At an annual plan hearing yesterday, Strath Taieri Community Board chairwoman Terina Geddes told councillors it was increasingly difficult for rural communities to accept additional council spending while basic services went unaddressed.
Overgrown or poorly graded roads, a cemetery regularly flooded by rainfall and underinvestment in heritage assets reinforced the ‘‘feeling of out of sight, out of mind when it comes to rural communities’’, she said.
Strath Taieri made significant contributions to the wider district and though the area had potential for future tourism growth, it would go untapped without adequate investment.
‘‘We cannot support increased funding towards the Forsyth Barr Stadium while critical infrastructure and maintenance issues across the wider district continue to be neglected.’’
When asked by Cr Russell Lund, Mrs Geddes said she would prioritise funding Strath Taieri water assets over shared pathways and cycleways in Dunedin.
‘‘Having infrastructure that means that we can flush our toilets or sewage isn’t going to come up when we have a flood? Much more important for us,’’ Mrs Geddes said.
Concerns about infrastructure and maintenance were echoed by other community board chairs.
Mr Morrison asked the council to clarify the resilience of the ‘‘big pipe’’ freshwater supply from Mt Grand, which services parts of the north coast.
‘‘Our question was, and is, how much housing development can this system sustain? And I have yet to receive an answer.’’
Mr Morrison also renewed his call for some council maintenance to be contracted to trusted locals.
‘‘We’re trying to make things more efficient and to actually save council money and to stop a lot of the population growling at council for things not getting done.’’
Footpath, road and kerb and channelling maintenance should be given the ‘‘utmost priority’’.
