
● Budget of up to $300,000 approved for council staff to investigate project costs, design options and site location
● Staff to report back to council by April next year, at which point councillors would decide whether to proceed with the project and how.
● Councillors voted that council staff and the trust develop a new memorandum of understanding.

Without building a Mosgiel pool, debt was forecast to be at $223 million in 2021, $7 million below the council’s self-imposed $230 million target. (ODT)

—

Now read the following chain of correspondence.

Received from Lee Vandervis
Fri, 7 Aug 2015 at 8:22 a.m.

█ Message: I believe it is in the pubic interest for the points below to be made public. Kind regards, Lee

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2015 08:18:32 +1200
To: Dave Cull, Jinty MacTavish
Cc: Chris Staynes, Kate Wilson, Richard Thomson, Aaron Hawkins, Neville Peat, Mike Lord, David Benson-Pope, Andrew Whiley, Andrew Noone, John Bezett, Hilary Calvert, Doug Hall, Richard Saunders [DCC], Jendi Paterson [DCC], Sue Bidrose [DCC], Sandy Graham [DCC]
Conversation: MOU DCC and TCFT New Aquatic Facility
Subject: Re: MOU DCC and TCFT New Aquatic Facility

Dear Mayor Cull,

Thank you for your helpful suggestion which I intend to take up especially when DCC file evidence is available which can confirm many allegations made to me by members of the public.

I do wonder that you seem to think so little of an MOU statement of intent that apparently commits Council to “the development of a new Aquatic Facility Complex“ when Council has not yet made any final Pool Complex decision and in any case has not got the financial resources or even a sufficiently large place holder budget to achieve building the proposed Pool Complex. At the risk of boring our public as you suggest, I will do what I can to let them know.

The claim by Cr. McTavish below “that the phrase “new aquatic facility complex” covers everything from a refurbishment of the existing (which is the base level of service required for the aging, arguably beyond useful life, asset)…” is not credible in commonly understood usage of the words used, but I hope that wide publication of this particular interpretation will reduce the misrepresentation that I believe the Mosgiel Aquatic MOU currently represents.

Regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

———————————

On 7/08/15 6:29 AM, “Dave Cull” wrote:

Lee
Rather than boring an even wider audience with your laughable brew of ignorance and malice, how about developing some testicular fortitude and going public, as you have been requested to, with the evidence behind the other far more serious accusations and insinuations you have made?
Dave

———————————

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2015 10:49 PM
To: Jinty MacTavish
Cc: Dave Cull; Chris Staynes; Kate Wilson; Richard Thomson; Aaron Hawkins; Neville Peat; Mike Lord; David Benson-Pope; Andrew Whiley; Andrew Noone; John Bezett; Hilary Calvert; Doug Hall; Richard Saunders; Jendi Paterson; Sue Bidrose; Sandy Graham
Subject: Re: MOU DCC and TCFT New Aquatic Facility

Dear Jinty,

Your response below is not acceptable to me as an elected representative.
Your being ‘comfortable’ is no reason to assume Council decision-making status.
Who is this executive that you speak of who are apparently authorised to trump Council decisions as you would have them?
If you insist on acting beyond Council resolutions, I will have little alternative but to go public.

Regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

———————————

On 6/08/15 10:43 AM, “Jinty MacTavish” wrote:

Kia ora Lee,

Many thanks for your feedback. You raise two concerns:

A. Specific wording of paragraph.

Council’s resolution at LTP time included the following:

“That the Council agree to:
1 support in principle the development of a new aquatic facility complex for Dunedin in Mosgiel.”

The executive’s view is that the that the phrase “new aquatic facility complex” covers everything from a refurbishment of the existing (which is the base level of service required for the aging, arguably beyond useful life, asset), with “efficient” recognising the whole of life cost associated with any option. In the context of there having been a lengthy discussions between staff and the Trust to get to the point where both parties are comfortable with the wording, and given our executive’s interpretation, I am comfortable that the paragraph allows for a wide range of outcomes. A range of options will be brought back to Council in October for consideration and a decision on which to progress to detailed design with.

B. Sign off process

The sign-off on this document was delegated to chair C&E by a resolution of the Committee.
Jinty MacTavish

{Phone number deleted. -Eds}

———————————

On 6/08/2015, at 9:31 am, Lee Vandervis wrote:

Re: MOU DCC and TCFT New Aquatic Facility
Dear Jinty,

The Intent paragraph of the proposed MOU is unacceptable to me in its present form.

“The intent of the parties is to give effect to a Community/Council partnership for the development of a new Aquatic Facility Complex for Dunedin in Mosgiel in accordance with the LTP resolutions referred to in paragraph 3.4 and with the object of Council delivering an efficient modern complex that caters for all sectors of the community.”

These are weasel words which can easily be understood to mean that Council has resolved to deliver an efficient modern Aquatic Facility Complex in Mosgiel when I do not believe Council has made such a resolution. My understanding is that despite the absurdly arrived at $6 million ‘placeholder budget’, Council has asked that the Aquatic complex in Mosgiel be thoroughly mutually investigated, and that Council has not decided to give effect to the development, as stated above.

I strongly object to any such MOU INTENT being signed off by you or anybody else, and I am deeply concerned by process irregularities and the unprecedented fast-tracking of this project past many others that have been long awaited, the South Dunedin Library/Community Complex in particular.

The INTENT as I understand it, is for the parties to give effect to a Community/Council partnership to further EXPLORE the development detail of a new Aquatic Facility Complex for Dunedin in Mosgiel in accordance with the LTP resolutions referred to in paragraph 3.4 and with the object of Council then being able to decide whether it can or wishes to deliver an efficient modern complex that caters for all sectors of the community.”

Regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

———————————

On 5/08/15 10:20 AM, “Jinty MacTavish” wrote:

Kia ora koutou,
Please find attached a copy of a draft MOU between the DCC and the Taieri Community Facilities Trust. As it stands, both staff and the Trust are supportive of the document. As per the Council resolution, I’ve been asked to sign it off as C&E chair but would value any feedback from you before close of business tomorrow should you have concerns.
Thanks very much,
Jinty

—— End of Forwarded Message

[ends]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

36 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, COC (Otago), Construction, DCC, DCHL, DCTL, Democracy, Design, Economics, Hot air, Name, New Zealand, OAG, ORFU, People, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Backroom deals, Bev Butler, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, Cr Jinty MacTavish, Cr Lee Vandervis, Dave Cull, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Logic Group, Long Term Plan (LTP), Long Term Plan 2015/16 - 2024/25, Mayor Cull, Meetings, Memorandum of Understanding, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, MOU, Otago Daily Times, Pooling Together, Pools, Public consultation, Public submissions, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Shaun Pont, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, The Logic Group, Vested interests

by Elizabeth | July 23, 2015 · 3:30 pm

Dunedin ratepayers —Green Island best site for city pool users #Mosgielfarce

DUNEDIN RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS | HAVE YOUR SAY

The best option is to upgrade and maintain the existing Mosgiel Pool, rather than give Taieri (sprawl) housing speculator-developers and main street businessmen a pool to help their privateering (and professional rugby/training connections). Larger numbers of rate-paying Dunedin residents will benefit from a long-term (funded) aquatic centre sited at Green Island. However, the Stadium is still costing ratepayers +$20 million per annum…..

It looks like Greater Dunedin, through the Mayor and MacTavish, are keen to foster the Mosgiel proposal as a vote catcher in next year’s local body elections.

—

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Feedback Sought on Mosgiel Pool Options

This item was published on 23 Jul 2015

Consultation opens today on four shortlisted sites for a new aquatic centre in Mosgiel….

Over the next fortnight, the Dunedin City Council, in partnership with the Taieri Community Facilities Trust, is seeking community feedback on the four sites. One of the options is to use the existing pool site on Gordon Road and the other three options are different locations within Memorial Park and the Mosgiel Memorial Gardens.
Since the Council decided to allocate a placeholder of $6 million for the project in the Long Term Plan 2015/16 to 2024/25, work has begun to progress investigations around the proposed facility. The first step of these investigations involves identifying a preferred site.
The work is being led by a steering group, comprised of three Councillors, three Trust members and a member of the Mosgiel community. The group has been given the mandate to work to develop the proposal to the point where there is a preferred site, plans and costings for a new aquatic centre in Mosgiel. These stages are to be reported back to the Council by 30 October.
Mosgiel Aquatic Facility Steering Group Chair Cr Jinty MacTavish says the four sites out for consultation have been shortlisted by the steering group from identified options, including those in the original feasibility study.

“Site selection is an important part of the design process. We’re looking forward to hearing the community’s thoughts on the site they think would be best.”

The DCC is working with the Trust to ensure the reports needed for Council decisions are completed on time. Trust Chair Irene Mosley says, “The community gave a very clear indication during the Long Term Plan process that they wanted a new pool facility in Mosgiel. Now that the DCC has allocated some funding for this project we need to go back to the community and make sure they have the opportunity to comment on the shortlisted sites.”

█ Feedback must be received by Friday, 7 August.

For more information and to fill in a questionnaire visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/mosgielpool-consultation or http://www.poolingtogether.org.nz. Hard copy information is also available at the Mosgiel Library and Service Centre

Contact Cr Jinty MacTavish, Chair, Mosgiel Aquatic Facility Steering Group on 027 277 5631. DCC Link

—

█ Someone else to YELL at besides Jinty Mactavish:
Irene Mosley
Chair, Taieri Community Facilities Trust [aka Pooling Together]
Phone 021 231 9197

Taieri Aquatic Centre —proposal [Images: Baker Garden Architects]

—

Correspondence received.
Thu, 23 Jul 2015 at 12:20 p.m.

From: Bev Butler
To: Lee Vandervis, Dave Cull, David Benson-Pope, Hilary Calvert, John Bezett, Doug Hall, Aaron Hawkins, Mike Lord, Jinty MacTavish, Andrew Noone, Neville Peat, Chris Staynes, Richard Thomson, Andrew Whiley, Kate Wilson
Sent: Thursday, 23 July 2015 11:05 AM
Subject: LTAP and Mosgiel Pool

Dear Mayor Cull and Councillors

I recently received a copy of the LTAP and noticed on page 166 of the new LTAP, Aquatic Services new Capital Expenditure: Mosgiel Pool $410,000 in 2016/17 and $14.478 million in 2018/19.

However, when referencing the ODT report on 22 May 2015:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/343130/mosgiel-pool-wins-support
It is reported:
“Council allocated a placeholder budget of $6 million in the 2018-19 financial year for the facility.”

So at what point did the $6 million reported in May change to $14.478 million? I couldn’t find any reference to the change in ODT. Maybe I missed it.
I have also looked up the Council meeting minutes but can find no reference there either.

Would someone please tell me the date when this $14.478 million was approved by Council and preferably send me a copy of the minutes or point me in the direction to find them.

Many thanks
Bev Butler

————————

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 23:17:09 +0000
From: Richard Thomson
To: Bev Butler; Lee Vandervis; Dave Cull; David Benson-Pope; Hilary Calvert; John Bezett; Doug Hall; Aaron Hawkins; Mike Lord; Jinty MacTavish; Andrew Noone; Neville Peat; Chris Staynes; Richard Thomson; Andrew Whiley; Kate Wilson
Subject: Re: LTAP and Mosgiel Pool

Bev,

you will see that the figure is asterixed and that this references back to notes that these are projects which have “full or partial external funding”. In this case the pool is subject to the community fundraising their share but that is included in the capital spend. you will see a similar situation with the cricket lights at Logan park where $2.2m is being spent but Council has approved up to $1m of its money only..

Richard [Thomson, Cr]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

7 Comments

Filed under Business, Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Geography, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OCA, ORFU, People, Politics, Pools, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Transportation, University of Otago, Urban design

Tagged as Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, Dave Cull, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Janice Pont, Lobbying, Logic Group, Martin Dillon, Meetings, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Otago Daily Times, Pooling Together, Pools, Public consultation, Public submissions, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Selwyn, Shaun Pont, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, The Logic Group, Vested interests, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | May 19, 2015 · 7:02 pm

Mosgiel pool trust conflicts of interest #bigfishsmallpond

CARBON COPY OF SELWYN POOL
PONT WANTS $750,000 FROM DCC TO INVESTIGATE A REPLICA !!!!
Funny that, given his connections………………

Selwyn Aquatic Centre

—

{Original correspondence sighted and filed. Ratepayer name removed. -Eds}

Received from Cr Lee Vandervis
‎Tue‎, ‎19‎ ‎May‎ ‎2015 at ‎2‎:‎02‎ ‎p.m.

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: ‎Tuesday‎, ‎19‎ ‎May‎ ‎2015 ‎2‎:‎02‎ ‎p.m.
To: ██████████
Cc: Elizabeth Kerr [What if? Dunedin]

Dear ██████████ ,

Thank you for raising the Mosgiel Pool design and Shaun Pont conflict of interest issues which have been highlighted on the ‘What If?’ site.
I was disappointed that the ODT did not report my direct challenge to Mr Pont’s claimed need for $750,000 of rates funding to pay for initial Mosgiel pool design work, when the pool they want has already been designed, and built [by local contractors Calder Stewart] in Selwyn.
We were told repeatedly at the Mosgiel meeting that the desired pool complex was a “carbon copy of the Selwyn pool”, making the requested $750,000 for initial design potentially the most expensive bits of carbon copy paper in local government history.
As I saw it, Mr Pont not only failed to declare his glaring conflict of interest at the Mosgiel meeting, but he failed to account for the claimed $750,000 cost of an initial pool design needed, saying that there were different ground conditions [both level alluvial plains], different parking requirements [there is an existing car park next door], and different more efficient heat-pump system planned [this detail not needed for initial design].
My question as to ‘why 90% of the speakers listed as wanting to present in person to the Mosgiel meeting did not show up?’ was not answered satisfactorily. It was suggested that there was a problem with advising people of the date of the Mosgiel meeting, yet more Councillors managed to show up than local people wanting to speak in support of the Pool project.

Kind regards,
Cr. Vandervis

On 18/05/15 10:46 AM, “ ██████████ ” wrote:

Hi Lee,

I was at the LTP Plan submission hearing in Mosgiel and heard Shaun Pont of the pool trust asking for $750,000 from Council for further investigation work on pool design etc. I believe there is a vested interest here as Shaun Pont is a director of Logic Group and stands to gain financially from this money if Council is stupid enough to grant it. He also appears to be affiliated with Arrow International, and we know how they benefited from the stadium.

You are the only one on Council I can trust to speak up if I am correct, and can see through the spin doctoring of the pool trust. Best of luck and keep up the good work.

Regards
██████████

—

Taieri Aquatic Centre —proposal

Related Post and Comments:
18.5.15 NEWSFLASH —Mosgiel pool, tracking [PONT] . . . . [see other links]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: Selwyn Aquatic Centre – engenium.co.nz (exterior); xypex.co.nz (interior) | Proposed Taieri Aquatic Centre – scanned renders by Baker Garden Architects, from TCFT feasibility report (Jan 2015)

42 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, COC (Otago), Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Geography, Highlanders, Hot air, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design

Tagged as Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Conflicts of interest, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, Dave Cull, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Feasibility, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Janice Pont, Lobbying, Logic Group, Martin Dillon, Meetings, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel Pool, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Otago Daily Times, Pooling Together, Pools, Public submissions, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Selwyn, Shaun Pont, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, The Logic Group, Vested interests, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | May 18, 2015 · 4:26 pm

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

—

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]

6 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, COC (Otago), Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Geography, Highlanders, Hot air, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, University of Otago, Urban design

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Draft LTP, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin ratepayers, Dunedin swimming pools, Forsyth Barr building, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Janice Pont, Lobbying, Logic Group, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, ODT, Otago Daily Times, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Public submissions, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Richard Webb, Rorts, Secret meetings, Shaun Pont, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, The Logic Group, Vested interests, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | May 4, 2015 · 4:07 pm

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]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

17 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Geography, Hot air, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, OAG, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, SFO, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, DCC Draft Long Term Plan, Developers, Draft LTP, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin ratepayers, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, ODT, Otago Daily Times, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | April 12, 2015 · 3:50 pm

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

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

45 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Geography, Highlanders, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin ratepayers, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Housing speculators, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, ODT, Otago Daily Times, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | April 1, 2015 · 8:08 pm

‘Pooling Together’ (TCFT) loses chairman, resigns

Proposed pool complex at Memorial Park, Mosgiel —now, Cr Mike Lord wants to add a gymnasium. Image: Baker Garden Architects

—

Received from Maurice Prendergast
Wed, 1 Apr 2015 at 3:15 p.m.

