'Ongoing anger' over stadium described

Make no mistake - community anger remains over Forsyth Barr Stadium despite an absence of critical submissions to this year's Dunedin City Council annual plan hearing, councillors were told yesterday.

The message came from Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association chairman Lyndon Weggery as he addressed councillors on the second day of the hearing.

"It may be you have not got so much flak about the stadium, but I can say to you on behalf of the association . . . there's an ongoing anger about the way this council signed off [on the stadium construction contract] before the annual plan hearings last year.

"That's an irritant we all have to live with."

The message was accompanied by a warning from Mr Weggery councillors would need to do more to control debt and try to limit the rate increase to 5%, before local body elections in October.

He said association members were worried by council forecasts a proposal being considered by the Government to lift GST by up to 2.5% - to a maximum of 15% - would raise the council's rates increase for 2010-11 from 5.30% to 6.97%.

"With the ageing population, the change in demographics, the limited incomes, it's something we are going to be finding harder and harder on fixed incomes - to meet those rates increases."

Council staff and elected officials also needed to show more spending restraint to prevent rates and debt levels from climbing.

"I believe that would endear you more to the voters than anything else," he said.

Pressed by Cr Bill Acklin on where he would cut $2 million in spending - to keep the rate rise to 5% - Mr Weggery said parts of the Otago Settlers Museum upgrade could be deferred.

His group did not want to tell councillors how to run the city but saw themselves as "Her Majesty's opposition" to elected officials.

Last year it was reported the association's membership had dwindled to just two people.

A public meeting in November attracted 25 people interested in seeing it continue.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz