ORC : Official complaints show integrity

### ODT Online Mon, 15 Aug 2016
Two complaints laid against ORC
By Simon Hartley
Complaints against the Otago Regional Council have been laid by Cr Gerry Eckhoff with the Ombudsman and also the Office of the Auditor-general over exclusion of the public from a recent meeting. A decision was publicly released by the regional council late on Friday, from an in-committee, meaning non-public, non-media meeting on Wednesday, which the ORC yesterday defended on the basis the decision could be appealed.

The regional councillors voted in favour of accepting commissioners’ recommendation that a minimum water flow be set for the Lindis River catchment in Central Otago.

Mr Eckhoff released a statement yesterday outlining his complaints, and in an interview said not having the issue aired in public revealed a “grossly inappropriate process”. […] Council staff made the recommendation to hear the Lindis matter in public exclusion after seeking legal advice on matters where a decision by the council is open to an appeal in a court or tribunal, [ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker] said.
Read more

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█ ORC : Combined Council Agenda 10 August – Public.pdf

Go to PART D – EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC
See Item 14 Recommendations of the Hearing Committee on the Proposed Plan Change 5A (Lindis: Integrated water management) to the Regional Plan: Water for Otago.
In relation to item 14, this resolution is made in reliance of section 48(1)(d) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

█ Otago Regional Council http://www.orc.govt.nz/

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

ORC New HQ : Reminder, fiduciary duty and core responsibilities

Land ● Water ● Air ● Coast ● Built Environment ● Biota ● Natural Hazards ● Energy ● Wastes and Hazardous Substances

The core business of the Otago Regional Council is environmental protection, not real estate investment. –Eckhoff

### ODT Online Tue, 21 Jun 2016
Environmental cost to building
By Gerrard Eckhoff
OPINION The decision the Otago Regional Council will have to make on a new administration block sometimes means deciding on the lesser evil. Whatever the decision, councils don’t get much thanks for avoiding one bad choice in favour of another. The option of leasing space in an existing building, thereby leaving a large amount of capital free for the ORC’s primary environmental functions, has been summarily dismissed by the chairman of the ORC. This is despite matters of “significant investment” (such as a new building) requiring special consultation with our ratepayers, who will in turn expect that their or any suggestion will not be so easily dismissed. […] The ORC’s failure to understand that environmental inaction simply transfers cost from this generation to the next and with a multiplier effect is inexcusable. What price must environmental imperatives pay for a new building? That is the real question the ORC must ask of itself.
Read more

● Gerrard Eckhoff, of Central Otago, is an Otago regional councillor.

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Otago Regional Council meeting
█ [today] Wednesday, 22 June 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
Council Chamber, 70 Stafford Street, Dunedin
Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Download: Agenda includes minutes and reports (PDF, 2402 KB)

Go to Part C Item 7 (pages 68-70)
Report: ORC Head Office Accommodation Update. DCS, 16/6/16
The report provides an update on the Council and staff workshops held to help inform the next stage of the project.

[extract]

Related Posts and Comments:
● 9.6.16 ORC empire building again : Consultants give questionable options…
11.8.12 ODT editorial (spot on!) — ORC temporary headquarters
26.6.09 ORC headquarters [incl news items to present day]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

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

Dunedin water assets

CAN CITIZENS TRUST DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL ???

“It’s a major decision for the council. It involves a big chunk of the operation, not only in monetary terms but in staff terms as well, and we want to make sure we get it right.” -Cr Andrew Noone

### ODT Online Thu, 16 Aug 2012
DCC prepares to unveil water plan
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council faces a “pretty major” decision when plans for the management of the city’s $1.6 billion water network are finally revealed, Cr Andrew Noone says. Cr Noone is the chairman of a council working party that has – since January last year – been scrutinising alternative proposals for the future of the network. Options included the creation of a council-controlled organisation (CCO) to manage the network, as well as a bid late last year by another council company, Delta, to provide the council’s water services instead.
Read more

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Comments by Rob Hamlin:

27.6.12 Insuring infrastructure assets
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/dcc-long-term-plan-201213-202122-and-more/#comment-25123

29.5.12 Assets: city water and sewage system
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/asset-sales-would-daves-council-sell-us-up/#comment-24332

2.11.11 SCF, DCHL, threat to council assets
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/dunedin-city-holdings-limited/#comment-19561