█ Message: Letter below was sent to ODT editor some weeks ago. I have received by way of response an absolutely stony silence.

PS: Have just heard that Michael Stedman has resigned [from the Taieri Community Facilities Trust]. It seems that by coincidence, Russell Sim in speaking to Stedman yesterday was told that Stedman had had a letter ‘from Prendergast’ referred to him by ODT for his comment. I understand that he added, “I can’t reply.” E&OE

{See this comment from earlier today. -Eds}

From: Maurice Prendergast
Sent: Friday, 13 March 2015 12:19 p.m.
To: ‘editor@odt.co.nz’
Subject: Proposed Pool/funding

Editor ODT
Dunedin

Sir

I was stunned when reading the letters to the editor recently to see a caption which read ‘Questions about Pool asked and answered’.

An incisive clutch of questions follow from a Mr R Sim, but Mr Stedman (chairman of the Pool Trust) in deference to that part of the inferred head line ‘Questions answered” answered none of Mr Sim’s questions. This is the more disappointing by the fact that Mr Sim, rather than asking ‘sprawling questions’, asked clearly focused questions (presumably) to make it simple for Mr Stedman to answer.

In deference to answering these clearly structured questions, Mr Stedman embarked on a rambling attack on the man who had asked the questions, and answered none of his questions. Instead, he offered a clutch of inane statements; the most inane of which was this continuing absurdity that the Taieri Community will contribute a sum of $7.5M upfront to this fanciful project. Mr Stedman and his Trust have offered nothing to support this absurd claim. At a personal level, I am amongst those who would love a new pool; in the same way that I would love to own a Lamborghini. The reality is that I cannot afford a Lamborghini in the same way that I can’t afford the impact that a further debt ‘funded’ project will have on my rates bill.

Sincerely

Maurice Prendergast
Wingatui

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

3 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, DVML, Economics, Geography, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, ODT, Otago Daily Times, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | March 12, 2015 · 8:02 pm

Snaky Stedman —not answering basic questions Dunedin ratepayers must ask

R. J. Sim of Mosgiel is asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS

Note the acute resemblance Mr Stedman has to Malcolm Farry when trying to sell the Stadium project. When backed into a corner on spurious claims, turns nasty and defensive. Boardroom games and hissy fits. Can’t wait until “Pool Guy” trots out the Hi-Vis vest, little black pants and a white hard hat, just like Malc! Assuming DCC and the GOBs duckshove the project through.

ODT 12.3.15 (page 14)

██ Two of the speeches made at the Stop The Stadium public meeting, Dunedin Town Hall, on 29 March 2009:
● Michael Stedman
● Dave Cull

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Mosgiel pool trust PLAINLY hasn’t got ‘$7.5M community support’

Received from Rob Hamlin
Wed, 11 Mar 2015 at 10:56 a.m.

Another gem from the ODT today on the Mosgiel Pool repeating the ‘community is willing to pay $7.5 million’ mantra:

Community urged to push for Mosgiel pool – http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/335835/community-urged-push-mosgiel-pool

I posted the following comment:

Mr Stedman says:

“The issue of funding is significant … although the community is willing to put in $7.5 million, or 50%, it certainly doesn’t mean it is close to being a done deal…”

As I have said previously there is no reliable public evidence that this ‘community’ is prepared to put in this money. The Pool Trust’s previously secret, but publicly funded, research report relies upon a small group of wealthy people to contribute nearly all of this money, with less than 100 individuals contributing the lion’s share, and one unnamed individual expected to donate $1.5 million.

In fact, the wider ‘community’ cum catchment in question has yet to be properly defined, which is a necessary precursor to reliable research based upon systematic sampling to gauge their opinions and specific intention to donate to and use this facility. Until this is done, any statement that the “community is willing to donate $7.5 million” is conjecture.

I have noted this lack of support on numerous occasions, and I am very concerned that the Otago Daily Times continues to repeatedly print this very specific sounding but currently unsupported assertion unqualified and unchallenged – pretty much as a statement of fact.

There is a well-known adage that if you repeat something often enough and loudly enough then it will become the truth, regardless of its actual veracity. This is unfortunately an observable phenomenon as far as public perception is concerned, but reality can only be repelled for so long before it rudely intrudes upon such pleasant reveries.

The assertion that this undefined ‘community’ is prepared to pay $7.5 million for a pool facility, when reinforced by the Otago Daily Times’ repeated publication of it, may lead to a ‘deal being done’ on the basis of a misconception created in the minds of our councillors and the community – whoever that community may actually be.

Reality, if it is different from the assertion, may only intrude after such a deal is done – which would be unfortunate if the Council gets itself and its ratepayers hooked on some commitment to pay into this proposal before this reality-intrusion occurs.

This damage would only be increased by any commitment by the Council to underwrite ‘the Community’s’ own fundraising for $7.5 million without further research to establish the community’s (either the wider Mosgiel or narrower rich groups’ intentions to donate this amount).

Underwriting fundraising is actually impossible, as the very act of underwriting a specific fundraising figure means that those funds have then been raised, and everybody involved in such fundraising, both donors and fundraisers, can put their feet up and wait for the underwriter to cough up the full underwritten amount. Councils have been caught this way before.

I am too much of a realist to believe that any further research on the extent of the Mosgiel community’s FISCAL support for this project will be done before a ‘deal is done’. Recent statements by the Mayor to the effect that something is going to happen in the next five years are inconsistent with the Mosgiel Pool remaining as an unfunded item in the long-term (10 year) plan, and that suggests that a funding ‘deal’ of some sort is imminent.

