Dunedin: triumphs and challenges

The end of one year and the start of another is often a time for personal reflection; a time to give thanks for the year's triumphs, acknowledge grief and loss, hopefully turn the page on the hardships, and consider the upcoming challenges and how best to tackle them.

In civic terms, too, there is much taking stock to be done.

The year has ended on several high notes for Dunedin.

The reprieve for the Dunedin Courthouse has brought no small sense of relief.

This was a battle for justice, for heritage, for dignity and respect, where (thankfully) reason prevailed, and Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams announced the 113-year-old courthouse would be saved: earthquake strengthened, restored and modernised (to the tune of more than $15 million) and have all its court services returned to it.

After many years' labouring under the guise of a white elephant, the stadium's fortune wheel seems finally to be turning, too.

A new CEO, new relationship with the world's biggest entertainment promoter, a new ticket deal, a sellout concert, a better flow of acts (and more big names promised) means the city can finally appreciate the venue and reap some of the long-desired (and long-promised) economic benefits.

Dunedin seems to have rediscovered its identity as a heritage city.

We are lucky several businesspeople are making considerable investments in some of the city's original bricks and mortar - with help from the Dunedin City Council.

There is a pleasing melding of the old and the new as start-ups and high-tech businesses move into these carefully restored buildings, bringing a newfound vibrancy to parts of the harbourside precinct and encouraging further growth.

And that is where Dunedin's perennial challenges lie: attracting visitors, residents, investment, jobs and building on our infrastructure, growing a bigger and better city.

While cruise ship visits have kept the city humming, we face the same challenges of other tourism destinations: competition and capability.

With tourist numbers forecast to spiral, are we equipped for the opportunities the numbers will bring?

Do we make enough of our tourism potential?

There are plans for a wildlife festival to better celebrate our natural heritage, but we haven't made the most of our Gigatown win - and has our Unesco City of Literature designation borne real fruit yet?

It is vital we make the most of opportunities where we can, to counteract the sizeable challenges.

We think of ourselves as a "great little city'' but the truth is our relatively small size makes us marginal, particularly in the shadow of centralisation.

Without the University of Otago we would certainly suffer.

It is to everyone's benefit the university has embarked on an ambitious multimillion-dollar building project, but will the vagaries of the international market and stiff competition mean it can continue to attract good student numbers?

With an ageing population and large catchment area, there is concern for our health system.

All eyes will be on the Dunedin Hospital rebuild and whether we will "pay'' for its expensive price tag with jobs and/or service losses.

In the long term, what do we do about flooding issues in South Dunedin, coastal erosion and the impacts of climate change?

Quite simply, how do we pay for everything we want and need (from swimming pools to cycleways) with our relatively small ratepayer base?

Triumphs and tests aside, it seems fitting to end the year and begin the next in the "spirit of giving'', ready to roll out the welcome mat to a new group of refugees.

That, too, might hold certain challenges - but there is plenty of scope for rewards.

As with everything, it will be up to us to ensure we make the most of the situation.

We have shown we have heart, we must also use our heads if we want to stand out from the crowd.

Add a Comment