Brighter city in offing

A plan that could prompt an unlikely partnership between engineers and the arts community has been lauded by Dunedin city councillors.

Deputy mayor Chris Staynes described the art and creativity in infrastructure policy as a way of making ''dour'' parts of the city more interesting, and more colourful.

The policy, approved unanimously by councillors on Tuesday, will result in artists being linked with city infrastructure projects to find ways to inject some creativity into more prosaic constructions.

Council corporate policy manager Maria Ioannou said overseas examples ranged from a wastewater treatment plant in the United States where ponds were shaped like a harvest mouse, which was a threatened species, to much smaller projects.

A report on the policy said it would ensure art and creativity were integral to council projects.

Money for the policy would come from within approved capital and maintenance budgets, although if a significant opportunity for a public artwork was identified, more funding might be applied for.

Mr Staynes said approving the policy was ''a red-letter day'' for a city that was dour in parts.

''There's all sorts of ways to make our city a little bit more interesting, a little bit more colourful.''

Council community arts adviser Cara Paterson said it was early days for the project, ''but I think that when we do calls for work we would be focusing on our local community as well as the national network''.

Ms Ioannou said after the meeting infrastructure and arts staff would now look at council projects coming up, and which of those had the most potential.

Once that was decided, staff would get artists involved.