Given that a deal may well be happening quite soon, and that further research seems unlikely, the Council can actually control the risks to the ratepayers of any such deal, by insisting on certain specific conditions as part of it. Here they are:

1) The Council will make no commitment to fund construction until a design for the pool is finalised, reliable estimates for construction are in place, and (ABOVE ALL) a site for the pool has been agreed upon, secured, all necessary zonings are in place and consents have been issued.

2) The Council will not commit funds unless the total identified and unfunded costs of the project at the point of commitment are $15 million or less.

3) Absolutely no variations to the agreed pool plan/site will be allowed once funds are committed.

4) The Council will agree to pay in $7.5 million subject to the above conditions, but absolutely no money will be paid, and no legally binding commitment of the above nature will be made by the Council until the Pool Trust can deliver legally binding third-party funding commitments of the correct specification that total more than $7.5 million.

5) The Pool Trust must acquire legally binding commitments (pledges) to pay, subject to the proviso that these commitments (pledges) only become binding once:

a) The total raised by the Pool Trust exceeds $7.5 million on or before a date that is common to all such commitments (pledges).

b) Conditions 1-3 above are met by the Pool Trust and the Council commits to pay its $7.5 million on a (later) date that is common to all pledges.

So how will this work? Well let’s say that the Pool Trust’s pledge contracts name a date of 31 December 2016. If the Pool Trust’s pledged sum at 4.55pm on that day stands at $7,499,995, then at the stroke of 5.00pm, the private pledges and Council commitment all become void, and the deals with both donors and Council have to be renegotiated – Hard, but fair.

However, if at 4.59pm Mrs Buggins pledges an additional ten bucks, then the sum at the stroke of 5.00pm will stand at $7,500,005. Mrs Buggins, all the other pledgers and the Council are at that moment committed, subject to the Pool Trust meeting conditions 1-3 defined by Council by the second date (say 31 December 2017).

If conditions 1-3 have not already been met and acknowledged by the Council then everybody is fully committed at this point, and the fully funded proposal can then proceed. If conditions 1-3 are not met at this point, and the project subsequently relocates, falls over or blows out in some other way, then once again all potential donors are off the hook if the Council does not finally commit before 5.00pm on 31 December 2017.

I consider these conditions to be reasonable, and for the Council not to insist upon them as a requirement for funding, with or without further research, would in my opinion be an act of recklessness.

These conditions should also be perfectly acceptable for the Pool Trust. If they are truly confident that the ‘Mosgiel Community’ will give them $7.5 million, and they can build this facility where they say they are going to for $15 million, then they should be equally confident of meeting these Council funding conditions without difficulty, and of then proceeding with the construction of this facility as planned.

[ends]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: cicc.tv – Michael Stedman, chair of the Taieri Community Facilities Trust (“the Mosgiel pool trust”), tweaked by whatifdunedin

31 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Highlanders, Media, Name, New Zealand, NZRU, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Operating costs, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | March 6, 2015 · 11:25 am

Propaganda from trust for Taieri pool project #Mosgiel

Updated post Sat, 7 Mar 2015 at 1:54 p.m.

██ RE: Market research and commercial feasibility
Dr Rob Hamlin, in a comment published early this morning at ODT Online and at What if? Dunedin, has offered his services to DCC, to conduct a referendum for the “entire Mosgiel community” to help determine the commercial feasibility (affordability) of the proposed Taieri Aquatic Centre.

Men who swim [kpbs.org] —professional rugby boys growing into role?!

MODEL ADOPTED BY TAIERI COMMUNITY FACILITIES TRUST (TCFT):
STADIUM 2 (CSCT)*

—

From DCC information available, the proposed pool complex will cost a lot more than the $15M that trust chairman Michael Stedman cites. Council staff have produced comparative figures showing the pool trust has VASTLY underestimated costs including operationals.

For every one million dollars expended there is a consequential 1% rise in rates. This in a city plagued by rate increases running ahead of inflation (presently at 1%).

The Mayor of Dunedin has no particular mandate to speak on Council’s (unknown) position in regards to the pool proposal at this time, given there are insufficient facts to base decisions on. The Mayor has stated on local television that a new swimming pool complex at Mosgiel is likely to be developed within the next five years.

The Mosgiel-Taieri and Dunedin Communities have NOT been canvassed with the full financial impacts known. Rebel-rousing with interest groups and an online survey that most people don’t know about is NOT full community consultation.

Proposed Location: Memorial Park, Mosgiel. Is this the best location for the city’s resident southern population (demographics) requiring pool services? Don’t think so.

There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that the Community can foot $7.5M towards the unknown capital cost of the pool build.

*Carisbrook Stadium Charitable Trust, still active – headed by Malcolm Farry

—

“The issue of funding is significant . . . although the community is willing to put in $7.5 million, or 50%, it certainly doesn’t mean it is close to being a done deal.” –Stedman, TCFT

### ODT Online Fri, 6 Mar 2015
Residents urged to continue push for Mosgiel pool
By Shawn McAvinue
Taieri residents need to continue making their voices heard if they want a $15 million pool facility in Mosgiel to proceed, Taieri Communities Facilities Trust chairman Michael Stedman says. […] Mr Stedman received more than 100 letters of support from sports groups and organisations and was “blown away” by about 2500 people completing an online survey on the pool.”
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

18 Comments

Filed under Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Highlanders, Hot air, Media, Name, NZRU, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | March 2, 2015 · 12:30 pm

DCC: Mosgiel Pool private workshop Tuesday (tomorrow)

Updated post Wed 4 Mar 2015 at 7:55 p.m.

According to Mayor Cull all on his lonesome….

### dunedintv.co.nz March 4, 2015 – 7:03pm
Mosgiel pool development expected within five years
A new swimming pool complex at Mosgiel is likely to be developed within the next five years. That’s the expectation of Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, following a planning workshop on the proposal. He says there’s likely to be a crucial decision made even sooner.
Video

—

Proposed Taieri Aquatic Centre [click to enlarge]

█ Taieri Community Facilities Trust (aka ‘Pooling Together’) — Who we are

—

### ODT Online Sun, 1 Mar 2015
Workshop to discuss Mosgiel pool options
Source: The Star [primary: DCC media release 24.2.15]
Dunedin City Councillors and the Taieri Communities Facilities Trust (TCFT) will hold a workshop on Tuesday to discuss proposals to build a new pool in Mosgiel. Mayor Dave Cull said the workshop, on March 3, would be an opportunity to discuss the framework around which the decision-making process needs to be based.
During Long Term Plan (LTP) discussions last month, the council agreed to include information on two-pool, three-pool and four-pool Mosgiel Pool options as unfunded options in the LTP consultation document for public feedback in March and April.
Read more

—

RESPONSE
Submitted to ODT Online. Not published.

Private facilities trust
new
Submitted by ej kerr on Sun, 01/03/2015 – 6:24pm.

TCFT is a private trust, its trustee board has not been democratically elected; the trust does not represent the Mosgiel-Taieri community or indeed the Dunedin community, comprising all residents and ratepayers.

Based on two reports from the trust to DCC (here and here, the second being a revision), both dated 21.01.15, there appears to have been no thorough community consultation whatsoever. The reports, as reviewed by council staff, appear to hold little credence in terms of identified issues and options, and that old chestnut, affordability (or not).

Critically accurate budget costings are not provided.

Projected figures would need to be realistic before full and proper community consultation occurs – but which ‘community(s)’ is it for canvass?

At this stage, to emphasise, the figures appear to be both contrived and substantially deficient. But there are wider matters too, for our collective consideration, affecting the future of the Mosgiel-Taieri area in relation to the greater city area which are sidestepped or completely omitted.

The idea that the trust (with help of council politicians and old boy networks?) is bulldozing to get a pool project budget line into the Long Term Plan is all rather previous, given their lobbying appears to be based on very poor homework akin to winks nudges between self-interested cronies, including Mosgiel-Taieri housing developers (effecting sprawl) and the local business association (mainstreet impresarios).

This ‘much of a fuss’ politicking isn’t helped by recent statements coming from trust chairman Michael Stedman, and the explicit two party / three party confusions of the latest council media release. Mr Stedman knows full well the mounting pressures of the stadium project on council debt levels and service delivery, with consequent erosion of ratepayers’ private wealth as our local population ages. Yet, was he ecstatically happy to compound all that by mustering those who would dive into a pool project for (only guessing) ‘elites’, without checking depth or other safety considerations for the already lumbered Dunedin community. Ah, the true mark of a leader.

—

█ The trust’s initial intention to meet with members of the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board? Invitation lost in the mail.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Scanned images: These renders by Baker Garden Architects were presented in a project report from the Taieri Community Facilities Trust to the Council during pre-draft Long Term Plan 2015/16 meetings in January. Extra copies were provided for the public gallery. [public domain]

18 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, CST, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Geography, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, ORFU, People, Pics, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | February 20, 2015 · 10:07 pm

Taieri Aquatic Centre: Second try for SECRET meeting —hosted by Mayor

Remember this?
█ 10.2.15 Dunedin City Councillors invited to Secret Meeting #Mosgiel

—

How that SECRET meeting was abandoned after being exposed by What if? Dunedin…
█ 13.2.15 ‘Taieri Aquatic Centre’, email from M. Stedman via B. Feather

The email of 13 February indicated the next meeting would include the public: “The benefits of council and the community talking to each over major initiatives can’t be over stated.”

—

The latest email (below) suggests a change of tactics.

This is evidence of a ‘new’ SECRET meeting, at the instigation of Mayor Cull !!
(What if? received two copies of the email, leaks….)

A public-excluded workshop for a +$17 million pool complex, a facility designed to line the pockets of private developers (responsible for unfettered housing sprawl on the Taieri) and the good old boys’ whose businesses line the Mosgiel mainstreet —with lashings of Otago Rugby training time and hydrotherapy sessions. To be at Ratepayers’ expense, entirely.

Why is Mayor Cull involved in organising this workshop at 6pm. Will Council staff be paid overtime for their attendance. Why is Mayor Cull involved in this at all when it appears there’s no Council funding in the Long Term Plan (LTP) for new pools at Mosgiel. What’s going on.

We all know how public private partnerships (PPP) fail at the expense of ratepayers and taxpayers. This is well documented nationally and internationally. Be warned. The sleazy Mosgiel/Dunedin crew are hardly honest venture philanthropists; and Dunedin City Council is a lie a minute in the care and presentation of its annual reports.

—

Email received.
Fri, 20 Feb 2015 at 8:36 p.m.

From: Monique Elleboode [DCC]
Sent: Friday, 20 February 2015 12:56 p.m.
To: Community Board – Mosgiel Taieri 2013-2016
Subject: Taieri Community Facilities Trust – workshop – Tuesday 3 March, at 6pm, Plaza Conference Room

Dear All

The Mayor, together with the Chair of the Taieri Community Facilities Trust, invite you to a workshop with members of the Taieri Community Facilities Trust to discuss the decision making frame work (sic) around the proposed Mosgiel Aquatic Facility.

Council staff will give a presentation covering areas including the Spatial Plan, Council Strategic framework, New Zealand Aquatic facility development guidelines and implications for Mosgiel, options and financial implications.

This workshop takes place on Tuesday 3 March at 6pm, in the Plaza Conference Room, on the Ground Floor of the Civic Centre Building, the Octagon, Dunedin.

Please confirm your attendance back with Monique, 474 3855, or monique.elleboode @dcc.govt.nz
Thank you
Monique
Monique Elleboode
Personal Assistant to the Mayor of Dunedin
Dunedin City Council

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: kpbs.org – Men who swim

34 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Hot air, Name, New Zealand, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin swimming pools, Good Old Boys (GOBs), GREED, High class soils, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | February 13, 2015 · 6:09 pm

‘Taieri Aquatic Centre’, email from M. Stedman via B. Feather

Received Fri, 13 Feb 2015 at 5:43 p.m.
BLACK FRIDAY with screwy light

—

From: Bill Feather [Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board]
Sent: Friday, 13 February 2015 1:19 p.m.
To: Blackie Catlow; Martin Dillon; Sarah Nitis; Grace Ockwell [DCC]; Maurice Prendergast; Mick Reece [DCC]; Mark Willis; Kate Wilson [Councillor];
Subject: FW: Invitation to discuss the Spatial Plan meeting date to be rescheduled

—– Forwarded Message
From: Michael Stedman
Sent: Friday, 13 February 2015 10:15 a.m.
To: Bill Feather
Subject: Fwd: Invitation to discuss the Spatial Plan

The meeting with the Taieri Community Facilities Trust to discus (sic) the Spatial Plan ands it’s (sic) potential impact of the proposed Aquatic Centre on the (sic) Tuesday the 17th is to be rescheduled and broadened.

After extremely useful discussions with Mayor Dave Cull we have agreed to reschedule and expend (sic) the scope of the meeting.

Dave, and I agree, felt a wider and fuller discussion about the proposal would assist everyone. To that end Dave will ask Staff to prepare a presentation on all the areas that need to be discussed and considered.

I am delighted at the prospect of a wider discussion. The benefits of Council and the Community talking to each over major initiatives can’t be overstated and continues the immensely valuable relationship the Trust has established with both Councillors and Staff.

The proposed date will be sometime in early March.

Regards
Michael Stedman
Chair [Taieri Community Facilities Trust]
—— End of Forwarded Message

*Italics and brackets added by whatifdunedin

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

7 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Hot air, Name, New Zealand, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

Tagged as Back-pedalling, Backroom deals, Bill Feather, Council debt CRISIS, Council subsidies, Councillors, DCC, Developers, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin swimming pools, GREED, High class soils, Lobbying, Mayor Daaave Cull, Meetings, Michael Stedman, Mosgiel, Mosgiel Business Association, Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board, Pearl of the Plain, Personal gain, Pooling Together, Ratepayers and Residents, Real Estate, Retailers, Rorts, Secret meetings, Stadium funding model, Swimming pools, Taieri, Taieri Aquatic Centre, Taieri Community Facilities Trust, Taieri housing sprawl, WANAKA at Mosgiel

by Elizabeth | November 9, 2013 · 12:04 pm

DCC: Appointing a new chief executive

Cr John Bezett contacted ODT yesterday concerned the recruitment process was being rushed.

### ODT Online Sat, 9 Nov 2013
Picking council CEO gets tense
By Chris Morris
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull faces a fresh political scrap with some of his councillors over the search for the Dunedin City Council’s next chief executive. The political sniping began after Mr Cull told the Otago Daily Times on Thursday he expected a replacement for outgoing chief executive Paul Orders to be confirmed by November 21 “at the very latest”.
Read more

—

CORRESPONDENCE
Four forwarded messages – individual email addresses removed. -Eds

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 15:55:45 +1300
To: Chris Morris [ODT]
Cc: Mayor Dave Cull, Kate Wilson, Richard Thomson, Chris Staynes, John Bezett, Lee Vandervis, Hilary Calvert, Doug Hall, Andrew Whiley, Aaron Hawkins, Mike Lord, David Benson-Pope, Neville Peat, Andrew Noone, Jinty MacTavish
Conversation: Paul Orders appointment process
Subject: Re: Paul Orders appointment process

Hi Chris,

I share Councillor Bezett’s concerns and have emailed staff to find out what has happened. [See forwarded email that follows]
The shortest-ever DCC CEO search process which ran with its first ad on 28th September but with applications closing two weeks later on 11th of October remains a great concern, suggesting predetermination and effectively preventing input into the CEO job description and search process by the 7 new Council members.
Today’s further rush in letting CEO Orders go before his 3 month contractual let-out seems to be another example of Mayoral decisions fast-tracking the CEO search process, and failing to get the most from CEO Orders before he goes.
I believe that all of these decisions should be all of Council decisions, as the appointment of a CEO is the supremely important and only staff appointment that Councillors are supposed to make.

Cheers,
Lee

—

On 8/11/13 2:06 PM, “Chris Morris” [ODT] wrote:

Hi Lee,

John Bezett rang me today to express concern at the Mayor’s comments (reported in today’s paper) on the recruitment process to replace Paul Orders. Cull said he hoped for an announcement by the 21st “at the very latest”. Bezett says that’s rushing it, it’s impracticable, unseemly, etc and he doubts the recruitment process can be concluded by then. He won’t comment on what he thinks is behind the apparent rush, though.

You’ve obviously already made your views clear on this, but I’m seeking comment from all councillors on whether they share those concerns or not – feel free to comment today…

Chris.

—— End of Forwarded Message

Continue reading →

10 Comments

Filed under Business, DCC, DCHL, Democracy, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Politics, What stadium

Tagged as Applicants, Appointments, Chief Executive, Councillors, DCC, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Employment contracts, External candidates, In-house appointment, Mayor, Meetings, Recruitment, Shortlist

by Elizabeth | November 7, 2013 · 10:59 am

Christchurch City Council live streams meetings

Christchurch City Council – Media Release
Council meetings now online

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

The Christchurch City Council’s first full meeting on Thursday will be streamed live over the internet and be available to watch at anytime through the Council website.

The Council’s twice monthly meetings have always been open to the public but in a new spirit of openness and transparency, anyone can now watch Christchurch’s local government in action online when and where they want.

Chair of the Council’s Community Committee, Councillor Yani Johanson says: “The public now has the chance to the watch the issues debated by the Council, and get a better understanding of the reasons behind the Council’s decisions. This Council wants to make it possible for more residents to see their Council at work, and make it easier for people to get information on Council matters that affect them and their communities. The need for this was reinforced by the Communications Audit Review and it is great to see that it happened.”

Residents will be able to view any full Council meetings both live and on-demand the day after each meeting on their internet enabled computers, tablets or smart phones. They can also search for specific agenda subjects that they are interested in, replay the debates and see how Councillors voted.

Christchurch based Tandem Studios has been selected as a provider for the live streaming and storage of all Council meetings archived in the future.

The Christchurch City Council is among the first councils in New Zealand to offer this service, along with Taupo and New Plymouth District Councils, and Hamilton City Council.

See http://councillive.ccc.govt.nz/ for further information.

—

Related Posts and Comments:
29.10.13 DCC: First meeting, tidy or not
21.3.13 Public service causing “paralysis of democracy” with OIA requests

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: vecto.rs – Cartoon man using video by Ron Leishman
Filming with Charles…

1 Comment

Filed under Business, Democracy, Geography, Inspiration, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Politics

Tagged as Accountability, CCC, Christchurch City Council, Council meetings, Councillors, Live streaming, Local government, Meetings, Residents and ratepayers, Transparency, Video

by Elizabeth | October 29, 2013 · 11:09 am

DCC: First meeting, tidy or not

### ODT Online Tue, 29 Oct 2013
First test for Cull as council meets
By Chris Morris
Support for Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull’s appointments will be put to the test when councillors take their seats for the first time in public today. The new council – featuring seven new faces compared with the last term – will hold its inaugural meeting this afternoon. One of the first orders of business, after councillors are sworn in, will be to consider reports outlining Mr Cull’s appointments to positions of responsibility and changes to the committee structure.
[The] largely-procedural meeting will include reports from Mr Cull on the council’s revamped committee structure, membership and appointments to outside organisations.*
The meeting will also mark the contributions of two long-serving city councillors, Paul Hudson and Teresa Stevenson, after both stood unsuccessfully for another term.
Read more

—

● Information on the new Councillors will be available at the DCC website from 8 November 2013.

Excerpt. See page 3 of the council report ‘Committee Structure and Membership’ listed below:

*We note from the following reports that Cr Lee Vendervis has been given NO appointments to outside organisations. Mayor Cull is being punitive, if not impolitic and absurdly petulant.

—

Dunedin City Council
INAUGURAL MEETING, 2013-16 TRIENNIUM
Tuesday, 29 October 2013, 1.00 PM
Council Chamber, Municipal Chambers

Agenda – Council – 29/10/2013 (PDF, 82 KB) – View as HTML
Inaugural Meeting

Report – Council – 29/10/2013 (PDF, 71 KB) – View as HTML
Appointment to Outside Organisations

Report – Council – 29/10/2013 (PDF, 228 KB) – View as HTML
Committee Structure and Membership

Report – Council – 29/10/2013 (PDF, 100 KB) – View as HTML
Legislation

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

23 Comments

Filed under Business, DCC, Economics, Media, Name, People, Politics, Project management, What stadium

Tagged as Appointments, Chairships, Councillors, DCC, Dunedin, Dunedin City Council, Mayor, Meetings

by Elizabeth | September 15, 2013 · 2:30 pm

North East Valley: Community-led development project

New Zealand is trying to find its way back to grassroots community development, with Dunedin’s Northeast Valley one of five government-funded trials nationally.

### ODT Online Sun, 15 Sep 2013
Building a sense of community in Northeast Valley
By Bruce Munro
Throughout New Zealand, including in government circles, the tide is rising with a desire to see neighbourhoods once again creating their own strong and sustainable vibrant communities. Insiders call it community-led development, or just CLD. It is the opposite of both individual apathy and top-down attempts to solve community ills.

It is what 60 years ago was simply called ”being neighbourly”, ”taking the bull by the horns” and ”doing our bit”.

In the 21st century, however, it is an untried, risky but potentially better way of strengthening social fabric and building resilience in the face of increasing community fragmentation and looming economic and ecological uncertainties. So the Department of Internal Affairs, having decided it should be able to get more bang for its $18 million-per-year community funding buck, has launched a trial of the community-led development approach.
Five communities have been selected for their high unemployment or low average income; sizeable Maori, Pacific Island or ethnic minority communities; multiple issues to address; strengths to build on; and current or potential leaders to spearhead the charge.
North East Valley was the only South Island community chosen. The other triallists are Whirinaki in Northland, Mount Roskill in Auckland, Mangakino, north of Taupo, and Cannons Creek/Waitangirua, east of Porirua.

Tag Archives: Meetings

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this:

Go on share this:

Like this: