Plan to advance $20m spend

A PROPOSAL to accelerate nearly $20 million in Dunedin City Council capital spending is ‘‘positive’’ progress towards ending an investment backlog within the organisation, Mayor Dave Cull says.

Mr Cull was commenting on a council staff report, to be considered next week, which proposed bringing forward $16.3 million in planned capital spending — and associated debt — to the 201819 year.

The money was already in later years of the council’s 10year budget, but bringing it forward would accelerate work on a range of projects, including cycleways, water infrastructure and repairs to the Edgar Centre.

But, at the same time, the council could defer work on two other big projects — the Mosgiel pool and Sammy’s — for at least a year, the report by council finance and commercial manager Dave Tombs said.

The accelerated spending included $4.5 million to progress the Urban Cycleways Project — including the Portsmouth Dr shared path to the Anzac Ave separated cycleway, an improved shared path in Steamer Basin and a connection from the new Leith bridge to Anzac Ave.

But it also included $2 million earmarked for the Edgar Centre, which, it was revealed earlier this year, was significantly earthquakeprone, at 10%15% of new building standard (NBS), and being warped by subsidence.

In June, seismic strengthening work had been expected to cost less than $1 million, but Mr Tombs said yesterday the budget had been doubled to include a ‘‘buffer’’ should any other work be required.

The accelerated capital spend also included $3 million for water infrastructure improvements in Northeast Valley, and $1.3 million for the refurbishment of Dunedin’s central city library.

Another $1.7 million would be brought forward for improvements to parks and reserves facilities, such as new sports field lights, while $1.1 million worth of housing renewals would also be accelerated.

So, too, would be $900,000 needed for a new Civic Centre lift, $800,000 for property acquisitions and $700,000 to fix the Mosgiel library roof.

The council was also proposing extra capital spending — not already in the 10year budget — totalling $11.4 million, to be included in the 201819 year.

That included $6.7 million for continuing storm repair work, which began last year, and delayed work on the Logan Park artificial turf work (worth $3.9 million), originally planned for the previous year.

Mr Cull said the budget changes were ‘‘as much as anything a timing change’’ and would not increase costs overall.

The council had, like other organisations, struggled in the past to spend its capital budget each year, resulting in an investment backlog which meant the council was ‘‘constantly behind’’.

That was due to the availability of contractors and other factors, as well as council processes, but council staff had been ‘‘working really hard at getting our processes up to speed’’.

‘‘We regard this as a really positive step.

‘‘They believe they have the capacity to do it, and they want to get on and get it done,’’ Mr Cull said.

The report containing the changes would be considered by councillors at next week’s full council meeting.