DCC

Thirty Dunedin City Council staff will be transferred to a contractor under the first phase of an overhaul of the council's water and waste services unit.

Proposals to outsource Dunedin City Council water and waste maintenance and operations are expected to be announced today, potentially affecting dozens of jobs.

The Dalai Lama will receive an official welcome from the Dunedin City Council after all, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has confirmed.

The University of Otago is about to move into another commercial property, leaving the Dunedin City Council further out of pocket.

After nearly 38 years with the Dunedin City Council, Otto Schmid is looking forward to an early retirement. Yesterday was the last day of work for the water and waste services asset information team leader, who is one of the longest-serving council staff members.

The Dunedin City Council has been accused of having a ''vested interest'' in plans for a new caravan park on land it hopes to sell to the developer.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull may not be meeting the Dalai Lama next month, but one of his councillors said it would be a ''privilege'' if she could do so.

The Dunedin City Council is sitting on a more than $8 million operating surplus, fuelled in part by a healthier-than-expected Waipori Fund, as the end of the financial year approaches.

The Dunedin City Council is seeking applications for the next round of premier and major events funding.

A sedate debate turned heated as Crs Teresa Stevenson and Colin Weatherall traded claims of rural bias and points of order at a Dunedin City Council planning and environment committee meeting yesterday.