'Stuff them': Guest talks tough to trust

Ongoing acrimony towards the New Zealand Historic Places Trust surfaced at the Dunedin City Council yesterday, as the stalled Mediterranean garden project was discussed.

But while anger towards the trust continued, an attempt at better communication appears to be under way.

Developers of the Mediterranean garden criticised the trust late last month over an archaeological assessment of the site, in the Dunedin Botanic Garden, which it said was holding up the new garden.

The trust responded it had a statutory responsibility to administer the archaeological authority process.

Community and recreation services manager Mick Reece gave an update on the project at the community development committee.

Staff would apply for an archaeological authority from the trust, but due to the uncertainty of the outcomes, the garden was "on hold", he said.

Cr Michael Guest responded the council should "lay it on" the trust, and tell the organisation it was ready to proceed with the garden.

"Stuff them."

He said if, as the meeting heard, the trust asked for an assessment because members of the public had told the trust there may have once been a dwelling on the site, that fell "woefully short of the mark" as evidence.

"They are upsetting the apple cart."

Cr John Bezett said councillors needed to give staff more guidance on the issue.

"I'd like to firm up what we do or don't do with the trust."

Mayor Peter Chin said he had spoken to the trust's management.

The trust was willing to work with the council, and had offered to hold a workshop to discuss the matter.