The Dunedin City Council and the city's two tertiary
institutions have signed the first memorandum of
understanding designed to maintain and enhance a vibrant
North Dunedin campus area.
The 11-page document details agreements reached between the
council, the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic, and
lists action plans with loose time frames for issues such as
land zoning, transport and parking, cleanliness, student
housing and communications.
The Otago Polytechnic Council endorsed the memorandum on
Thursday.
Chief executive Phil Ker said the memorandum was the
culmination of four years' work by the partners, calling it a
"practical document which would enhance what is already New
Zealand's foremost education city".
The document provided a plan for a part of the city which
already made a significant contribution to Dunedin's economic
development, acting council chairman Mark Ryan said.
There are no surprises in the memorandum, as all the issues
have already been aired publicly in city council plans. But
it outlines which organisation or organisations will lead the
action plans for each proposal and when they might be
completed.
Some of the major proposals are:
• Review existing campus zone permitted activities and
boundaries
• Create "mini-parks" and other green spaces where
possible
• Implement an incentive scheme to support landlords
upgrading the look and environmental standards of existing
properties
• Encourage landlords to remove parking spaces from front
yards
• Develop a plan for discouraging car use and encouraging
walking and cycling
• Finalise a "park and ride" system, with car parking
provided on the edges of the campus area
• Further improve bus services for students and tertiary
staff
• Work towards the goal of "free" buses for students
• Continue to review and refine rubbish collections
• Investigate installing a co-ordinated CCTV system for the
university campus and North Dunedin
• Facilitate a broadband network and enhance wireless
capabilities throughout the campuses and neighbouring
residential areas.
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