The Dunedin City Council was praised at a public forum
yesterday.
Otago Regional Sports director Des Smith told the forum about
progress in Otago secondary school sport and praised the
council's sporting facilities, and council staff, saying they
"help us tremendously".
The praise was something of a surprise considering the amount
of criticism the council has been receiving in the past few
years, and the criticism it faced from others who spoke
yesterday.
Mr Smith said Dunedin was "very, very fortunate" to have
facilities such as the Dunedin Ice Stadium, the Edgar Centre,
the Caledonian Ground, Logan Park and the University Oval,
all of which were well used.
He also suggested to councillors they keep Carisbrook as a
sports ground that could be used "24/7", as the hockey turf
at Logan Park was.
Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association chairman
Lyndon Weggery prompted some sharp exchanges with councillors
when he took them to task for council and council company
debt, and what he said was underfunding of water and
wastewater.
He said money from carbon credits should not be used to fund
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd; instead, "money generated by
climate change" should be used to deal with its effects.
Michael Collins called for a quick resolution to the closure
of John Wilson Ocean Dr.
Sports facilities
Mr Smith makes a very good case here. We have so many great facilities for different sports -already. 24/7 use of Carisbrook would be novel.