Individual ratepayers have their say on council’s plans

THERE were pointed fingers and words of encouragement as ratepayers had their say on the Dunedin City Council’s 10year plan yesterday.

In a process often dominated by larger organisations and regular submitters, yesterday brought a series of individuals submitting, some of them for the first time.

Among them was Ross Tilson, who said he had recently returned to Dunedin after 35 years overseas because the city was an attractive place for his children’s education.

He was impressed by the council’s plan to invest in core infrastructure, possibly a new Mosgiel pool, and the plans mooted for the Steamer Basin, which he hoped would boost tourism and attract businesses.

He supported investment in the bridge to the waterfront, but warned proposed rates increases threatened to ‘‘push quite a lot of people to the wall’’.

Instead, he suggested the council could consider alternative financing — including municipal bonds — to pay for other parts of the vision.

Pam Warren did not feel the rates increase was sustainable, and said the council was ‘‘quite remiss’’ to suggest it.

The council’s planned investment would not make the city more liveable, but would ‘‘quite significantly and detrimentally’’ affect small businesses, and the city’s talk of a debt target ‘‘makes me want to weep’’, she said.

‘‘We have only paid off one quarter of our debt and now we want to go and rack up a whole lot more debt.

‘‘It seems more like irresponsible teenage behaviour.’’

Bernice Armstrong said she supported planned spending on the central city, because ‘‘first impressions are just so important’’.

She launched into a detailed criticism of the state of empty shops in the central city, and the efforts of real estate agents in trying to fill them, before pausing to ask a question.

‘‘I hope noone here is a real estate agent,’’ she asked, prompting laughter as all eyes turned to city councillor and real estate agent Conrad Stedman.

‘‘It’s OK, I’m not commercial,’’ he retorted.

Eleanor Doig started her submission by telling councillors how much she loved the projects proposed in the plan.

‘‘I think the idea of investing in the infrastructure of the city like our forebears did with the station and the law courts and the university, which are iconic buildings and would have cost a lot at the time. I think it’s important we keep doing that type of investment, I love it.’’

Certain topics were repeated throughout the more than 60 submissions made during the week: a permanent South Dunedin Hub, a pool for Mosgiel, stormwater upgrades and the harbourside walking/ cycling bridge.

Before the hearing adjourned yesterday, Cr Chris Staynes announced councillors had asked 470 questions during the week, with Cr Jim O’Malley asking the most.

Written submissions are open until April 23 and two extra hearing sessions on April 26 and May 1 have been included due to the number of requests to speak.

Councillors will have a chance to debate the plan when all public submissions are considered at a council meeting in May.