Mixed feedback emerges about plan
Close margins abound in public feedback to key issues in the Invercargill City Council’s draft 10-year plan.
Councillors are now distilling the results of more than 450 submissions, including a series of hearings on Thursday and yesterday at which some 55 individuals and groups took up the offer to show up in person and speak – or to sing and recite poetry, as group from the arts community chose.
Some of the most high-profile issues have drawn finely balanced responses.
The proposed introduction of an extra household collection bin for glass recycling, which the council calculates would mean about 90% of the glass collection was able to be reused, revealed an even split of support.
Of 108 submitters, 46% supported the proposed introduction of a new 140 litre household bin to be collected fortnightly, whereas 45% instead favoured the other presented option of retaining the existing recycling system, but supported by new bottle banks.
As part of its response to the city’s housing issues, the council has proposed an extra $7.7 million in capital spending from general rates to accelerate the replacement of its own aging stock of elderly person’s housing.
Of 105 submitters, 53% supported the idea and 40% opposed it. The remainder didn’t give a bottom-line verdict.
On climate change, from 95 submitters, 55% supported the council allocating $200,000 a year to implement carbon reduction initiatives, and 41% wanted no policy change.
Some 59 submitters specifically raised the cost of living; some questioned the value they were seeing from rates, a few noted increases were lower than in other parts of the country
In the broad areas of infrastructure there was support for maintaining investment and, on balance, some support for further investment in three water areas.
In the roading category, cycling issues were raised by 21 submitters, most wanting more investment in cycle paths to connect the city, and measures to promote safe cycling. Roading also drew a raft of submissions citing the condition of state highways including the state highway to Bluff, footpath maintenance, and the importance of roading to keep services in the South City shopping area.
Many suggestions have come in for new bus routes, including one from the airport, and there’s some support for the extension of the service at the start and end of the day.
In parks and reserves, 29 submitters raise issues with low-mow practices and high levels of grass or weeds. A small number, however, cited the environmental benefits.
Some submitters were concerned about potential plans to sell some parks and reserve land.
A smaller number though it could be a good idea, to keep rates down.
Concerns were raised that Arts+Creativity Invercargill, a facility for creatives initially proposed for the northern side of Esk St West reaching to Wachner Place, had been removed from planning.
Some submitters wanted the Te Unua Museum of Southland – planned for the pyramid site of the now-closed museum at Queens Park – to be reconsidered and relocated to a city centre location.
The Te Kupeka Tiaki Taoka Southern Regional Collections submission favoured a combined museum, art and tuatarium precinct as more attractive to visitors. .
Te Rūnaka o Awarua asked the council recognise that the project for a new installation and visitor centre at the top of Bluff Hill be recognised as a project of regional significance,and sough support fora project management resource and for future funding for the project.