Mr Trump, help !!! [councils gunked up on Mythical man-made climate change, Again] #!$%^&!@#

D R A I N ● T H E ● S W A M P ● A T ● D U D

[trumparmy.net] branco 2016 at comicallyincorrect.com (abbrev.)

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Dunedin City Council – Media Release
International review of rising groundwater protection options

This item was published on 02 Mar 2017

International experience in managing rising groundwater is being reviewed as part of a broad project on the future of South Dunedin.

The Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council are preparing a programme of work that will develop possible options to mitigate or manage the effects of rising groundwater in South Dunedin. Any options developed will have to be investigated further and discussed with the community.
DCC Group Manager Water and Waste Laura McElhone says, “To help us with this overall project, we want to have a better understanding of how communities elsewhere in the world have managed the challenge of rising groundwater, particularly in areas that have similar social, economic and environmental settings to South Dunedin.”
The two councils have jointly contracted global environmental specialists Golder Associates to carry out an international review of places where protection options have been, or are being, put in place to manage rising groundwater. Golder Associates, which has a strong New Zealand presence, will be working with not-for-profit organisation Deltares, based in the Netherlands, which has international experience in this field. The two councils will pay an equal share of the $36,000 contract.
ORC Director Engineering, Hazards and Science Gavin Palmer says many cities around the world are facing the same issue of rising groundwater so much can be learned from experience elsewhere. “This review will incorporate what protection options have been used elsewhere, what has worked and lessons learnt. This information, along with our own science and monitoring, will help us and the community to identify viable options for South Dunedin.”
The contract was awarded last month and the work is expected to take about 10 weeks. The DCC and ORC are working together to develop and deliver a programme that responds to the climate challenges facing South Dunedin, while recognising the broader impacts across Dunedin and the wider region. The Otago Regional Council released a report in July 2016 outlining the hazards facing South Dunedin. The report pulls together information and analysis gathered over seven years, particularly regarding the increased likelihood of surface flooding associated with rising sea level. This was followed up by drop-in public information sessions held jointly with the DCC. The two councils are also collaborating with other groups and agencies in South Dunedin to develop more effective communication channels.
Dr McElhone says, “We are at the beginning of a long term project to plan for climate change. Once we have a lot of this technical information together, we will be able to discuss next steps with the community.”

Contact Group Manager Water and Waste on 03 477 4000.

DCC Link

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K E E P ● T H E ● F A R K I N G ● P I P E S ● M A I N T A I N E D

[usbacklash.org]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

No news : Appointment of Group CFO

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Consternation of Various Sorts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

█ OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST

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

03-Feb-2017

Dear Ms Kerr,

Official information request for: APPOINTMENT OF GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Reference Number: 289707

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

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

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

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

Yours sincerely

[Governance Support]

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

Governance Support Officer
Dunedin City Council

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

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

DCC Draft Annual Plan 2017/18

Council Chamber, Municipal Chambers [architecturenow.co.nz]

An ordinary meeting of the Dunedin City Council will be held on Monday 23 January 2017 in the Edinburgh Room, Municipal Chambers, The Octagon, starting at 9.00am.

● Agenda
https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2017/01/CNL_20170123_AGN_482_AT_WEB.htm

1 Introduction                                                                                           
2 Apologies                                                                                              
3 Confirmation of Agenda
4 Declaration of Interest    
REPORTS
5 Draft 2017/18 Annual Plan Budget Material
6 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Water and Waste Group
7 Emissions Trading Scheme Liabilities and Proposed Carbon Management Policy
8 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Solid Waste
9 Update on the Tertiary Precinct Safety and Accessibility Upgrade
10 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Transport Group
11 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Parks and Recreation Group
12 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Property
13 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Arts and Culture Group
14 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Customer and Regulatory Group
15 Te Ao Tūroa Environment Strategy Funding
16 Review of the Allocation of Funding to Applicants to the Biodiversity Fund
17 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Community and Planning Group
18 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Enterprise Dunedin
19 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Corporate Services
20 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Corporate Support Services
21 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Waipori Fund
22 Draft 2017/18 Budget – Investment Account                                                            
 
● Council Open Attachments under separate cover
[see item 9 Update on the Tertiary Precinct Safety and Accessibility Upgrade]
https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2017/01/CNL_20170123_ATT_482_EXCLUDED_WEB.htm

● Council Supplementary Agenda
23 2017/18 Rating Method
24 Notices of Motion                
https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2017/01/CNL_20170123_AGN_482_AT_SUP_WEB.htm

█ Document Source:
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/agendas-minutes

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Where is the unreserved DCC apology to the Community of South Dunedin ?

