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Architecture Van Brandenburg's proposal for development of the Steamer Basin area. Photo:...
Architecture Van Brandenburg's proposal for development of the Steamer Basin area. Photo: Animation Research

The waiting continues as Dunedin seeks a multimillion-dollar slice of the Provincial Growth Fund to help pay for the city's waterfront development plan.

Dunedin City Council staff updated councillors on the project yesterday, but in the non-public part of an extraordinary council meeting.

Council staff were not able to comment late yesterday, as the meeting stretched into the evening, and other parties were also keeping their cards close to their chests.

Shane Jones
Shane Jones

A spokeswoman for Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones would only say no application had yet been received for ''formal consideration'' by ministers.

Provincial development unit staff - from within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - were still ''working through some details, including the level of investment being sought'', she said.

A PDU spokesman would not answer questions, except to say the unit was continuing to work with the council and

''a decision on this application will be made in due course''.

The Otago Daily Times has previously reported Dunedin was seeking $50million or more to pay for improvements to sea walls, earthworks and other work.

Private developers were understood to be keen if the initial site work was paid for, and the council and other major stakeholders - the University of Otago, Port Otago and Ngai Tahu, Damien van Brandenburg and businessman Ian Taylor - had signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the project.

It had initially been hoped an announcement might be made early in 2019, but the timeline has dragged since then.

Once officials have finished assessing the project, a report is expected to go to the PGF's independent advisory panel, which will make a recommendation to Cabinet for a final decision.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

Comments

This "Muscle" plan is a meglo-maniac vision that would bankrupt a big city like Wellington, let alone a small city such as Dunedin.

It's megalo awesome and will make Dunedin great again.

a. This development would need to be commercially viable as a new, standalone project with a purpose offering additional services not just something that looks good, nor steals from other areas.
b. This development should be a sustainable, environmentally savvy build.
c. I question whether the weather conditions in this area are right for this kind of development (presuming the intention is to make it a nice place for people to gather).

That's looking quite nice - so nice in fact that it looks completely out of place with the rest of the harbour. I hope market demand for property in the development can support the funding of this project. Last thing Dunedin rate payers need is another white elephant.

 

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