Environmental issues dominate hearings

Dunedin residents concerned about climate change and peak oil want a local government response to environmental problems, more cycleways, and a return to spending on new social housing.

Those issues, and requests for support from a host of community, heritage and sporting organisations, took centre stage when the Dunedin City Council annual plan hearings committee sat yesterday for the first day of a week-long hearing.

There are more than 800 submissions, with 240 people wanting to speak.

The issues changed the focus of the hearings from the last two years, when opposition to the stadium and the town hall extension dominated.

The town hall extension was changed following opposition, and the council has signed a contract for the stadium to be built.

Chalmers community board member and environmental activist Nicola Bould began the submissions, and said she had considered just saying "cycleways, cycleways, cycleways, cycleways" for the five minutes she was allotted.

Councillors had heard her thoughts on that subject, so she told the committee about her views on recycling, and that the user-pays system needed to stay, as it was important people paid for the rubbish they put out.

Chalmers Community Board deputy chairman Steve Walker, of the Harbour Cycle Network, asked whether the council's funding for the Port Chalmers cycleway was contingent on government funding, and asked for the council to be clearer about its commitment to the project.

Cr Andrew Noone told him the council was committed, but there were difficulties with the route from Maia to Port Chalmers.

Once the regional land transport programme, which was going through consultation, was completed, the situation would be clearer.

Other speakers also returned to the theme, with Dunedin woman Phaedra Upton telling councillors she was a regular cyclist but still did not feel safe on the city's roads - if anything, she felt less safe in recent years.

She supported more cycleways, signage and greater driver education in an effort to keep cyclists safe, while Dr Murray Skeaff urged councillors to reconsider plans to seal the gravel Leith Valley Rd.

Sealing the road would increase traffic speeds and attract boy racers to what was a popular recreational cycling and mountain biking route, he said.

Presbyterian minister Selwyn Yeoman talked of his concern for the environment, and spending on the new stadium.

He said despite the certainty of global warming and peak oil, the council did not to have a clear policy on how to engage with those issues.

And the proposal to remove money from development of new social housing - the council voted in January to remove $10 million over 10 years - "appears cynical in light of the proposals for massive new expenditure".

Lala Frazer, of Save the Otago Peninsula (Stop), said she was pleased with the inclusion of sustainability and biodiversity in the annual plan, but the group wanted council staff given the job of ensuring that was dealt with effectively, and more funding for Harbour Cone.

Stuart McLauchlan spoke for the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, and asked for the continuation of funding for a facility that was New Zealand's national sports museum, and Academy of Sport (South Island) chief executive Kereyn Smith asked for the same for her organisation.

Dr Bruce Spittle raised his concerns about fluoride, which he said was not safe, while Anne Turvey again brought the council's attention to the need for a library in South Dunedin.

A delegation from the South Dunedin Business Association also queried delays in selecting a site for the new library, as well as arguing for greater provision of parking for shoppers and other projects, including signage and beautification.

Elizabeth Kerr spoke on a wide range of issues, including economic development, heritage, social housing, museums and libraries.

While the city had a relatively modest level of rates, the council had to ensure the increases did not reach double figures in the next 10 years.

Two people raised concerns about Allanton sewerage and water schemes.