Updated post
Thu, 7 Jul 2016 at 5:45 p.m. [link to peer reviews via LGOIMA]

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And where are the Opus International ‘peer reviews’ for public scrutiny.

All we have is the self-congratulatory propaganda from DCC and the motley crew, propagated by friends at ODT.

Flood review clears DCC staff findings

SHAME

We hear from inside DCC that the peer reviews are not up to much.

Opus, you say?

Hmm.

News. Farce. Like an incessant rash.

Reasons for political Removal.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

Presentations available —a) 4 July USA —b) 20 June SDAG

Link received.
Mon, 4 Jul 2016 at 12:29 p.m.

Sam Eagle Uploaded on Jun 27, 2008
Stars & Stripes FOREVER!
I, Sam the Eagle, present a musical salute to America.
(c) 2009 The Muppets Studio, LLC

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From: [Dunedin City Council]
Sent: Monday, 4 July 2016 11:55 a.m.
To: Elizabeth Kerr
Subject: Response to Information Request

Dear Ms Kerr,

Official information request for CEO SPEECH SOUTH DUNEDIN

I refer to your official information request dated 27-June-2016 for “a full copy of DCC Chief Executive Sue Bidrose’s speech and overhead slides presented to the public meeting hosted by the South Dunedin Action Group on 20 June at Nations Church, King Edward St.”

The information you have requested is available on our website at:

Click to access SC2200115516062812500.pdf

If you wish to discuss this further with us, please feel free to contact the chief executive and request an appointment.

Yours sincerely

[Dunedin City Council]

Download: Sue Bidrose – South Dunedin and stormwater June 20 2016
(PDF, 1 MB)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

Ray Macleod, letter to editor

ODT 2.7.16 (page 30)

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Received from Lyndon Weggery
Tue, 21 June 2016 at 7:29 p.m.

Message: In the light of concerns last night [South Dunedin public meeting] about the effects of the Proposed 2GP on South Dunedin, suggest you extract the Hazard Zone portion and post it on What if?

South Dunedin Hazard Zone (PDF, 2 MB)

The following report by Anna Johnson shows that very little was done [public consultation] in 2014. In fact only 17 people turned up to the DCC workshop in South Dunedin and their Appendices show that less than 10 people commented on their draft natural hazard policy.

Preferred Options Report (1) (PDF, 2 MB)

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Related Posts and Comments:
● 28.6.16 The Star and RNZ on raised flood levels #SouthDunedin
● 27.6.16 CULL commingled #AGWbullsfeatherartists
● 23.6.16 Sa pièce de résistance @ #DUD
● 21.6.16 Mayoral Statement to South Dunedin
● 20.6.16 Public Meeting: South Dunedin Action Group #tonight
18.6.16 South Dunedin stormwater pipes —getting past the desktop ICMP
● 17.6.16 So we’re going to play it this way #SouthDunedinFlood
● 16.6.16 Public Meeting: South Dunedin Action Group #AllWelcome
● 6.6.16 Listener June 11-17 2016 : Revisiting distress and mismanagement
6.5.16 South Dunedin Action Group: Notes of meeting with DCC (3 May 2016)
14.4.16 South Dunedin flood risk boosters #ClimateChangeCrap #PissOffPCE
26.2.16 Mudtanks and drains + Notice of Public Meeting #SouthDunedinFlood
● 31.12.15 2016, have mercy !@$#%^&*
10.4.15 DCC: Natural Hazards

*Bullet points indicate comments entered after the public meeting 20 June.

█ For more, enter the terms *flood*, *sea level rise*, *climate change*, *pce*, *stormwater*, *hazard*, *johnstone*, *hendry*, *south dunedin action group*, *debriefing notes* or *listener* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 Submissions due by 15 April

### ODT Online Fri, 11 Apr 2014
Draft budget feedback pretty good: council
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council says feedback on its draft budget has been “pretty good” despite some disappointing turnouts at public meetings in recent weeks. The council concluded a series of eight public meetings and drop-in sessions with a discussion of cycleway and road-widening work on Otago Peninsula at the Edgar Centre on Tuesday night.
Public submissions on the council’s 2014-15 draft annual plan were “flooding in now” and had reached 427 by late yesterday, council corporate planner Jane Nevill said. That was well above the 262 submissions received by the council on its 2013-14 draft budget.
Read more

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DRAFT DCC ANNUAL PLAN 2014/2015
The draft annual plan sets out the Council’s proposed annual budgets and performance measures for 2014/15 and updates the information for the 2014/15 year that in contained in the Council’s ten year plan or Long Term Plan (LTP) which was put in place last year.
Please tell DCC whether you agree or disagree with spending priorities for 2014/15 outlined in the draft plan by making a submission.
The consultation period is your opportunity to “Have Your Say” about what you want to see included in the Council’s plans.