19.10.11 Feral ‘Great and the Good’ (G&G) motives
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/your-city-what-future-broke-council-means-corporatising-our-water-doesnt-it/#comment-19308

19.10.11 The Delta CCTO/CCO option
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/your-city-what-future-broke-council-means-corporatising-our-water-doesnt-it/#comment-19301

26.9.11 DCHL and the Companies Act
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/private-sector-funding-donations-to-stadium-construction/#comment-18931

13.4.11 Water and sewage are natural monopolies
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/our-water-assets/#comment-16612

13.3.11 Stadium, no slowdown in DCC spending
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/stadium-funding/#comment-16118

24.1.11 Water, as a basic necessity
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/our-water-assets/#comment-15358

16.1.11 Dear Richard… “the primary responsibility of Council”
https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/just-when-dcc-thought-no-one-was-watching/#comment-15185

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

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

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

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

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

Development contributions

### ODT Online Tue, 8 Nov 2011
Development debate
By David Loughrey

Development contributions are fees levelled on property developers to pay for infrastructure required by subdivisions, such as water and wastewater, roads and reserves. Under proposed changes, developments placing additional demand on infrastructure could attract extra charges.

The Dunedin City Council will sit on November 22 to consider what Mayor Dave Cull said was a complex issue – a charge on developers opponents say could kill development in Dunedin. The council yesterday ended a three-day hearing on the issue that raised a host of legal and philosophical questions, and highlighted many areas where more work needed to be done.
Read more

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### ODT Online Tue, 8 Nov 2011
Heavyweight attack on plan
By David Loughrey

Lawyer Phil Page, for CIDA, Cranbrook Properties and Balmoral Investments, said there was a legal prohibition on “double dipping”, with the Forsyth Barr Stadium providing a good example. It was paid for through council company dividends, made up for by rates. It could not be charged for again through development contributions, something Mr Page said was “a key issue here”.

The group opposing a new charge on developers in Dunedin wheeled out its big guns yesterday, with a parade of lawyers, valuers, tax specialists, planners and builders to argue against the charge from every possible angle. The Construction Industry and Developers Association (CIDA), set up to oppose the draft development contributions policy, took up most of the third and final day of hearings on the issue.
Read more

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Related Post:
23.3.11 Dunedin City Council’s rock and its hard place

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin: your water

“. . . it does need to be asked why the so-called efficiencies that a CCO would bring cannot be achieved within a highly disciplined semi-autonomous council business unit.”

### ODT Online Wed, 19 Jan 2011
Editorial: Future proofing Dunedin’s water
In September 1860, the first public water pump was commissioned in Dunedin but it was not long afterwards that New Zealand’s first major water supply project was initiated . . . Today, as a report to the council to be considered at this week’s 2011-12 pre-draft annual plan hearings makes clear, water services in the city are the purview of the water and waste services business unit, a department of the DCC.
Read more

Related Posts:
15.1.11 Just when DCC thought no-one was watching
26.12.10 DCC – will there be a “corporate grab” of water infrastructure!?

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC – will there be a “corporate grab” of water infrastructure!?

### ODT Online Sun, 26 Dec 2010
Water for discussion
By Chris Morris
A report on the future management of Dunedin’s water infrastructure, which could lead to the formation of a new council-controlled organisation (CCO), will be considered by city councillors next month. The report, outlining three options for water management in Dunedin, would be tabled during next month’s draft 2011-12 annual plan meetings, Dunedin City Council water and waste services manager John Mackie confirmed yesterday.

An Otago Daily Times request for a copy of the report – under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 – was declined because it would be released next month.

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

New Scientist: Water, water everywhere

Electricity and water form the lifeblood of our cities. As populations grow and we switch to renewable sources of power, neither will be as plentiful as they are today. In the first of three articles, produced in association with IBM, New Scientist explores how to handle these precious resources in smarter ways. This week, Fred Pearce visits Singapore, which has become the world leader in catching, using and recycling water.
Read more + Poll + Podcast

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Thinking about Dunedin, how would you answer the New Scientist poll?

Which of the measures taken by Singapore would you most like to see adopted in your area?

– Damming river estuaries to create reservoirs
– Encouraging consumers to use less water
– Prevention of serious water leaks
– Recycling water from surface runoff
– Desalination of seawater
– None of the above. Everything’s fine

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr