Mayoral candidates - Rate them on how they want to rate you

Friday, 20 September 2019

Views on direction a dividing line

By Chris Morris

Big increases in Dunedin City Council rates and debt levels are either the costs of a growing city or an unnecessary extravagance, Dunedin's mayoral candidates say.
But the dividing line between the two camps seems to fall between incumbent councillors, who largely defend the city's current trajectory, and those seeking to replace them, many of whom argue cuts are needed.

The council is forecasting this year's 5.3% rates increase will be followed by others totalling 34% by 2028.
Core debt is also climbing after the council lifted its limit from $285million to $350million, while group debt - including that of council-owned companies - is forecast to increase from $658million to $926.5million by 2022.
The drivers of debt include the rebuild of Aurora's network and the increasing of council capital spending, including on flood alleviation and other major infrastructure projects.

The Bridge to Nowhere

Then there is spending on the more glamorous projects, including $60million for the central city plan upgrade, $20million for the tertiary precinct and another $20million for a new bridge to the waterfront.


Crs Jim O'Malley, Christine Garey, Aaron Hawkins, Rachel Elder and Andrew Whiley - who are all vying to be mayor - said they were largely comfortable with the council's spending plans.
.........
[Andrew Whiley] opposed the planned $60million central city upgrade, when a smaller $35million spend could reinstate an attractive surface environment, and wanted to cap rates increases at 3%.
Cr Lee Vandervis ... focus on core infrastructure and defer other non-essential projects.............

 Mayoral candidates from outside the council leaned more towards spending restraint.
They included Carmen Houlahan, Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle, Bob Barlin and Mandy Mayhem-Bullock, who are all arguing for a greater focus on core infrastructure before other projects.
 https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/views-direction-dividing-line

Sea level at Sydney Harbour

Cable car project is making good progress

Dunedin steampunks feel right at home on restored cable cars in Mornington. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

Stunning effort. From the start this has been a grand vision which unlike too many of the over-talked under-thought "Vision$$$" was carefully assessed from all angles before being presented to Dunedin people. Without hype, without extravagant promises of profits flowing into every corner of town, Phil Cole told us how he thought it could be done. Step by step, each step providing a usable asset that could stand alone till money was raised for the next step.

 From http://www.dunedincablecars.co.nz/history.html :
 The initial impetus for the present project came after the launch of Don McAra’s book Hold Very Tight Please! in 2007; Don has been instrumental in the restoration and return of the cars now in Dunedin. A website from 2008 documents progress at that time, and also provides a gallery of Don's paintings:
 dunedintrams.co.nz/donsbook.htm. 
In 2013, the cause was taken up by Phil Cole, who brought engineering expertise to the table; tragically, he died, at the peak of his career, in 2014.
The reins were then picked up by Neville Jemmett, who has been the driving force behind the building of the Interim Cable Car Building, and the bringing to Dunedin of the cable cars previously stored (and lovingly restored) at Ferrymead. 







***

From the ODT, full article  https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/cable-car-house-opens-mornington

Saturday, 31 August 2019

Cable car house opens in Mornington

By Jono Edwards

 

Hundreds of spectators turned out in Mornington this morning to see historic Dunedin cable cars emerge from their new home.

• Cable car book offers glimpse of yesteryear 

Bagpipers set the tone as two restored cable cars - Roslyn number 95 and Mornington trailer 111 - were rolled out of the shed for the crowd to look through.
It also marked the beginning of fundraising for the next stage of the project, expected to cost $6 million to 8 million.

Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust chairman Neville Jemmett (left) and member Stuart Payne, both of Dunedin, display an artist’s impression of the proposed cable car house and museum building in Mornington Park. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE

 

 

Overseas trip worth while! Solution to diabolical Port noise

How about this - not a public-purse jaunt with a bunch of cobbers. Surprised? Shocked? 
Have a little sit-down and a cup of tea. That worked wonders during the Blitz, apparently. 
Let's hope the Maersk chappies do the right thing. 

 

 

 

Sunday, 8 September 2019

Way to silence noisy ships found

By Jessica Wilson

Port Otago’s chief executive has returned from Denmark with a solution to silence noisy ships.
Earlier this year, residents in the area complained about the noise coming from the Rio class ships, which they described as akin to a V8 car idling in their driveway.
Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said the solution may be a silencer which would be retro-fitted into the six Rio class ships.
Mr Winders travelled to Copenhagen last month to meet Maersk engineers and said things looked promising....... https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/way-silence-noisy-ships-found

Candidates: Rachel Elder, Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle, Bob Barlin

Rachel Elder

• Age: 63.
• Brought up: Broadlands, Bay of Plenty.
• Occupation: City councillor.
• Council/governance experience: One term.
• Political orientation: No set political view.
• Describe yourself in three words: Commitment, vision and action.

Interview, video:
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/consultation-ending-city-congestion-and-sth-dunedin-issues-are-priorities

Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle

Age: 44.
Brought up: Dunedin.
Occupation: Rare-book seller, part-time student.
Council/governance experience: None; council meeting observer.
Political orientation: Classical liberal.
Describe yourself in three words: Kind, compassionate, scholarly.
Interview, video: 
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/desire-see-lessalarmist-climate-change-response-council

Bob Barlin

Age: 67.
Brought up: Auckland, moved to Dunedin in 2002.
Occupation: Taxi driver, former army soldier/officer, United Nations logistics officer, Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies roles, business owner.
Council/governance experience: NZ Army attendee at Waiouru ward board meetings, 1980s. Chamber of Commerce member in Republic of Georgia.
Political orientation: Independent.
Describe yourself in three words: Happy to serve.
Bob Barlin's resume details a long career of service to others - first with the New Zealand Army, and later while working overseas for the United Nations and Red Cross.

Interview, video:  
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/first-thing-listen-people-then-work-together-change

Dave Cull : Rattling the Chains, pre-election series on OAR FM.

Rattling the Chains: Dave Cull

Dunedin's outgoing mayor Dave Cull fronts up to Ian Telfer about his nine years in the job, the intense workload and his disappointment about not landing a five-star hotel in Episode 1 of Rattling the Chains by Otago Access Radio.

Mayor Cull discusses his decision not to run for the top job again and his campaign to get elected to the Southern District Health Board. Rattling the Chains is a six-week pre-election radio, podcast and video series on OAR FM. Each week, aspiring mayoral candidates will be paired for a half-hour interview discussion live from the OAR FM studio in Dunedin Community House.
They will be questioned on their ideas, their influences, their values, maybe even their favourite music. And most of all, why they want to be the Mayor and wear those chains of office.

ODT profiles: Barbour-Evans, Campbell, Hawkins, Whiley, Seager

Printed interview and video are in the links.

Scout Barbour-Evans

Age: 24.
Occupation: Student.
Brought up: Dunedin.
Political orientation: Former Green Party member, politics haven’t changed.
Council experience: Candidate 2016.
Describe yourself in three words: Smart, compassionate and bold.
 Continued at
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/youngest-mayoral-candidate-focuses-housing-community

Finn Campbell

Age: 27.
Brought up: Dunedin.
Occupation: Unemployed and volunteer.
Council experience: Community representative on the Dunedin City Council’s environment strategy.
Political orientation: Classic left and green.
Describe yourself in three words: Thoughtful, compassionate and caring.
Continued at
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/moving-circular-low-waste-economy-seen-vital-city

Aaron Hawkins

Age: 35.
Brought up: Invercargill, Southland, then Dunedin.
Occupation: City councillor.
Council/governance experience: Two-term councillor, chairman of community and culture committee Refugee Steering Group, Creative Dunedin Partnership, Mayor’s Taskforce for Housing; Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust chairman, former Blue Oyster Arts Trust board member.
Political orientation: Progressive, Green Party candidate.
Describe yourself in three words: Effective, fair, curious.

Continued at
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/strong-track-record-building-political-support

Andrew Whiley

Age: 53.
Brought up: Wellington, moved to Dunedin in 2003.
Occupation: City councillor, business owner, ex-golf professional.
Council/governance experience: Two-term councillor, deputy chairman economic development committee, bylaw hearings chairman, NZPGA board member, Volunteering Otago chairman, Institute of Directors member.
Political orientation: Centre/centre-right.
Describe yourself in three words: Dependable, hard-working, focused.
Continued at

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/central-aim-get-dunedin-moving

 Richard Seager

Age: 57
Brought up: Waikato and the Bay of Plenty
Plenty Political: Left but cynical, more focused on democracy
Council experience: None
Describe yourself in three words: Open-minded, resourceful and dedicated.
 Continued at
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/more-climate-change-action-cycle-precinct-priority

Cemetery roses "some of rarest breeds in existence"

Sunday, 8 September 2019

Poisoned heritage roses now replaced

 The poisoning of hundreds of heritage roses in a Dunedin cemetery remains a mystery but as a rally to replant nears an end, the celebrations are set to begin.

Heritage Roses Otago committee member Rex Thomson and Southern Heritage Trust trustee Ann Barsby enjoy a cuppa in Northern Cemetery in preparation for the Savoy afternoon tea next week to celebrate the replanting of heritage roses in the cemetery. Photo: Shawn McAvinue

An investigation proved the herbicide used was different from the one used by the Dunedin City Council contractors which worked in the Victorian garden cemetery.
‘‘It’s all very mysterious and unexplained.’’

Northern Cemetery was opened in 1872 and back then tombstones were imported from Italy and ‘‘hellishly expensive’’ so many people planted roses instead.
After waiting for the soil to recover Heritage Roses Otago members replanted about 300 rose plants last winter, and another 70 rose plants this winter.
The replanting was nearly complete and the final 10 plants to be put in cemetery soil would finish the project.

Heritage Roses Otago committee member Rex Thomson, of Saint Leonards, said the replanted roses were some of rarest breeds in existence.

★ The public afternoon tea to celebrate the roses of Northern Cemetery is on at The Savoy in Princes St at 2.30pm on Thursday, September 12. Reservations essential. Call 477-4649.
★ Heritage Roses Otago (HRO) and the Dunedin City Council will celebrate the return of heritage roses to the Northern Cemetery with talks and tours on December 7 and 8.
SHAWN.MCAVINUE@thestar.co.nz

Full article:
https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/horticulture/poisoned-heritage-roses-now-replaced

Would-be Dunedin Mayor Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle takes on Auckland Council

• Wednesday, 4 September 2019

  Mayoral hopeful fights for divisive pair's speaking rights

  
  

  A Dunedin mayoral candidate and a University of Auckland lecturer are listed on documents as the two applicants fighting for the speaking rights of two controversial right-wing Canadians in Auckland's High Court this week.

  

   Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle. Photo: Craig Baxter

   

  On the court documents, University of Auckland anaesthesiology lecturer David Cumin is listed as one applicant, would-be Dunedin Mayor, climate change denier, Donald Trump supporter and rare books dealer Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle the other.
  

  
  

  Representing the Free Speech Coalition is the Queen's Counsel Jack Hodder, who was recently snapped up by the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners to oppose changes to the country's gun laws.

   According to Williams, the exercise has cost about $200,000 so far and, if they didn't succeed in the High Court, he said they'd appeal.
  
  The group's claim: Auckland Council broke the law and undermined New Zealand's democracy by stopping alt-right activists Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux from speaking at the council-owned Bruce Mason Centre last July.
  https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/mayoral-hopeful-fights-divisive-pairs-speaking-rights 

Regional council election - article

Please, PLEASE bring all your critical faculties to this election. Bring them out in public now, start discussions, talk to strangers in supermarket checkout queues. Anything to get people involved, interested in voting, telling good or bad stories about their experiences with aspiring City and Regional Council candidates. 

They all tell us why they are the best person for the job. It is our job to search past the public profile so we can vote like responsible grownups. We are - aren't we?

Candidates, you are welcome to contribute to this site. Email whatiffer@gmail.com - unfortunately the "add comment to page" doesn't work.

August 27, 2019

Why you need to pay attention to Regional Council races

Alex Braae | Staff Writer

Among the hundreds of local government races under way, just over a dozen could have an outsize impact on environmental issues. Alex Braae explains why Regional Council elections matter.

....So for voters, the best time to start looking at candidates running for Regional Councils is now. If you have questions for the people seeking to govern the environmental management of the country, ask them is during an election, when they’ll be most keen to talk. More than any other branch of local government, Regional Council decisions can linger long after those making them are gone.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/local-elections/27-08-2019/why-you-need-to-pay-attenhttps://thespinoff.co.nz/local-elections/27-08-2019/why-you-need-to-pay-attention-to-regional-council-races/tion-to-regional-council-races/ 

Thursday, 29 August 2019

Waterfront plan cut back call by climate group

By Chris Morris

Plans for Dunedin's waterfront development should be scaled back in favour of a greater focus on the city, and the world's, climate emergency, the Seniors' Climate Action Network says.
The call came from Dunedin network representative Donna Peacock as she addressed councillors during the public forum at this week's Dunedin City Council meeting.

The project was not in line with a focus on minimising harm to the environment, and the associated spending - whether debt-funded or from the Provincial Growth Fund - could be put to better uses, she argued....... https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/waterfront-plan-cut-back-call-climate-group

From Facebook:

• DCC staff countered saying the waterfront plan was designed to accommodate predicted sea-level rise over the next 50 years, and sustainability is part of the vision.

  

  Comments

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    Paul Allan Symons It’s a flop, they can not get a building permit and yet raise the money for the construction, another big stupid idea from muppets
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• Victor Billot There is a complete disconnect here. It is obvious to any rational person that the coming decades are going to be massively challenging at best. The focus has to be on planning for this and future proofing our infrastructure and basic services.
  Instead we are on some quest to compete with Dubai or something, to appeal to whom?


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  Dave Smith It's an AWESOME project and Dunedin needs it!... Our Harbour is so under-utilised and could be used for so much more but you need to invest to get investment returns.


• Lisa Yonker It's cos its bloody freezing down there even on the hottest day. I would never want to go to Steamer Basin to hang out


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  Dave Smith well, some of us scuba dive it.. some of us wind surf it.. some of us swim in it and soon.. some of us will golf in it... Maybe it's not as bad as you think? ;)

   

  Mark Jamieson We don't NEED it....you WANT it....if you had to pay for it I bet you wouldn't. And what about what future generations "Need" not bloody debt thats for sure.


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  Dave Smith Mark Jamieson I guess it all comes down to if we want a progressive city or a city that's laden in old decrepit buildings...
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  Hanna Lin Dave Smith Spending money on development that is mostly decorative doesn't sound progressive to me.
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  Dave Smith Hanna Lin Unique architecture is in it's own right a tourist attraction... It's a good looking building, and buildings bring money.. take the train station.. the most photographed building in the southern hemisphere.. take the Sydney opera house.. many people travel just to see it... Decorative = attractive = tourism interest...
 
 
• Kerry Stewart Such a not a good time to do this. Rates a far out of control now and if you think this type of project will be on budget I think you need to wake up and get a taste of reality.

   

  Lyndon Weggery Kerry Stewart - meanwhile we are still waiting for Hon. Shane Jones to come up with central government funding from the PGF.
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  Sandy Price Just leave the harbourside productive businesses alone!

  
  
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  Sarah Ellison Would they just fix what needs to be fixed before spending any money on fantasy vanity projects please. I pay my rates to get value for my money and I am afraid that it's not really happening at present.

  1

  

  Lyndon Weggery Speaking from a South Dunedin perspective it would be helpful for Nicola Penfield to tell us what are the official sealevel rise projections in the next 50 years given there was no cause for alarm given by Sue Bidrose at the recent South Dunedin Community Hui.


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  Ken McHoull Lyndon Weggery After a $60000 rise Bidrose will make herself known, never heard of any of her accomplishments, what are they?
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• Lisa Yonker They were all in the article about her pay rise actually, along with the fact she tried to decline the money, saying it was unfair to other council staff

  
  

  
  
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  Jared Smith I also think it looks quite extravagant.

  
  
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• John Fridd Not many people know that what's being planned is a new Atlantis. They build it, then the sea rises and drowns it and hey presto - a new tourist attraction!

  1
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• Sophie Read Someone please fix up Rattray st! It looks so manky!


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  Dave Smith It does I agree.. but they are private buildings and nothing to do with the DCC.

  
  

  Richard M K Lewis (SCAN) Almost spelt out SCAM. Hilarious though that they have a facebook page...must mean they use technology. Hypocrites!
• 
  


• Rachel J Page Regardless of climate change. Do we really need this debt right now? There's a lot to be fixed and built with out monuments being added.


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  Ben Blackmore Rachel J Page how often are we likely to get a subsidy for this type of thing from the government? Do you think National will stump up with anything?


• Rachel J Page I would love for it to go ahead. I am just concerned as a ratepayer. 
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  JanferieSefo Kelekolio Lol where did the houses go on the peninsular?? This could be millions of dollars under water if what they are saying about rising sea waters is going to happen...... Maybe they should make a giant see thru bubble that you could go down into look under water and ontop of water....??
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  Darrin Evans Bet it doesn’t go ahead with such a proactive council like Dunedin has.


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• Ted McArthur never mind climate emergencies, what about the impending alien invasion? Zombie Apocalypse? Unicorn extinction? JUST BUILD IT, FFS


• Victor Billot Sigh.
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  Alex Mcewan Here comes the anti Dunedin progress brigade.

  10
• Jared Smith I hate progress almost as much as I hate that bridge


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  Alex Mcewan Jared Smith then you can help fall even further behind and be even more stuck in the past.the harbour basin is embarrassing .I love the new idea



• Alex Mcewan Robyn Dennison I love it Robyn I think it will be good for Dunedin the teeth on Portsmouth drive are ugly.



• Lisa Yonker The bridge alone will cost at least $450 per rates houeshold. I would love to know what return people think they are getting for that $450 exactly



• Alicia Frost I love the design its lovelyand enhances the harbour regardless. I think it will help the city boom even more than it is
• • 
    


• Mark Jamieson As much as I hate this water front development ... I have to point out that there IS no climate emergency, there is no global warming problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7lgKjvAqt4
• 

  youtube.com

  Rewriting Iceland

  Rewriting Iceland
• Maire Bouman Morgan No surprises there...all the climate dogooders come out in protest and put a stop to any progress in Dunedins development....looks like we are stuck with Hogwarts! Would be nice if they at least upgraded public transportation....the stinky black smoke blowing diesel monsters are polluting the ozone!

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