DCC buys peninsula property

Dunedin City Council has unanimously agreed to buy the 328ha Harbour Cone block on the Otago Peninsula, but how much it will pay has not been revealed.

Mayor Peter Chin announced yesterday the decision to buy the land, which has a rateable value of $2.22 million, had been made following discussion behind closed doors on Wednesday and agreement reached with the owner, Proprietors of Akapatiki A Block, a Maori incorporation, yesterday afternoon.

At this stage, the council wants the purchase price to remain confidential and a settlement date has not been given.

Mr Chin indicated while the council had agreed to buy the property, funding issues were still to be worked through.

Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope was making submissions to the Government seeking a grant for part of the cost and that was ‘‘very much an ongoing matter''.

Mr Chin said all those supporting the project would now be able to put some ‘‘money where their mouths are''.

Community support in more than words would be required as the council considered how best to preserve the heritage, biodiversity and geographic values of the land.

He did not wish to discuss whether Otago Regional Council input would be sought, or if one of the possibilities for the property would be retaining only part of it, warning speculation on such matters would not be helpful as there were ‘‘a whole lot of discussions'' yet to be held.

The council had been impressed with the quality of the hundreds of submissions received on the importance of the block and the need to preserve it, and Mr Chin was delighted the agreement had been possible.

Speaking on behalf of the owner, property manager Stephen Johnston said they were thrilled at the outcome.

There had been strong interest in the property, but the owner had felt public ownership would be a good result. The land extends from Harbour Cone to Peggys Hill, with Highcliff Rd running through it.