Dunedin's community board leaders have called on the Dunedin City Council to continue its work on city projects, while asking for more money for their own activities.
Representatives from the city's community boards addressed the council at the beginning of the two-day pre-draft plan hearing in Dunedin yesterday morning.
Among the requests was one from Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman John Bellamy for the council to focus on completing the planned Portobello Jetty upgrade "at the earliest possibility".
Completing the project would allow the jetty to be used by the Elsie Evans or another ferry service, in turn allowing cruise ship tourists to be taken directly from Port Chalmers to the peninsula's wildlife attractions, he said.
The jetty and ferry service, together with the cycleway development already under way on the peninsula, would also create an attractive round trip and help boost the city's revenue through tourism, he said.
He believed the council should invest in the project ahead of others without the same revenue-generating potential.
Other community boards also called for more support, with Saddle Hill board chairman Keith McFadyen asking for discretionary funding for distribution to community groups to be doubled to $20,000 a year.
His suggestion was supported by Mr Bellamy and Mosgiel Taieri board chairman Bill Feather, who also suggested admission prices to the Mosgiel pool could be reduced.
He also voiced concern at residential developments encroaching on the town's retail centre.
In other areas, Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Gerard Collings called on the incoming council chief executive take a fresh look at the council's internal operating costs, and also questioned the city's financial preparedness for a natural disaster.
Chalmers Community Board chairwoman Jan Tucker urged the council to continue work on the harbour cycleway, while a closed railway pedestrian overbridge at Ravensbourne should be transferred to the council's ownership, repaired and reopened.
She also suggested a new composting toilet should be considered for the well-used Lady Thorn Dell at Port Chalmers, and asked for an extra $2000 from the council to help support volunteers greeting cruise ship visitors arriving at the port.
