Not impressed with Ross Creek art installation

WITH respect to the proposed Dunedin rates increase, one is left with the opinion that the mayor and chief executive are ‘‘boys on a man’s mission’’.

If your readers are unsure as to the veracity of that opinion, I invite ratepayers to visit the refurbished dam at the Ross Creek reservoir.

After the engineers and contractors left the site, the downstream dam face was adorned with a collection of totally out of place metal objects that are supposed to represent stars. All this for the huge and ridiculously expensive sum of $120,000.

I can only assume that the inspiration for these ‘‘stars’’ are the same ones that dropped out of the eyes of the pieinthesky people responsible.

It must be said, though, that the engineer in charge of the project and her team have done a marvellous job of the refurbishment, and she should be highly commended for her work.

B. Chalmers

Ocean View

Building expansion

WAS the consent to add two further storeys to Forsyth Barr House notified or was it agreed to by the council ‘‘in house’’?

When built, I recall being appalled by its unsuitability for its prime spot in the Octagon opposite St Paul’s Cathedral and rubbing shoulders with the historic Stuart St terraces.

With the city now more heritagesavvy than it was then, I am astounded that this 10storey blot on our heritage landscape gained the approval necessary to be raised a further two storeys.

Lois Galer

Maori Hill

[DCC resource consents manager Alan Worthington replies:

‘‘The application for resource consent for the redevelopment of Forsyth Barr House was a nonnotified consent, as the council was satisfied the effects of the proposed changes would be no more than minor. The consent was granted by a delegated staff member.

‘‘The redevelopment will not result in two further floors. The caretaker flat on top of the building will be replaced by a singlelevel penthouse apartment, which means the roof will be higher.’’]