█ Submissions close at 5pm, Tuesday 15 April 2014.
Timeframes and Meeting times

█ Read more (with downloads):
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/draft-annual-plan-2014-2015

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Related Posts and Comments:
30.3.14 Paul Pope on local body annual plans
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Outsourcing water and wastewater network maintenance

Updated Post 3:45pm – The Dunedin City Council is consulting with staff over a proposal to outsource its water and wastewater network maintenance. Read media release here.

City operations general manager Tony Avery confirmed a proposal was delivered to staff on Thursday. He declined to elaborate until a public release today, although he was swift to clarify it was ”definitely not” privatisation.

THEN WHAT IS IT, IF NOT PRIVATISATION, MR AVERY ?

The council decided last year not to proceed with creating a council-controlled organisation (CCO) to run the city’s entire water and waste service, following a recommendation from a councillor working party that deliberated for more than 18 months. An external financial consultant had recommended creating a CCO.

WHICH COUNCILLORS ARE PUSHING THIS ? NOONE ? BROWN ?

The working party chairman, Cr Andrew Noone, said on Friday he understood the review focused largely on operations and maintenance, as recommended.

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### ODT Online Mon, 6 May 2013
DCC may outsource water and waste
By Debbie Porteous
Proposals to outsource Dunedin City Council water and waste maintenance and operations are expected to be announced today, potentially affecting dozens of jobs. In 2011, 71 staff worked in maintenance and operations, which is part of the council’s water and waste services business unit. The service costs $19.5 million a year.

A member of the public contacted the Otago Daily Times on Friday after council staff repairing a leaking pipe near his property told him their work was being privatised from November.

City operations general manager Tony Avery confirmed a proposal was delivered to staff on Thursday. He declined to elaborate until a public release today, although he was swift to clarify it was ”definitely not” privatisation.
Read more

● The council is to release the results of the water and waste services review at 12.30pm.

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Related Posts and Comments:
24.8.12 Dunedin’s 3 waters, no CCO
16.8.12 Dunedin water assets
30.12.11 DCC Water and Waste Services
20.8.11 Your City What Future $$$$$$$$$$ ? (broke Council means corporatising OUR water doesn’t it)
22.1.11 Our water assets
19.1.11 Dunedin: your water
26.12.10 DCC – will there be a “corporate grab” of water infrastructure!?
30.1.10 ODT on “fiscal creep” + the 3 Waters bonanza

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Local government change: council rates, core services, efficiencies

The Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council in May confirmed they were considering the potential benefits of merging.

### ODT Online Wed, 25 Jul 2012
Editorial: The role of local government
Local and central government are set to go head to head when the issue of what councils would like and what they can afford to provide for their communities is debated as part of the Better Local Government law changes before Parliament. Prime Minister John Key has called for local authorities to cut spending to keep rates affordable and has said the Government would like to see more council mergers. Speaking at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Queenstown last week, Mr Key told delegates the job would not be an easy one. They faced high expectations – but “we all have to face up to making difficult choices”. That is correct, of course. Businesses and households make difficult choices every day. And decision-makers must realise increases in public spending often put pressure on those who can least afford it. There is no doubt council spending on big-budget projects, viewed by many as “non-core” council business, fuels frustration in communities.

One thing is certain: if local authorities are against changes to their structure, and communities remain as divided about such matters as whether ocean-side drives should be for pedestrians or vehicles (or even dog sleds and skiers), the regional debate about those issues – let alone rates, priorities and costs – will surely drown out the current discussions in Parliament.

Read more

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Dunedin City Council is over extended… the result of ten years of imprudent debt funding (core business and pet projects), and a lack of overall conservative management on behalf of residents and ratepayers. Cr Syd Brown claims the council’s debt – excluding its companies – stands at $217 million, following the transfer of stadium debt to Dunedin Venues Ltd. This is how your elected representatives and council staff operate, entirely through obfuscation and fudging of true debt levels and annual spending by the city council and its entities.

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### ODT Online Wed, 25 Jul 2012
Costs will rise: mayor
By Chris Morris
Ratepayers across New Zealand – including those in Dunedin – could be left to foot the bill as local government reforms drive up the cost of borrowing for councils, it has been claimed. The warning came as Dunedin city councillors prepared to complete their response to the Better Local Government reforms at a Dunedin City Council finance, strategy and development committee meeting today. The reforms – unveiled in March – included plans to introduce new benchmarks to assess the financial performance of councils, as part of a push to control local government debt levels and limit rates increases. However, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the reforms “run the risk of doing exactly the opposite” by forcing up the council’s debt-servicing costs by $1 million a year.

Local Government Minister David Carter rejected the claims last night, saying “the exact opposite” could happen if new rules inspired greater confidence in council financial decision-making.

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin stormwater: more differences between ORC and DCC

Dunedin residents favour a cleaner harbour and coastal environment?

### ODT Online Thu, 7 Jun 2012
Impasse over stormwater
By Debbie Porteous
Disagreement over improving the quality of stormwater could see the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council at loggerheads for some time – and may even end up in court. City council infrastructure services committee chairman Cr Andrew Noone says the regional council may be slowly changing its view, but there is a long way to go before the two councils reach a position on which they can agree. The DCC applied to the ORC late last month to renew four 35-year resource consents – expiring in November – to discharge stormwater into Otago Harbour, the ocean at St Clair and Second beaches and Andersons Bay inlet.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Water and Waste Services

Mr Mackie said maintaining the required level of expertise in-house would have been unaffordable.

### ODT Online Fri, 30 Dec 2011
DCC racks up $4m consultants’ bill
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council has accumulated a $4 million bill for consultants working on the Three Waters strategy, but council water and waste services manager John Mackie says it is money well spent. Mr Mackie told the Otago Daily Times the bulk of the $4 million spending between 2008 and June 30 this year had gone to four companies – Opus, URS, Beca and United Kingdom-based Wallingford Software.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

South Dunedin and other flood zones

### ODT Online Fri, 25 Nov 2011
South Dunedin flood zone
By Chris Morris
Cutting-edge computer modelling undertaken by the Dunedin City Council has highlighted the flooding threat to South Dunedin – and elsewhere in the city – fuelled by climate change and a rising sea level. The modelling formed part of work on 11 integrated catchment management plans, together covering most of Dunedin, developed by the council over the past three years. The plans would help shape future investment in the council’s water network, as well as other planning decisions, as part of the council’s Three Waters strategy for water, stormwater and wastewater networks up to 2060.
Read more

Related Posts:
13.4.10 Dunedin and climate change
13.4.10 DCC Media Release – Dunedin and climate change
14.12.09 If, IF, the modelling becomes reality
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Watering the thought of sustainability

When is a super dam a good idea, tell us the ways…

1. Are we really talking climate change, like we know what it means?

2. Are we talking revolutionary change in agricultural production necessitated by climate change?

3. Why are we talking loss of native snow tussock country?

4. Why should we seek the imperative to modify the natural landscape in ways that might support the adoption of further non organic, intensive farming practices?

So many questions. So many ecological habitats and microsystems destroyed. How much water do we actually need for the future? They say water is the new gold. It might be, but what is ‘future planning’ and who should be doing it?

So many questions for those who would promote a super dam to the detriment of all else, if they don’t have the whole picture.

So many questions for those who see a business in selling water.

That’s ok you lot…we don’t have the whole picture yet, either. We’ll start to bring that picture to you, Mr Mackie, Cr Wilson and Cr Noone.

DCC first stuck this little glory piece into Thursday’s The Star, community newspaper – like we wouldn’t notice. Or perhaps we were supposed to notice more…

Here come the debates and ructions about what we should be doing to maintain water supply, the compulsion to irrigate, leach and wreck more of New Zealand’s hill country (for yachting, jetboating and float planes???) by not occupying a small ecological footprint.

The Lammerlaws are somewhere behind us where we can’t see them, let’s exploit the gap between metropolitan and academic sensitivities and those ‘in charge’ of the great outdoors. Hey. Just FLOOD IT, folks. What was that about the RMA amendments.

How much water do we need to flush environmental, financial and cultural sustainability down the drain.

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### ODT Online Fri, 25 Sep 2009
‘Super dam’ gains support
By Bruce Munro

New Zealand’s biggest dam could be built in the Lammerlaw Range, northwest of Dunedin. Dunedin City Council water and waste services manager John Mackie will be “strongly recommending” the city build a “super dam” when the draft 50-year Three Waters Strategy is released for public consultation in November.
Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr