“We talked earlier about Delta being the story that keeps giving, and that’s the case”.
“We’ve got a group of seven Saddle Hill property owners who, we understand, are suing Delta for more than two million dollars, because they believe they [Delta] were to blame for the fire back in 2015, quite a significant fire around Saddle Hill area, [with] something like ten buildings including garages damaged.
“They’re not saying too much about their claims but we understand it’s to do with mismanagement of some safety equipment in the power line there, branches fell on the lines which started the fire and some sort of switch shouldn’t have turned back on, but did…..”
News presenter Craig Storey: “We’ll see you in court.”
Craig Page: “Exactly.”
****
Saddle Hill fire 7 Oct 2015 [JSNNZ at imgur.com]
TheManCave Published on Oct 6, 2015 Large fire on Saddle Hill Dunedin 2015
A large fire close to Dunedin city on Saddle Hill with multiple fire engines and helicopters with monsoon bucket, with very high winds fanning it and making it hard to get under control.
****
### ODT Online Wed, 14 Oct 2015 Saddle Hill fire warning to Taieri residents
By Timothy Brown
….The warning of a hot, dry El Nino summer and last week’s Saddle Hill blaze should remind all residents to prepare for the worst and be vigilant, Otago Rural Fire Authority deputy principal rural fire officer Graeme Still says. Nine structures – including two homes – were damaged by the blaze which swept through between 50ha and 100ha of land and put one woman in Dunedin Hospital with serious throat burns. “People need to just be aware,” Mr Still said. “Keep a bit of defensible space around their structures, especially living in the rural areas. Keep their lawns mowed and spouting clear of debris.” Those carrying out permitted burns needed to watch the fire danger and ensure their fires were out. […] The Saddle Hill fire now appeared to be under control, but firefighters would maintain a watch on it until the area received heavy rain. Read more + Images
### ODT Online Thu, 28 July 2016 Saddle Hill fire ‘chaotic’ – review
By Shawn McAvinue
An operational review of the “erratic” Saddle Hill fire in Dunedin last year has revealed the first ground crews at the scene had to battle the blaze for more than two hours with “chaotic” communication, including cluttered radio channels, forcing many key decisions to be made by cellphone. A key finding of the review – undertaken by the Otago Rural Fire Authority (ORFA) and New Zealand Fire Service – was the communication between fire crews on the ground was compromised during the first hours of the fire. The crews were called to a fire in Morris Rd at 1.51pm on October 7 last year. Read more
[click to enlarge] Octagon taxi rank [dunedin.govt.nz] – orange overlay by whatifdunedin (drinking holes / hospitality)
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
New trial site for evening taxi rank
This item was published on 22 Aug 2016
A new location for the evening taxi rank in the Octagon will be trialled for three months. From tomorrow, the evening taxi rank will move from outside the Municipal Chambers and Civic Centre to the central lane of the Octagon, where tour bus parking has been provided. The rank will operate from 7pm to 7am, Monday to Sunday. During the day time, the taxi rank will operate from the current location outside the Municipal Chambers and Civic Centre. Dunedin City Council Acting Group Manager Transport Richard Saunders says the covered walkway will provide shelter for people waiting for taxis. There will also be a sign to show where the taxi stand is and the area is monitored by CCTV.
“This proposal has been discussed with taxi companies, local businesses and the Police, and there is a lot of support for the trial. The trial site has several advantages over the current site and we expect it to be popular with the public too.” –Saunders
DCC staff have talked with the mobile traders who use that space during the day and the trial will not affect their use of the area. Mr Saunders says at the end of the trial, staff will discuss the results with taxi companies, the Police and local businesses before deciding whether to make it a permanent move.
Contact Richard Saunders, Acting Group Manager Transport on 03 477 4000.
Mon, 2 May 2016 ODT: Stabbing: ‘What is this place coming to?’
The stabbing of a 21-year-old man in central Dunedin early yesterday has left the man who rushed to his aid questioning the state of his city. Detective Sergeant Chris Henderson said the victim was taken to Dunedin Hospital after being stabbed in the neck and back outside the The Bottle-O store on the corner of Princes St and Moray Pl about 3.30am.
****
DUNEDIN IS UP THERE (2015 statistics)
### newshub.co.nz Mon, 2 May 2016 at 4:45 p.m. NZ’s most violent city spots revealed
By Lisa Owen
A Newshub investigation has revealed Auckland neighbourhoods dominate a leaderboard of the most violent city hot spots in the country. Statistics New Zealand has mapped 2015 police crime data, released to Newshub under the Official Information Act, to show the areas with the highest number of assaults, sexual assaults and robberies in public places. The crimes include anything from rape to being beaten up or being robbed of your cellphone at knife-point. Three of the five most violent city areas (precincts where there are more than 3000 residents) are in Auckland’s CBD. […] *By overlaying population data in the zones where crime has occurred, Statistics NZ has been able to work out the national average for incidents of public place violence. *Article uses 2015 statistics of victimisations by assault, sexual assault and robbery in public places. Read more + VIDEO
█ Dunedin = No. 7 on New Zealand’s top ten most violent city hot spots
The only South Island hotspot, the area running north from the Octagon. Newshub
█ For more, enter the term *octagon* in the search box at right.
—
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.
From: Clare Curran [Dunedin South MP] Subject: Notes from the Meeting with DCC on 3 May Date: Fri, 6 May 2016 00:31:05 +0000 To:
Dear everyone
Further to my last email here is the notes taken by office from the meeting with the Mayor and senior Council management on 3 May.
This is to keep you informed and for transparency purposes.
A new meeting date will be set up soon and I will keep you all informed
Kind regards
Clare Curran
[begins]
Notes from meeting 3 May 2016
South Dunedin Action Group (SDAG) and mayor + senior management
Mayor Cull
– acknowledged that there was collective concern, that they were pleased to meet with the group and that the meeting provided the best place to provide clarifications
– Acknowledged that the process had been lengthy and frustrating, and “sloppy”
– Council was now very sceptical about evidence relating to the flood and had been let down. He added that they would not make any changes to anything without evidence.
– If the event occurred again even with the proper maintenance there would have been severe flooding
– Determined to make the system we have work the best that it can
– Agreed need another mechanism other than the ODT to communicate with the community
– Will consider the discussion and come back with a proposal for the next meeting with a smaller group
Laura McElhone. Group Manager Water and Waste
– All mudtanks had been cleaned in South Dunedin (marked with green spray)
– Screen has been redesigned at pumping station, work about to go to tender, installation expected July/August
– Screen currently cleaned weekly by contract with photograph for proof
– Proposed screen modifications would see a 4 part screen to allow for safer and easier cleaning – could not confirm bar spacing
– Approx. 100 manholes had been lifted (Oct/Nov 2015) to identify any siltation – none identified as a problem – map can be provided of manholes checked – this exercise will be repeated in Oct/Nov 2016
– Confirmed that with the work carried out or in progress expected reduction in level of water would be about 200mm – however difficult to predict because too many variable to undertake modelling
– On issue of foul sewage infiltration confirmed that work being undertaken in Kaikorai Valley was to reduce the pressure on the system before it came through to Caversham
– On the issue of diverting foul sewage to Green Island treatment works stated that it was only able to handle a certain amount as it had been set up for a different type of sewage
– With regard to pumping out to sea, confirmed that they now know who to contact at the ORC and will maintain valves to enable this to happen if necessary
– Advised Musselburgh pumping capacity cannot run at maximum [this is disputed by Darrel]
– Forecast received on 2 June was for 1/3 less rain – only after midday on 3 June did they receive prediction on the size of the event
– Definitely had contractors and staff monitoring and out in South Dunedin, but did not have enough people to cover the scale of event
– Door-knocking by DCC did not record the number of flooded houses [DCC has not been back to check]
– 1968 flood had two peaks so had time to recover [disputed by Darrel]
– Too many variables to accurately measure topographical data
– Understand need to reassure and quantify but have to be careful not to give false impression
– Advised that 4/5 engineers employed in planning and 6/7 at the delivery end – acknowledged the identified lack of a storm water specialist – currently under recruitment
Ruth Stokes. Infrastructure and Networks General Manager
– Contractors have been asked to verify status of periphery areas
– Need to build resilience in the community – have recognised need to contact secondary schools and community groups and extend beyond the ‘What’s the plan Stan” initiative
Sue Bidrose. Chief Executive
– Unable to provide a figure on the number of roads closed by DCC as the water washed the cones away.
– Civil defence, Fire and Police all advised DCC that only 20-30 houses had been flooded – suggested that volunteers sandbagging were not part of the information loop and therefore message did not get through to emergency services
Kate Wilson. Councillor
– Have been advocating for a rain radar for a number of years on the Taieri
David B-P. Councillor
– Not just South Dunedin affected but other areas also, we need answers to give the community reassurance that the system is operating
[ends]
█ For more enter the term *flood* in the search box at right.
Election Year : The following post is offered in the public interest. -Eds
Received today.
From: Hilary Calvert To: Dave Cull Cc: Golds [Godfrey Dodd], All Elected Members, Vaughan Elder [ODT] Subject: Re: Flooding
Thanks for copying us in.
May we know when you requested that the mudtanks were cleaned thoroughly?
I had thought that it was an initiative from Ruth Stokes, as part of the looking into and reporting back on the flood.
I am also interested in your “fact” that the stormwater system is not capable even at optimal condition and performance……. Do you mean that it was not then, or that it would not be even if we made adjustments and sorted out the mudtanks and fixed the screen/pump and made changes which we have signalled to the general stormwater system which flows through South Dunedin?
If council modelling showed the extent of the flooding would be precisely as it was in the event of that magnitude, what relevance had the problems with the screen/pump and the mudtanks? I guess all the problems in South Dunedin during the flood were localised problems and many of them as a result of water lying about, so did our modelling show that as well?
I understood that there was still more work to be done to understand what we could best do particularly about the interconnection between the water from various sources and what we could afford of the options available.
Do you see the governance part of the Council completely blameless in this process?
Since you have apparently arranged for the mudtanks to be cleared, surely you/we could have done something sooner.
Do we have a role at all in your view, apart from advising people they are wrong when it turns out we may have incomplete information?
As seems true for all of the information surrounding this horrible flood, the more information we receive the more questions we have.
Kind regards,
Hilary
_______________________________
On 26/04/2016, at 5:30 AM, Dave Cull wrote:
Dear Mr Dodd,
Thank you for your email. I am puzzled by the apparent assertion that I have blamed the 2015 June flooding on Climate Change. While that may be the root cause I don’t recall saying that. The cause of the flooding, as has finally been comprehensively reported (for a meeting today) was the fact that the stormwater system in South Dunedin is not capable, even at optimum condition and performance, of coping with the amount of rain that fell over that period. That is a simple calculation given the capacity of the system in both volume and pumping terms, and the severity of the event. The mudbank maintenance failure was reprehensible from both a contractor and staff oversight perspective, especially as exactly the same issue had been raised some four years ago and assurances given that it would not happen again. The fact that some mudbanks were not up to scratch may have caused some localised problems and perhaps prolonged the water lying, but they did not cause the extent of the flooding. That was exactly as Council’s modelling showed it would be in an event of that magnitude.
Six years ago Council received reports stating (among other conclusions) two things. First that more frequent and severe rain events were likely. Second that the stormwater system in South Dunedin was not capable of handling those. So flooding was very likely. Last year the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment issued a report showing that rising ground water, pushed up by sea level rise will increasingly afflict South Dunedin.
It’s most important to recognise that while stormwater and groundwater can each affect the other, they are different and have different causes.
The failure was operational and managerial as Council was repeatedly assured that maintenance was up to scratch.
Council’s challenge now is to address both stormwater and groundwater issues. We have already, at my request, ensured that the stormwater system is in the best shape possible as winter approaches, by having all the mudbanks cleaned properly. Additionally the screen at the Portobello Rd pumping station, which was blocked by debris carried by the overwhelming amount of water, will be replaced by July.
Council will consider that report which has taken such a frustratingly long time to get to us, and determine the next necessary steps.
At your request I have copied this to all elected members.
Dave Cull
_______________________________
From: Golds [Godfrey Dodd] Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 7:07 PM To: mayor @dcc.govt.nz Subject: FW: Flooding
Dear Mayor
I am sending you this email in that it may make you understand how one ratepayer views your complete failure in the flooding in South Dunedin
WE all know that climate warming is a fact but your glib PR spin and articles in the paper does nothing for your credibility and your lack apology shows that you and the council do not except responsibility for this lack of governance
It is sad that only one of the council appears to have enough bottle to ask you to do in an old fashion way the decent thing
My wish is that you pass this email as part of an agenda item a the next council meeting on how one ratepayer views your lack of understanding in the way a Mayor should carry out his role
I would interested in your reply
Regards
Godfrey Dodd
_______________________________
From: Golds [Godfrey Dodd] Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 10:00 AM To: Andrew Whiley [DCC] Subject: Flooding
Hi Andrew
It is with disappointment reading the failure of governance by the council I was a chairman in those days that was the title of a high school board If the school had a problem which effected the community you had to stand up and take the blame
I do not expect the council elected members to clean mud tanks but when there is failure of this size then the expectation of the community that something is seriously wrong with the governance of the council The glib excuses as regards rise in sea level is the catch cry of the council which you as a member are part of
In my view the council members should of put on gumboots and gone out with the CEO and inspected the mud tanks instead of waiting a year for a report It saddens me to find that people in South Dunedin were not accorded this Instead we had articles written that showed how out of touch the council members were These articles were part of the green PR spin which now blights any decision that this particular council makes All that was needed was clean mud tanks and clear governance by the members of the council not excuses I hope that this is a lesson that you as a council member takes on board when making decisions in the future
Kindest Regards
Godfrey Dodd
—
ODT 25.4.16 (letter to the editor)
Tue, 26 Apr 2016 ODT: Vandervis forcing mud-tank issue [+ Letters]
A series of emails released by Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis show he was raising concerns about the state of Dunedin’s mud-tanks as long ago as 2011. Cr Vandervis said he released the emails because only publicity forced the council to change its ways. “This publicity is going to make sure it really is sorted once and for all this time.” The release of the emails follows a report released by the Dunedin City Council last week into last June’s flood, which found 75% of mud-tanks in South Dunedin were not properly maintained.
Tue, 26 Apr 2016 ODT: Staff apology for mud-tank failure
Council staff were responsible for not properly overseeing mud-tank maintenance in South Dunedin, not councillors or the mayor, a senior staff member says. Council infrastructure and networks general manager Ruth Stokes started today’s council infrastructure services committee meeting by apologising on behalf of council staff for the failings identified in a report on last June’s flood. Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and Crs David Benson-Pope and Lee Vandervis were among those who had raised mud-tank performance prior to the South Dunedin floods, and been given incorrect information by staff. “For that I would like to, on behalf of the executive, apologise,” Ms Stokes. The failure was a management failure and not governance one, she said.
Mayor Cull says he is outraged at the failure of Fulton Hogan and council staff to adequately ensure that the mudtanks were in working condition. He should also be outraged at his own poor leadership and failure to respond to developing problems. Under his leadership the city continued to build up a backlog of worn-out stormwater pipes and equipment waiting for funding to be allocated. With this lack of funding we have seen the inevitable result of a deteriorating stormwater system. The poor state of the stormwater system was the primary cause of the severity of the flooding at Kaikorai, Mosgiel and South Dunedin last year.
This under-funding of the stormwater renewals is not an accident. Every year the DCC Mayor and councillors decide and vote on this spending – and every year they vote to under-fund the stormwater renewals because they think that a new stadium and a new swimming pool and more bicycle lanes are more important than a functioning stormwater system. The Annual Plan shows that the under-funding will continue next year. Expect the deterioration to continue.
Election Year : The following post is offered in the public interest. -Eds
Photo: Paul Allen
New Report [excerpt]—
—
Next meeting of the Infrastructure Services Committee will be held on Tuesday, 26 April 2016 at 1:30 pm or at the conclusion of the Planning and Regulatory Committee meeting (whichever is later) – Edinburgh Room, Municipal Chambers
PUBLIC AGENDA
1 Public Forum (page 4)
2 Apologies (4)
3 Confirmation of Agenda (4)
4 Declaration of Interest (5) PART A REPORTS (Committee has power to decide these matters)
●● 5 South Dunedin Public Infrastructure Performance during June 2015 Flood Event Follow up (6-27)
6 Recycling Markets and Bin Contamination (28)
7 Northern Wastewater Schemes’ Options (34) PART B REPORTS (Committee has power to recommend only on these items
8 Resolution to Stop a Portion of Peel Street, Allanton (44)
9 Road Name – Three Hills Subdivision (54)
PART A REPORTS (Committee has power to decide these matters)
10 Notification of Agenda Items for Consideration by the Chair
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Report on South Dunedin infrastructure performance during June 2015 flood released
This item was published on 20 Apr 2016
The report on the South Dunedin infrastructure performance during the June 2015 flood event was released today as part of the agenda for the Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting next week.
The report concludes that while a number of factors contributed, the main factor was the highest 24-hour rainfall total in Musselburgh since 1923.
General Manager Infrastructure and Networks Ruth Stokes says the report outlines the known challenges with managing the South Dunedin catchment and highlights concerns about the performance of mudtanks and the Portobello Road pumping station during the event.
“Changes in the South Dunedin catchment since the stormwater network was designed, combined with operational challenges and high ground water levels, all contributed to the effects of the extreme rainfall event that occurred in June 2015.”
Mrs Stokes says the report shows that mudtanks weren’t maintained as required. As a result, a number of steps, including a full review and retendering of road maintenance contracts have been adopted. Other measures include accurately capturing data on the status of the mudtanks, a redesign of the Portobello Pumping station screen and the development of a communications plan to inform the community of the local infrastructure challenges and how to best plan for future events.
“However, given the volume of rainfall and the system at capacity during the June event, the water would have been unable to enter the network even if all mudtanks were clear.”
She says the DCC must now look at what measures can be taken to mitigate such events in future.
The DCC will soon be engaging with the community about these issues and what the long term responses might be.
Contact Ruth Stokes, General Manager Infrastructure and Networks on 477 4000.
Here following, reference is made to newspaper items of facts-laden
STRONG OPINION —
This website, What if? Dunedin, and its contributors, MAY reference and offer comment. Three words: Human Rights Legislation.
—
“Let’s sort the systems and the decision-making, get our house in order and get some accountability happening quick-smart.”
### ODT Online Tue, 5 Jan 2016 Lessons must be learnt from flooding The cost of the Dunedin floods is now well over $30million.
By Clare Curran
OPINION The Dunedin floods of June 3 should not have occurred with such devastating effects for so many. But it did. And the lack of response from Dunedin Civil Defence has simply posed more questions than answers. South Dunedin has long been a community of labourers – workers who epitomise the stoic and egalitarian attitude New Zealand prides itself on. It is communities like these which embrace a firm “can-do” attitude, staunch, resilient, and humble. It is for these people, this hard-hit community, along with those in Mosgiel, Brighton and other parts of Dunedin that answers are needed. Read more
—
Clare Curran has summed up well.
A highly recommended read. She’s on the very problem.
█ (Monday) Highly critical of DCC’s response to last June’s Dunedin floods.
█ (Tuesday) Slams the Civil Defence response and calls for accountability.
Yesterdays’s column — no ODT link available:
The infrastructure performance report the Member of Parliament refers to on Monday is available at the DCC website – THE REPORT IS IN PUBLIC DOMAIN [FACT].
Go to http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/
1. Click on the tab Your Council in the top menu bar.
2. In the new window click on Agendas, reports & minutes.
3. In the new window, go to Committee, select Council [in the drop down menu].
4. Enter the date 30/11/2015 in both the From and To date boxes.
5. Enter the Document Type by using the drop down menu, select Report.
6. Enter the word infrastructure in the Keyword box.
7. Click on Search.
The report appears as a downloadable PDF file.
THE REPORT WAS TABLED TO MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS ON 30 NOVEMBER 2015 IN THE OPEN SECTION OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
—
█ Other essential reading – official information released by Dunedin City Council to Elizabeth Kerr:
Otago Daily Times Published on Jun 4, 2015 Raw aerial video of Dunedin Flooding
Video courtesy One News.
█ For more, enter the terms *flood* and *south dunedin* in the search box at right.
—
Respectfully, All
Douglas Field Published Jan 5, 2016 | Republished Aug 17, 2016 Clare on phone
Local MP has had the ‘run around’ from the local authority regarding flooding in South Dunedin.
VOLUNTEERS Those wishing to volunteer their help should call DCC on 477 4000. Staff will take details and contact you when it is established what help is needed and where. DCC general manager (services and development) Simon Pickford asked that volunteers bring their own gumboots. “You are likely to be working in areas that will still have contaminated surface water, so please come prepared. Your help is most welcome, but we need to look after your welfare too. Gloves and any other clean up equipment required will be provided on site.” (ODT Link)
█ People who wanted to donate baking to volunteers were encouraged to go to the welfare centre set up at St James’ Presbyterian Church in King Edward St, South Dunedin, or to the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club.
Civil Defence Welfare Centre
The Civil Defence Welfare Centre in South Dunedin will re-open at 10am this morning. The centre is located in the St James Presbyterian Church Hall at 393 King Edward Street, and welfare and DCC staff will be available if you need advice or assistance.
Kerbside collection
Some streets in flooded areas did not receive a glass recycling collection service yesterday. Kerbside collections will take place as normal today so long as trucks can access streets. Streets missed yesterday including yellow bins on Portobello Road will also be serviced today if trucks can get access. Please put bins and bags out again this morning. Any missed collections where streets cannot be accessed today will be serviced on Saturday.
Rubbish skips
The Dunedin City Council has provided seven skips in the South Dunedin area so that residents can get rid of their flood related rubbish. The skips are located at Hargest Crescent, Surrey Street (2), Macandrew Road (2), Bayview Road (2), and Baker Street (Caversham) by the church.
The existing skips that have been deployed will be changed out from time to time and will also be available over the weekend. Please use these skips for large rubbish only (furniture, carpets etc.) Two more skips are on standby as and when other areas are identified.
Extra rubbish collection – South Dunedin
An extra rubbish collection will be done in South Dunedin today. Any smaller rubbish can be left kerbside. If you can bag it, do so. It does not need to be in a DCC bag today.
Manhole covers
With the recent flooding a number of manhole covers have lifted. If you spot a manhole with a missing cover please contact us with the location details so we can fix this. If you can safely move a smaller cover that has come to rest nearby back in to its rightful place, please do so. Larger (and heavier) manhole covers we will reinstall so please contact us with their location details.
Tracks closed
Parts of Ross Creek Track, the Bullock Track (from Prospect Park to Willowbank) and tracks at Frasers Gully and Meremere Reserve have been closed.
Volunteering
If you are keen to volunteer with the cleanup, please phone the DCC call centre on 477 4000. Customer Services Agency staff will take your details and contact you when it is established what help is needed and where.
Dunedin road closures
As of 10am the following roads were closed:
Portobello Rd – Doon St to Macandrew Bay to clear trees at the Cove. Detour over Castlewood Rd.
Upper Junction Rd – from Mt Cargill Rd to Brick Hill Rd.
Henley Rd.
Highcliff Rd – from Camp Rd To Portobello.
Queens Dr – from Chamberlain St to Como St.
Riccarton Rd – SH87 to Tirohanga Rd.
Portobello Rd – Beaconsfield to Beaconsfield Rd.
Waitati Valley Rd – Ford at RP6800 to end.
Gladfield Rd – Bush Rd to Dukes Rd.
Flagstaff/Whare Flat Rd – Pineapple Track to Silverstream Valley Rd.
Highway closures
As of 10.30am the following highways were closed:
State Highway 90, Pomahaka River Bridge, Glenkenich (flooding and flood damage)
State Highway 1, Concord (slip; southbound offramp is closed)
The flooding in Dunedin is now being described as a one-in-100-year event with about 175 millimetres of rain falling in 24 hours.
Civil defence welfare centre
Emergency services and the Dunedin City Council are urging Dunedin residents whose houses are affected by flooding to contact the DCC on 477 4000.
A civil defence welfare centre has been set up in South Dunedin at the St James Presbyterian Church at 393 King Edward Street. Those needing information and advice can talk to DCC staff and local welfare agency staff at the centre.
All householders are urged to follow the steps outlined by emergency services on how to protect you and your family or friends after flooding:
Skips provided in South Dunedin
The DCC is providing five skips in the South Dunedin area so people can get rid of their flood related rubbish.
The skips are expected to be delivered by mid afternoon and will be located at Hargest Crescent, Surrey Street (2) and Macandrew Road (2). Five more skips are on standby as and when other areas are identified.
Power restored to 150 customers
Aurora Energy advises that power was restored to all 150 consumers in Woodland Avenue, Kinmont Crescent and Gebbie Street in East Taieri at 11:45am and safety checks have been completed.
Power was disconnected yesterday evening to ensure the safety of the public.
Power has also been restored to consumers in Poulters Road (Leith Valley).
Power remains out to around 8 consumers in Shetland Street (Wakari). Delta crews are on site and making repairs.
17 Dunedin roads remain closed
Dunedin City Council staff have been out all night attending to road closures slips and flooding.
While many areas of town still have significant flooding issues much of our roadway is clear for traffic with care.
All city roads are open but with minor slips and detours in place.
Please note severe flooding in South Dunedin.
█ Latest road information
Dunedin bus services update
Concord services are now operating to normal schedule.
All other bus services are operating to normal schedules except the following:
Portobello services are travelling along Highcliff Road and Castlewood St to and from Macandrew Bay and then onto Portobello as usual
St Kilda services are travelling directly to St Kilda via Prince Albert St to avoid surface flooding on Bayview Road and Richardson St
█ For more information please contact the bus call centre on 03 474 0287.
(see ORC online bus alerts)
SCHOOLS
All primary and intermediate schools, and DKA Dunedin Kindergartens from Mosgiel to Port Chalmers to Waikouaiti are closed today, the Otago Primary Principals Association said.
Taieri College, Kings High School and Queens High School are also closed.
Otago Polytechnic’s campus remains open.
RUBBISH COLLECTION
The Dunedin City Council said kerbside rubbish collection would be done this afternoon for areas missed yesterday.
If access is unavailable to the contractors, they will finish collection tomorrow morning.
REST HOMES AND HOSPITALS (via RNZ)
The Southern District Health Board says there are no planned changes to patient clinics or surgery today.
On Wednesday, the Radius Fulton rest home on Hillside Road was evacuated, with staff looking for alternative accommodation for about 75 people.
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Road conditions update
This item was published on 04 Jun 2015
Emergency services and the Dunedin City Council have moved into recovery mode after heavy rain yesterday. All city roads are open but with minor slips and detours in place, but please note there is severe flooding in South Dunedin.
Dunedin City Council Roading Maintenance Engineer Peter Standring says rain continued through the night to 2am in the morning. DCC crews and contractors worked through the night attending to road closures slips and flooding.
“While many areas of town still have significant flooding issues much of our roadway is clear for traffic with care. All city roads are open but with minor slips and detours in place.”
For the most up to date information on closures around our main roads please look on the DCC website.
But please note the following information about roads
● Portobello Rd. – (Macandrew Bay to Dunedin) is closed due to numerous slips , please detour via Castlewood Rd and Highcliff Rd.
● Highcliff rd – is blocked by numerous slips north of Sandymount Rd.
● Brighton Rd. (Green Island to Brighton)- is open with care , watch out for surface flooding ,slips and debris .
● Kaikourai Valley rd – is still blocked at Burnside due to flooding.
● Saddle Hill Rd / Scroggs Hill Rd closed between McMaster Rd & Law Rd due to slips
● State Highway 1 -( Mosgiel to Dunedin) is clear , minor surface flooding .
● Three Mile Hill – flooding has receded and road is open for traffic.
● SH 1 Waitati to Allanton – no restrictions. Surface flooding receding from Andy Bay lights (north bound).
● SH 88 Dunedin to Port Chalmers – Flooding, minor slips. Closed at Sawyers Bay rail over bridge. Cars & light vehicles to follow detour route through Sawyers Bay, flooded area ok for heavy vehicles to pass.
● SH 87 Mosgiel – Flooding has receded from the shopping precinct. Surface flooding at Hagart Alexander Drive intersection.
● SH 87 – No events reported through the night from TREIS. Inspection being undertaken now. Update at 0700 hrs.
● SH 85 Palmerston to Kyeburn – Flooding, Snow/Ice, no restrictions.
● SH 1 Milton – Flooding 1km south of Milton. Closed to light vehicles, no detour route. Ok for 4wds & heavy vehicles to pass.
● The south bound motorway off ramp/link from Lookout Point to Stevenson Rd, Concord has a slip blocking the carriageway. We have closed this road. I’d estimate about 100cu of material. It’s blocking 75% of the carriageway and is located approx. 300m uphill from the Stevenson Rd intersection.
“Motorists need to drive carefully and should expect delays getting to school and work.”
Key messages for the public are:
● Where possible, avoid driving or walking through flooded areas
● If you do have to drive, please drive carefully and be prepared for damaged roads
● There have been some sewage overflows. To keep safe please avoid coming into contact with surface water as it may be contaminated with sewage. If you do come into contact with floodwaters, make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly
● All DCC water supplies are safe to drink. However, users of privately owned water bores should check their security for surface water intrusion and if concerned shut down the bore head and use stored water
● Always treat all electricity lines and equipment as live at all times and keep well clear.
● Call emergency services in first instance if you are involved in an emergency situation.
● Please don’t go sightseeing
● If you have to evacuate your house please secure as best you can before leaving.
DCC staff and contractors, and emergency services have been working hard to deal with a wide variety of issues around the wider Dunedin area.
█ For the most up-to-date road conditions visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. This includes any state highway closures that affect traffic around the wider DCC area.
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Dunedin recovery response underway after deluge
This item was published on 04 Jun 2015
Emergency services and the Dunedin City Council are urging Dunedin residents whose houses are affected by flooding to contact the DCC on 477 4000.
A civil defence welfare centre has been set up in South Dunedin at the St James Presbyterian Church in King Edward Street. Those needing information and advice can talk to DCC staff and local welfare agency staff at the centre.
All schools in the Dunedin are closed today, for further information contact your school.
All householders are urged to follow the steps outlined by emergency services on how to protect you and your family or friends after flooding:
● Keep children and pets out of any affected area until cleanup has been completed.
● Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves during cleanup of affected area.
● After contact with any floodwater or contaminated objects, wash your hands with soap and warm water.
● Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products). If you cannot dispose of them immediately then bag them (if possible) and put them aside for later disposal.
● Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures). First, wash surfaces with soap and warm, clean water to remove dirt. Next, sanitize surfaces with household bleach. Read and follow the safety instructions on any product you use.
● Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
● Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent.
● Discard any contaminated food: food that has been in contact with flood water or food that has been in a refrigerator or freezer that has been affected by the flood water. Tinned food will be okay but the outside of the can may be contaminated.
● Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.
● Below are the most important safety guidelines when using sanitizing products:
● Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.
● Wear gum boots, rubber gloves, and eye protection.
● Try not to breathe in product fumes. If using products indoors, open windows and doors to allow fresh air to enter.
Key messages for the public are:
● Where possible, avoid driving or walking through flooded areas
● If you do have to drive, please drive carefully and be prepared for damaged roads
● There have been some sewage overflows. To keep safe please avoid coming into contact with surface water as it may be contaminated with sewage. If you do come into contact with floodwaters, make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly
● All DCC water supplies are safe to drink. However, users of privately owned water bores should check their security for surface water intrusion and if concerned shut down the bore head and use stored water
● Always treat all electricity lines and equipment as live at all times and keep well clear.
● Call emergency services in first instance if you are involved in an emergency situation.
● Please don’t go sightseeing
● If you have to evacuate your house please secure as best you can before leaving.
DCC staff and contractors, and emergency services have been working hard to deal with a wide variety of issues around the wider Dunedin area.
DCC Manager Civil Defence Neil Brown said while Civil Defence has been activated to monitor and co-ordinate, a civil defence emergency had not been called at this stage.
More heavy rain that has flooded parts of Dunedin is forecast overnight, with the council warning the situation could get worse before it gets better.
Power has been cut to 150 houses in East Taieri as a safety measure, and Aurora Energy is warning others may be affected. “We anticipate that further urgent disconnections of power supply in Dunedin may be required in the interests of public safety. Dunedin electricity consumers should be prepared in the event of power outages,” an Aurora Energy spokesman said.
### ODT Online Wed, 3 Jun 2015 Civil defence response to Dunedin flooding
A civil defence response has been activated in Dunedin amid torrential rain which has caused widespread flooding, including sewage on the streets.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said emergency services were now working together out of the civil defence bunker in central Dunedin to coordinate their response to multiple flooding events across the city.
Dunedin City Council civil defence manager Neil Brown said in the 24 hours up to about 3pm, about 90mm to 95mm of rain had fallen in the Dunedin area.
“To put that into perspective, overnight we may get another between 80mm and 100mm, according to the forecast. So really we are about halfway in terms of the volume we have experienced over the city.” Read more + Photos
Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Widespread Flooding Posing Problems
This item was published on 03 Jun 2015
South Dunedin, Kaikorai Valley and parts of Mosgiel, the Brighton Coast and the Taieri Plain have been hardest hit by heavy rain and flooding.
Dunedin City Council staff and contractors, and emergency services are busy dealing with flooding that is knee deep in isolated areas.
As at 1.30pm, seven roads around the wider Dunedin area are closed.
Key messages for the public are:
● Where possible, avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, particularly those that may be contaminated with wastewater
● If you do have to drive, please drive carefully and be prepared for widespread surface flooding
● There are going to be a lot of motorists on the road trying to get home, so we ask drivers to be patient and allow plenty of time for travel
● Check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or have young children
● The water supply is safe to drink
DCC Manager Civil Defence Neil Brown says Civil Defence has been activated to monitor and co-ordinate, but a civil defence emergency had not been called at this stage.
DCC Roading Maintenance Engineer Peter Standring says heavy rain since early today has caused widespread flooding and the rain was not expected to ease any time soon. According to Otago Regional Council data, more than 60mm of rain had fallen at Pine Hill in the 24 hours to 12.40pm today.
“The sheer amount of rain means our stormwater system is at capacity and the roading network is under pressure. We are monitoring what is happening and assisting wherever we can.”
Foul sewer contamination has forced the closure of the Hargest Crescent area. This could become an issue for other areas.
DCC Water and Waste Network Contracts Manager Mike Ind says stormwater and foul sewers in the Hillside Road/Surrey Street areas were at capacity at 10.30am today. The Fire Service was pumping water from the Fulton Home property on Hillside Road. DCC staff and Civil Defence have helped with the provision of additional flood barriers.
The Fire Service reports its appliances and personnel are fully committed.
Mr Standring says the severe weather warning for Dunedin is still in place. One of the major upcoming concerns is high tide, due late afternoon, which may have an impact on the water draining away.
█ For the most up-to-date road conditions visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. This includes any state highway closures that affect traffic around the wider DCC area. People can also look at the Highgate web cam and others around the city.
█ Contact Peter Standring, DCC Roading Maintenance Engineer on 027 514 1617.
—
### ODT Online Wed, 3 Jun 2015 Heavy snow to 500m possible
By Carla Green
A severe rain warning for Clutha and Dunedin may culminate in heavy snow falling to 500m in Otago today, a MetService meteorologist says.
The warning predicted “accumulations may reach 80mm to 100mm about the hills and ranges over an 18-hour period, which is a significant amount of rain for the [Clutha and Dunedin] area”.
The rain was expected to develop early this morning, and clear by Friday, meteorologist Emma Blades said. Snow was expected above 500m from this afternoon to tomorrow morning. Read more
—
Flood Videos:
█ 39 Dunedin News: Flooding strikes Dunedin
With much of Dunedin under water, emergency personnel are preparing for a busy night. Dozens of roads are closed due to flooding, and residents are being urged to limit travel. And for one local, the rain is already proving costly.
### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 22:23, June 3 2015 Flooding wreaks havoc in Dunedin video
By Hamish McNeilly and Michael Daly
Large parts of Dunedin are underwater as heavy rainfall cause chaos in the city.
More than 400 emergency calls were made during the severe flooding in Dunedin on Wednesday, the Fire Service said.
The army had been helping volunteers desperately sandbag 100 houses in the Dunedin seaside suburb of St Kilda as water threatened to devastate the properties. All of the Dunedin Fire Service’s vehicle fleet had been called out, including part of its reserve fleet and the Dunedin Rural Fire Service, a Southern Fire communications spokesman said. Read more + Video + Safety Information
BLUNDER CITY #DUD —AND THE STADIUM REVIEW AIN’T NO HELP
Ivy League Assaults: Dumber and Dumber due to UE failure, drunkenness, fires, civil disorder, better campus and study offerings up north and overseas?
AWAIT UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO PRONOUNCEMENTS AFTER THE MARCH MEETING OF THE HALLOWED UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
A ‘PUBLIC RELATIONS EPIC’ IS EXPECTED
### ODT Online Tue, 10 Mar 2015 University roll worry realised
By Timothy Brown
Fears of University of Otago first-year student numbers falling for the first time since 2011 appear to be realised, with “serious” vacancies at Knox College and Salmond College. About 10% of beds at the two non-university run colleges remain vacant and the Otago University Students’ Association revealed, earlier this year, the University of Otago could face a drop in first-year student numbers. Read more
Both Knox and Salmond have undergone recent building upgrades and provide excellent pastoral care in quiet settings – who then, would choose a university-owned rough-house college if you were serious about career education.
What sort of undergrad student is the University of Otago attracting nowadays? Party animals? Generation Zero lefties? Discount ivy-leaguers (Kiwi-Asian style)? And how come accommodation at college halls is so steep? It’s an obscene weekly cost if mummy and daddy aren’t paying, so yes, way better(?) to camp out in the grunge and gunge flats of Studentville —or hey, move up the hill to sink the tone of City Rise, look at all those “historic-kick-apart” villas and mansions, incredibly suited to Face Book parties and upsetting middle class owner-occupiers next door. Cripes, at each former family or professional home there’s room to park “6 cars!”, yes, the cash-cow landlords will happily (just ask) destroy established 100-year-old plantings and gardens to lay down asphalt.
Welcome to ‘Absolutely Beautiful’, Dunedin. Welcome to the student ghettos, the broken streetscapes…. smashed bottles, lingering trash, burnt furniture, bouncing basketballs (all hours, Really Dumb like that), drying vomit and worse, weeds, untrimmed trees and hedges, a few kicked-in fences, more asphalt, flaking paint at once proud residences, stickering with satellite dishes and heat pumps, strings of poorly washed laundry draping house fronts. But who can forget the “Dunedin Sound”, of nights, drunken male yahoos, uncoordinated white trash hakas and ‘young girl’ screams, passion or torture, hard to tell. 111.
THIS is, Dunedin FOR Education.
Student loans FOR Banks and Slum Landlords.
Google Images: “castle street hyde street dunedin”
And Harlene, next! Frat Life starts in on St Leonards – just a quick ride from your Ivy League of diminished offerings, that overpriced BA, BCom or BSc.
This is how New Zealand Herald, via the National news section (it’s an ODT story and photograph by Hamish McNeilly), markets the University of Otago Campus Area to parents and intending students, nationals and internationals. Read the full article at NZ Herald.
Better advertising to reduce Otago’s student rolls we couldn’t hope to find.
Glad Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne has everything under control.
Perhaps the VC could visit and apologise to the distressed student from George Street, hard at work today serving customers at the Octagon, who told me she and her flatmates ventured out on Sunday morning to find their driveway grossly awash with vomit.
Received from Lee Vandervis
Tue, 12 Aug 2014 at 11:05am
Message: The email below is what I sent to Critic in direct response to their questions as further below. Critic editor Zane Pocock’s ‘Editorial’ fails to include any of my responses and instead fabricates false quotations. [see even further below]
I did not say “prevent vandalism” or “I don’t trust you little fuckers”, but Mr Pocock’s ‘Editorial’ gives reason enough.
—
—— Forwarded Message From: Lee Vandervis Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:41:00 +1200 To: Nina Harrap [Critic] Conversation: Cameras in North Dunedin Subject: Re: Cameras in North Dunedin
Hi Nina,
For decades, various attempts to stop couch-burning in public streets have been ineffective, and ratepayers should not be forced to carry the annual burden of hundreds of thousands in repair costs, to say nothing of the equally unaffordable costs of fire-fighting staff, Police and ambulance services.
Video is now a very inexpensive way to combat unaffordable criminal vandalism hot-spots, but Dunedin North has been exempted for various spineless reasons. A very few pyromaniac vandals have been taking advantage of this exemption, some of them students.
The Police would have access to the camera surveillance as they do in many other parts of Dunedin. I would anticipate that the Police would act with prosecutions only on evidence of serious criminal offending.
Cameras would not be an invasions of residents’ privacy as they would be in public places where anybody with a cell phone could also record similar images. Cameras would not need to focus on any residential property as they are concerned with protecting public spaces.
Mr Baxter has suggested that I would not like cameras recording outside my house. The opposite is true. If cameras had been recording, there might have been a chance of catching the tagger who made an expensive mess on a vehicle parked in the street last month.
Kind regards,
Cr. Vandervis.
On 5/08/14 9:00 PM, “Nina Harrap” wrote:
Hello Mr Vandervis,
My name’s Nina Harrap and I’m a reporter for Critic magazine. I’m currently writing a short piece about your proposal to install cameras around North Dunedin. I was wondering if I could possibly get a statement from you in answer to the following questions:
Why do you feel cameras in North Dunedin are a good idea?
Who will have access to the camera surveillance?
Won’t putting cameras up be an invasion of residents’ privacy?
My deadline is 5pm tomorrow (Wednesday), so your speedy reply is very much appreciated.
Cheers,
Nina [for Critic]
—— End of Forwarded Message
[Critic text article supplied. Header and image – screenshot by whatifdunedin]
As reported by the ODT on Friday 1 August, Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis has called for video surveillance of Scarfie-ville to “prevent vandalism”.
There is a huge problem with this, and it’s because of how much students have improved their behaviour recently. Largely driven by a great effort from both the University and OUSA over the last few years, students have been working hard to correct a past prevalence of misdemeanours, all the while maintaining Dunedin’s reputation as an exciting place to grow up as young, energetic adults. The Hyde Street Party is now a well-controlled and safe event for students to let their energy off. Orientation is similar. Furthermore, the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival even sees an effort by the students to provide something for the much wider community of Dunedin.
It has been a huge and noticeable improvement, and people like Vandervis undermine that. The clear progress in student culture needs to be encouraged. Taking several years of steady improvements before turning around and saying “I don’t trust you little fuckers” through a targeted invasion of privacy is counter-intuitive and stupid.
Vandervis is looking for a silver bullet when there is none. What there is, however, is a huge cohort of students who really do care about preserving the student culture of Dunedin. No, that doesn’t strictly mean binge drinking and fire starting. What it means is the conservation of a true student quarter and the existence of a true student town in New Zealand. Dunedin’s half dead without the University – the commonly held belief is that there’s not much else aside from the culture here to attract students.
As for privacy itself, the age-old argument that you don’t have to worry if you’ve got nothing to hide should have been abandoned long ago. One of the many oppositional points to this comes down to the sheer confusing nature of law. To the best of my knowledge, one of the reasons we have a judicial system is that a lot of legislative law is extremely convoluted, and a very large portion of our law is based on precedents set by judges’ decisions and not strictly written as rules, which is the common way of seeing law. Although our situation isn’t as confusing as that in the States where they literally can’t count the number of federal crimes that exist, it’s hard to actually know whether you live within the confines of the law or not.
And again, with reference to the States, sometimes people should have something to hide. Sometimes people should be breaking the law to amount pressure on lawmakers. Only in 2001 did Minnesota decriminalise sodomy, and thus, to a large degree, homosexuality. How about marijuana – there wouldn’t even be spokespeople for the huge positive change currently sweeping the States if people hadn’t lived illegally against an outdated and one-sided conservative belief system.
I also struggle to trust humans. People watching the camera footage will almost surely abuse their positions. They will laugh at people and they will put footage on YouTube (even though this would be illegal itself). This rounds out my final point: why can’t we have privacy for the sake of privacy? It’s fair to object to an invasion of privacy without even thinking about why you’re objecting to it. Going by Vandervis’ logic, should there perhaps then be a camera in each cubicle of any Octagon bar? The deadly assault earlier this year scared the shit out of a lot of people.
Otherwise, fuck it. You think students are apathetic? Just wait until power-tripping aggression makes things worse. I would hazard a guess that you’ll need even more security cameras keeping track of the student-spying ones.
“We’ve earned the right to live away from home and live by ourselves and do what we want and I don’t think we should be baby-sat or monitored,” Ms Walker said. Students “should be able to be stupid on the weekend” and the situation had improved from previous years. –Maddy Walker (21), student
“If you look at the costs to city council every year of holes burnt in Leith St, Hyde St, Dundas St … some years it’s been $600,000.” –Cr Lee Vandervis
### ODT Online Fri, 1 Aug 2014 Call for north end cameras
By Vaughan Elder
A Dunedin city councillor is calling for video surveillance of the student quarter as a way of preventing out-of-control vandalism. The call for surveillance from Cr Lee Vandervis was not welcomed by north end residents and students spoken to yesterday, who said such a move would be an invasion of privacy. Cr Vandervis said video surveillance in the Octagon worked well and there was no reason why it could not be successfully employed in North Dunedin. “I believe we need to have some cameras up and we need to have a few prosecutions.” Read more
It comes to pass that the CBD’s most-used symbolic gathering place, The Octagon, carrying a cluster of historic buildings, the city’s public art museum, our main performance theatre (Regent), a cinema multiplex under redevelopment, shop and office buildings, the Athenaeum building on the comeback through new stewardship, the impressive St Paul’s Cathedral, the stately Municipal Chambers and Town Hall complex, the seat of local government administration (Civic Centre), and a slightly down-at-heels landscaped wide open space at the junction of surveyor Charles Kettle’s two main arterial roads (Princes/George Streets and Stuart Street), also takes a bevy of drinking bars and night spots that make a strong contribution to central city nighttime violence, disorder, and lack of public safety.
The Craft Bar homicide and the connected serious assault investigations started last weekend point up the Dunedin City Council’s lack of urban design and planning vigilance in Health and Safety matters.
This tied to recent years of lobbying by the Octagon bar owners on licensing and trading hours and conditions, sometimes tied to hosting after-match wakes for Stadium sport and events (even although major events at the stadium are tapering, as predicted), unsupported youth, gang sqirmishes, under-resourced local police, and society’s access to cut-price alcohol and its liberal use (pre-loading and regular binging) alongside other substance abuse, means the Octagon is devolving into a hell-hole of collective making – not dissimilar to what happened at Cathedral Square in Christchurch before the quakes.
What will the city council do to mitigate the situation, and how soon can we restore the space to 24/7 safety for all? Is this even possible with the cluster of ‘intemperance’ bars and no push for building owners to move to greater diversity in mixed ground floor tenanting on the lower Octagon? One way or another “Party Central” has to fold – changing the pattern of ground tiles will not suffice.
—
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull speaks volumes when he says, at times, he does not feel comfortable near the Octagon.
ODT Editorial: Personal responsibility key (30.4.14)
Knowing Dunedin is one of the most statistically safest cities in New Zealand will bring no solace to the families involved in the tragic death of Ryan Court at the weekend. Read more
—– Original Message —– From: Jeff Dickie To: Elizabeth Kerr Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 5:45 PM Subject: Sunday in the slums of North Dunedin
Hi Elizabeth, your comments re the new hotel [“Cull’s Cockup”, the new “Farry’s Folly”] are very good and congratulations on the National Radio coverage.
In the next day or so I’d like to post something on your Whatif site regarding the implications of the DCC neglecting core business and services. We’ve watched as the North End has transformed from an integrated community combining residents and students to an intensely populated and filthy slum. Largely as a result of poor planning by the DCC and University. I took these photos on Sunday, 16 March.
While Dave preens himself in front of the mirror and is distracted by the latest snake oil salesmen, there are some very serious social issues developing.
Mr Gable stressed not all the partygoers exhibited bad behaviour, with others trying to calm the more aggressive young men.
### ODT Online Wed, 19 Mar 2014 Man attacked by St Patrick’s revellers
By Hamish McNeilly
A Dunedin man says he had his shirt ripped, glasses pulled off his face and his car’s wing mirror yanked off after he confronted drunken St Patrick’s Day revellers who were urinating on his property. Walking from work to his Malvern St home, Chris Gable encountered a large crowd of green-clad revellers in the area of the former Woodhaugh Hotel, about 5pm on Monday. […] He later had to leave the property, and while he was away, his neighbour, Jeff Dickie found an estimated 40 people on Mr Gable’s section, including some bouncing on his trampoline and others urinating on his property. Read more
****
Figures released under the Official Information Act show the Fire Service recorded 586 nuisance fires in the North Dunedin student area between February 20, 2009, and February 20, 2014. Of those, 179 were recorded last year – compared with 77 in 2009.
### ODT Online Wed, 19 Mar 2014 Student fires dampened
By Hamish McNeilly
Nuisance fires in the student quarter hit a five-year high last year, with Castle St the area’s top hot spot. To dampen fire threats, the Fire Service, police, University of Otago and Dunedin City Council have taken a zero tolerance approach to such fires in the city. Fire Service East Otago area manager Laurence Voight said that approach, coupled with fire prevention activities during Orientation Week appeared to have ”reduced the unwanted behaviour”. Read more
—
Meanwhile Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne, on advice received from the likes of Stuart McLauchlan and John Ward (did we mention Mayor Cull?), ‘decides’ the University of Otago should sponsor, yes, the ‘drinking culture’ that attends a professional but barely coherent and losing rugby team, The Highlanders. Some things are cumulative by fragile branding connection… a marketing marriage borne in heaven: A GREAT EXAMPLE TO ALL. This, a ‘subtle’ buttering device, before the DCC’s Stadium gets offloaded to the University for nothing, and Hail Mary/Harlene! the University doesn’t have to pay rates.
The council would investigate problems at the corner of St Andrew and George Sts.
### ODT Online Tue, 17 Dec 2013 Storm floods city shops
Parts of Dunedin were flooded late yesterday afternoon when a thunderstorm struck, causing havoc for some central-city businesses. In less than 30 minutes, 15mm of rain fell in the central city, with 18.8mm falling between 4pm and 5pm. Water washed into about 20 businesses, mostly in George St between the Wall Street mall and the St Andrew St intersection. Read more + Images
An LGOIMA request to uncover and unblock the city council’s infrastructure services (actual) activity log of street maintenance works as well as the record of council consultation with affected building owners (including City Property for Wall Street Mall which cops it every time there’s a slight deluge…), and all associated complaints received by the council would be useful in “forward planning”.
As for temporary road closures in the CBD during heavy rain and flooding, what is the history? Have there been attempts to do this in the past? During yesterday’s rain there was certainly enough time to effect temporary stopping to help minimise damage to property caused by vehicle movement.
****
### dunedintv.co.nz July 15, 2013 – 8:02pm Council will consider the cost of rain damage to the city
The Dunedin City Council will tomorrow consider the cost of damage to the city from storms and rain. Video
What came of this consideration? Apparently, nothing for the CBD.
****
Dunedin City Council – Media Release 17 June 2013 Heavy Rain Causes Flooding, Slips
Contractors are busy clearing slips and fallen trees from Dunedin roads after heavy rain causes problems across the wider city. Cont/
****
DCC Three Waters Strategy… Management of Water Wastewater and Stormwater (The 3 Waters)
Our main objective is to protect public health and safety by delivering enough safe drinking water to, and safely removing waste and storm water from, everyone connected to the network, with minimal impact on the environment and at an acceptable financial cost. We also aim to provide protection from flooding and erosion as well as controlling and reducing pollution in stormwater discharges to waterways and the sea. As well as delivering services today, we need to plan for the future, making sure we will be able to deliver the service that future generations will need. Cont/
****
Dunedin City Council – Media Release 06 Dec 2013 City Care Confirmed as Contractor
City Care has been awarded the tender to maintain Dunedin’s water and wastewater network. The contract, which starts on 28 February 2014, is expected to deliver annual savings of at least $350,000. The annual contract value is $4.6 million a year, with an additional $159,000 of transition costs in the first year. City Care employees will carry out the maintenance work on the water and wastewater network, such as turning up to fix a burst water main or a blocked sewer. Cont/
● Unacceptable student and non-student behaviour ● Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne’s bid to bring students into line fails ● Dunedin’s multi-agency approach to campus area unrest not working
[Archives: newzeeland.wordpress.com]
—
### ODT Online Mon, 25 Mar 2013 Students blame authorities
By Rosie Manins and Eileen Goodwin
Drunken disorder in the student quarter is being exacerbated by police and council intervention, university students and Castle St residents say, citing a Saturday night incident as a classic example. At least one private Castle St party was shut down by a Dunedin City Council noise control officer about 10pm, forcing people out of the flat, on to the street.
$$$ ● About 300 people had gathered on the street by 11pm, when four Dunedin firefighters arrived in an appliance to extinguish two couch fires. $$$ ● The size of the crowd prompted them to call for a back-up appliance and crew from Roslyn, as well as for police attendance. $$$ ● At the same time, four Willowbank firefighters in an appliance were called to a Dundas St mattress fire. $$$ ● They were finished in time to respond as back-up in Castle St, so the Roslyn crew was stood down, then immediately called out to back up a St Kilda crew, attending a fire in Harrow St. $$$ ● In total, seven furniture fires were extinguished in the student area on Saturday night. $$$ ● More than a dozen police officers, including a dog handler and two paddy wagon crews, arrived in Castle St to disperse the crowd about midnight.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said if people’s behaviour on private property was excessive and had to be curtailed, it made no sense for them to assume such behaviour in public was acceptable. Read full article
—
[Archives: newzeeland.wordpress.com]
—
What do we think of OUSA…
Close down the Hyde St party never to return?
### ODT Online Sun, 24 Mar 2013 Moves to increase safety at Hyde St keg party
By Vaughan Elder
The Otago University Students’ Association has settled on a range of measures to make this year’s Hyde St keg party safer, including a ”one-way” policy from as early as 2pm. An estimated 5000 people attended last year’s party, which was marred by 15 arrests, the collapse of a roof overloaded with partygoers and 80 people requiring treatment by St John. The OUSA has been looking at ways to make this year’s April 13 party safer. OUSA president Francisco Hernandez said apart from limiting numbers, it had settled on a range of measures, including a ”one-way door” policy, with non-resident party-goers who leave the street barred from returning. It was also looking at making it a 10am to 5pm party, he said. Read more
### ODT Online Sat, 15 Jan 2011 Mass clean-up follows holiday graffiti spate
By Hamish McNeilly
A mass clean-up is under way to rid Dunedin of graffiti after a spate of tagging during the Christmas break. Keep Dunedin Beautiful co-ordinator Darlene Thomson said there had been a “lot of complaints” since Christmas, and Taskforce Green workers had removed much of the reported graffiti.
Dealing with tagging
• Report incidents to police.
• Take a photograph of the graffiti for police records.
• Remove it as soon as possible so the tagger does not get street credit for their work; graffiti is also easier to remove.
• Plant creeping vines or trees to eliminate wall space and protect fences.
• Good lighting will discourage offenders.
Saddle Hill fire 7 Oct 2015 [JSNNZ at imgur.com]
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What if? Dunedin... 