Mayor outlines vision for Dunedin city centre
WHAT is the vision for Dunedin’s city centre? Our muchneeded municipal car parks are being reduced even as the population grows. A few years ago parking places went from the Dowling St parking lot. Some are going in order to accommodate cycleways. Will Filleul St parking be sacrificed for a hotel site? Now there is talk of losing the hospital car park which is vital for people coming in to the hospital for appointments, treatment and visiting.
One huge advantage Dunedin has for medical research is the proximity of the hospital to the university. Surely if any area becomes available in the city it should be acquired for the hospital’s expansion and redevelopment. What a pity that the Cumberland St building has gone to Wilson. Will Cadbury’s site eventually be lost too?
Some cities in other parts of the world have located their car parks in the suburbs or on the perimeter, and run free hopon hopoff shuttles every 10 minutes in and around the city.
This has also allowed the creation of pedestrian boulevards in previously congested main streets. One hopes that our city fathers will be thinking big. P. Johnson
Mosgiel [Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull replies: ‘‘The council, through its centralcity plan, sees a prosperous, vibrant, exciting and accessible central city as a key to achieving the overarching vision of Dunedin as one of the world’s great small cities. In recent years, our focus has been on partnering with the community to successfully revitalise the warehouse precinct area, which is one of four urban precincts identified in our centralcity plan. Over coming years, focus will shift to the other three urban precincts: retail quarter (George St), cultural and entertainment quarter (Octagon and lower Stuart St), and creative quarter (Princes St).
‘‘The centralcity plan’s objective of having an accessible and connected city means sufficient car parking will be available in the locations it is required. However, parking won’t dominate the amenity of the city or detract from the experience of pedestrians or other road users like cyclists. Council certainly agrees that retaining a topflight teaching hospital in the central city is critical to Dunedin’s future social, economic and educational wellbeing. That’s why we’ve started the Dunedin Hospital SOS campaign to tell central government that any option to redevelop the hospital outside of the central city is unacceptable to our community.’’]
Water exports
I AM disappointed Okuru Enterprises Ltd (West Coast) plans to ship bulk water overseas. But not because of the access to water, given it appears they are being treated the same way as all other commercial operators who use New Zealand water daily; through the resource consent process; a process that takes into account the difference between water from a gushing West Coast river and the sand filter we call the Canterbury Plains.
I wonder why the company has chosen not to bottle the water in New Zealand when this process typically adds more value than the cost of doing so? Apart from the economic benefits to the coast and packaging suppliers, this could potentially reduce some of the environmental challenges of the land to ship pipeline.
Jane Leahy Otago Peninsula [This letter was referred to Okuru Enterprises Ltd for comment but no response was received.]
Photo praised
WOW! Just loved Stephen Jaquiery’s frontpage photo (ODT, 28.3.17) of Buster the yelloweyed penguin. The composition was compelling, Buster to the fore, back on his beach, and the photo captured his tenacity, scars and all with his purposeful walk to freedom. Simply stunning, I could not stop looking at it. It was great to see Shaun watchful behind him and David at the rear, relaxed as the scene unfolded. Congratulations to all involved in Buster’s care and it’s yet another reason why we love to live where we do. Sarah Borland
Dunedin