Workers to discuss harbourside plan

Workers at two businesses in the harbourside area of Dunedin will meet today to discuss the implications of the Dunedin City Council's proposed plan change 7: harbourside.

NZ Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union organiser Mike Kirwood yesterday said he would be speaking to union "membership meetings" at Farra Engineering and Bradken.

The purpose of the meetings was to inform members of the issues and determine what action they required from the union.

"Before we start commenting ... we need to see how our members feel.

"It's a bit of a political football at the moment ... we want to stay out of that stuff."

The union was not going to get into "a political battle" without a mandate from its members.

"But if our members are adamant they think there will be job losses, and they want to keep their jobs, then we might have to weigh in a little bit with our support."

Mr Kirwood said he had been provided with "large volumes" of information by the Otago Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber is fighting the zone change, which would allow residential and commercial use of industrial land north of Otago Harbour's steamer basin.

Critics of the plan change, including the management of Farra and Bradken, have suggested it could mean engineering industries being forced to shut down because of "reverse sensitivity" issues as new residents and visitors to the harbourside area began complaining about noise and air quality.

The Farra meeting will also be addressed by management.

Dunedin City councillor Dave Cull said yesterday he had filed a notice of motion for the March 29 council meeting calling for stage two of the proposed plan change (which has the greatest effect on existing businesses) to be withdrawn.