At a hearing on the Dunedin City Council's 2019-20 annual plan yesterday, South Dunedin Community Network development officer Michell Reddy told councillors that while the council had successfully invested in the suburb recently, there was still a feeling among some residents their concerns were being overlooked.
One of their main complaints was the state of King Edward St and the surrounding area, which many residents avoided because it was run-down and sometimes overcrowded, Ms Reddy said.
Business owners also felt the area was an afterthought for the council, which was spending $60million on an upgrade of George St, she said.
The recent announcement the council had bought a site for a South Dunedin library and community hub was a positive step but there were still concerns among residents about how long it would take for it to open.
''There is still a sense of distrust towards the DCC but doing something as simple as cleaning up the main street and putting in some green spaces will let the community know the council is taking them seriously.''
There needed to be a well-planned approach to revitalising the area, led by both the council and the South Dunedin community, she said.
''South Dunedin people want gardens, they want fruit trees and plants they can utilise, they want green spaces and want a celebration of the unique history of South Dunedin, they want parks, and above all they want accessibility for all.''
Unlike in George St, people who visited Great King St were not just there to shop, they were there to socialise in a safe space that they might not have anywhere else, Ms Reddy said.
