For a change I'm not going to kvetch about council needing to stick to core business. Unlike the decor projects that will "encourage tourism" we can encourage steady streams of longer stay visitors by concentrating on special interests. The night sky, and our outstanding Museum Director Ian Griffin's contributions towards observing, displaying, sharing on accessible media that draws other sky-watchers, these deserve (almost) all support he asks for. People with passions travel, whether it's astronomy, old engines & the Gasworks Museum, or at Foulden Maar the fossils and their testament to climate change and the way our solid lands moved in the past ... and will forever, however long forever is.
Quakes, tectonic plates, the stories this country can show and tell are fascinating. Reading their stories in the visible physical evidence isn't a once over lightly. The more you learn the more there is to learn and the more wonderful it is.
We are doing tourism wrong when we concentrate on cheap Attraction to Experience to Attraction to bar to free camping spot, visitors. We are doing it wrong when we make it about cruise ships disgorging hordes for a few hours of disrupting the CBD while they do their rounds of pre-paid Attractions, main profits going to tour companies.
Steady tourism, visitors who come here because "Here" is where their special passions lead them, is manageable. It is not on or off season. Of a couple or family, the one(s) who are so-so about fossils and the night sky won't be bored because there is so much else to see and do that they won't veto a repeat visit.
Foulden Maar is, for a change, a genuine investment. Not a get rich quick one, it's the kind with steady and growing returns.
Replicable safe manufactured Adventures are only the biggest and best till the next one is developed. Unlike flash stuff like the harbour edifice - see it, go Wow, take a selfie and move on - fossil, sky and historic machinery enthusiasts find kindred souls at the sites. They discuss, get to know the topic and the people in some depth. They'll be back. That's investment.
Tuesday, 5 November 2019
DCC starts Foulden Maar process
The move was confirmed by Mayor Aaron Hawkins in a statement yesterday afternoon.
Mr Hawkins said the council had yesterday served "notices of desire'' on the owner of the site, Plaman Resources Ltd, and moved to register the notices on the property's titles.
The notices, which could be served on the owner under the Public Works Act, triggered a process by which the two parties had to negotiate over a sale, and were the first step down a path which could end in a compulsory purchase by the council.......
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dcc-starts-foulden-maar-process
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