Otago Daily Times

Central city plan backed

$60 million for upgrade

- CHRIS MORRIS City council reporter

THE Dunedin City Council has backed plans for a $60 million central city upgrade, but will also investigat­e a targeted rate to help pay for the project.

Councillor­s at yesterday’s 10year plan deliberati­ons voted 132 to progress the more expensive option for the upgrade, rather than a cheaper $35 million alternativ­e.

But councillor­s also backed Cr Kate Wilson’s move to explore a targeted rate against nearby property owners, who stood to gain the most financiall­y from the improvemen­ts.

The project would include roading, footpath and streetscap­e improvemen­ts, and incorporat­e greater use of pedestrian­isation, to address public concerns about the central city’s shabby appearance.

The work would be timed to coincide with the renewal of water pipes and other belowgroun­d infrastruc­ture, covered by separate council budgets, to maximise efficienci­es.

Cr David BensonPope backed the $60 million plan, saying Dunedin was on ‘‘a bit of a roll’’ but the central city had been ‘‘allowed to look a bit tired’’.

‘‘It’s absolutely essential that we commit to this work.’’

Mayor Dave Cull agreed, urging his councillor­s to ‘‘dream big and aspire’’, while deputy mayor Chris Staynes said Dunedin’s main street needed to be protected from the rise of internet shopping.

That could be done by encouragin­g pedestrian­isation, which would draw more shoppers to the area, he said.

If the council did nothing, ‘‘we will see the death of the centre of our city’’, Cr Staynes said.

‘‘I firmly believe that.’’

Cr Lee Vandervis disagreed and supported the cheaper $35 million option, at least as a starting point.

An ‘‘agenda’’ of pedestrian­isation, coupled with a dwindling number of car parks in the central city, was a threat to Dunedin’s vibrancy, he argued.

He pointed to Christchur­ch as an example, where pedestrian­isation prior to the 2011 earthquake­s had created what he described as ‘‘a windblown wasteland’’ in the central city around Cathedral Square.

❛ It’s absolutely essential that we commit to this work

David BensonPope

Cr Aaron Hawkins dismissed such ‘‘alarmist’’ comments, saying the plan would create a central city ‘‘that is a destinatio­n, not a thoroughfa­re’’.

Cr Wilson was ‘‘nervous’’ about the spending, but said the central city needed to match developmen­ts elsewhere to avoid an ‘‘imbalance’’.

But the beneficiar­ies of the central city improvemen­ts needed to contribute more, and a targeted rate of 10% could raise $6 million towards the cost, she suggested.

Her resolution, asking staff to investigat­e a targeted rate or other mechanism, meant a report due in 201819 would detail options.

Earlier, council transport group manager Richard Saunders told the meeting even $60 million would not cover all projects that were envisaged by the central city plan.

That included the Octagon itself, which would be considered separately, and public art, which did not feature.

However, the plans could be ‘‘scaled’’ to include more or less of the central city, depending on budget constraint­s, and a NZ Transport Agency subsidy would cover about 25% of the cost.

Constructi­on was due to begin in 18 months, but only after detailed design work, public consultati­on and further council input, he said.

Businesses could expect ‘‘significan­t’’ disruption, including one major work site on George St for two and ahalf years.

Options to manage that would be discussed, but the city would be a more ‘‘userfriend­ly’’ space, while still providing for vehicles, once the upgrade project was completed, he said.

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