A New South Dunedin Library Is Unnecessary

I support a spruce-up for South Dunedin, but I oppose building a South Dunedin Library because it is not justified when the Main Library is only short distance away and good public transport is available.
This is especially so considering the large rates increases facing city residents in coming years. The expense of a new library is not just the cost of land and building, but also the ongoing operating costs which will add to the already-bloated Council budget.
I am skeptical about the claim that a library will have a significant benefit South Dunedin businesses.
The Dunedin City Council already spends more than enough on Library services considering the declining importance of libraries, as the Internet takes over as the primary source of information in the community.

Post Office Hotel Is Good News For City

The report that the Old Post Office in the Exchange will be developed as a hotel, is the best news that Dunedin has had for a long time. A City is made prosperous by private investment such as this, not by Council projects such as the Stadium and Town Hall upgrades which must be subsidised by tens of millions of ratepayers dollars.
And now the plans for moving the Library have been scuttled. This gives the opportunity to put the plans for a new Library on long-term hold, and remove $20 million from the DCC Long Term Plan. Rates are currently projected to rise by 65% over the next 8 years, which is totally unacceptable. We already have a perfectly good library. A new library is a luxury that the City cannot afford.

Big Payout To Councillor's Daughter

The owners of the Hungry Frenchman restaurant Grant Walker and Anna Hudson, have been paid $360,000 by the Dunedin City Council to end the lease of their Civic Centre premises. Anna Hudson is the daughter of Dunedin City Councillor, Paul Hudson. The Council wanted them out of the way so the Town Hall upgrade could proceed.
The Council does appear to have followed correct procedure, obtaining independent advice and Councillor Hudson withdrew from the decision-making process. But the amount seems very large considering the restaurant may not have been doing well, and may not have exercised it's right to extend the lease.
It seems to me that having Councillors withdraw from meetings when items in which they have an interest are being discussed, does not fully allay public concerns. There may be a feeling that there is an understanding of "You look after me this time, and I'll look after you next time".

Highlanders Will Leave Without Support

The New Zealand Rugby Union has underwritten the Highlanders finances for the next two years
But NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says that they cannot continue covering the Highlanders losses, and that regional support is required. Without much bigger crowds, it is the Dunedin City Council which will have to come up with the money to keep the franchise going.
The City is relying on Rugby to cover a large part of the Stadium's operating costs. Unfortunately, Dunedin now desperately needs the Highlanders. This situation was predictable and was predicted by Stadium opponents, but is exactly what was wanted by Otago Rugby to ensure ratepayer support. Remember that the City Council is already guaranteeing Otago Rugby's bank overdraft.
The situation will become even more gloomy if Otago fail to make the top seven in the National Championship this year, and are relegated to the Second Division for next Year.

$9 Million Blowout In Cost Of Stadium Bypass

The cost to move the highway around the new Stadium has increased by over $9 million, to almost $25 million. This includes increases in the cost of both construction and land. Taking into account a previous increase, the cost of land for the Stadium is $10 million over budget. It is some consolation to the City, that 2/3 of the cost will be paid by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Dunedin city councillor Andrew Noone yesterday said the change to the district plan that turned land at the area from an industrial to a stadium/campus zone had an effect on negotiations, and an impact on the value of land.

Duh! The Council rezoned the area to benefit property speculators, and it ends up costing ratepayers millions more dollars?

Using the Public Works Act to require land owners to sell would have been the ideal situation, he said, but the timing of the stadium and realignment meant that had not been possible.

This is just bad planning, due to the rush to build the Stadium.