Proposed cuts to spending on Dunedin playgrounds have drawn mixed reactions.
The Dunedin City Council had planned to spend about $1.25 million on renewal of playgrounds in the second year of its 2025-34 long-term plan, but has signalled it will shave $582,000 from this.
Just $672,000 was included in the 2026-27 annual plan capital expenditure draft budget for playground renewals.
Reactions from council by-election candidates included dismay, labelling such spending ‘‘nice to have’’, doubt that fiscal restraint was happening in the right places and observations about where an ‘‘austerity’’ mindset leads.
The consensus was they were uncomfortable about the proposed changes.
A few city councillors also chipped in their thoughts, including Doug Hall.
‘‘This is what hard decisions look like,’’ he said.
‘‘None of us wants to reduce or delay work on community assets like playgrounds, and I completely understand why people would be disappointed to see a specific renewal such as Chingford Park removed from the draft programme,’’ Cr Hall said.
‘‘Chingford is also my local park, so this one does hit close to home for me.’’
Draft capital expenditure budgets were covered within papers for a council meeting on March 4 and 5.
Overall, the draft renewals budget for community recreation assets was cut from $20m to about $11.3m, the report said.
Much of that was down to ongoing adjustments to the Moana Pool redevelopment project. This went from about $14.6m to $8.5m in the 2026-27 year, ‘‘in order to review investment options’’ as part of developing the 2027-37 long-term plan, the council said.
Money set aside for development of destination playgrounds in 2026-27 remained at about $4.4m. This is for Marlow Park, also known as the dinosaur park, at St Kilda. New capital for other playground improvements was still budgeted at $167,000.
‘‘Renewals’’ is where the projected cut is.
‘‘The change reflects ongoing efforts by staff to find savings and ease budget pressures where possible, while balancing an affordable capital programme,’’ a council spokesman said.
An updated capital budget is being prepared and is to be considered by councillors again this month.
Cr Hall: ‘‘If we are serious about keeping rates under control, then we cannot shy away from these choices.
‘‘It is not easy, and it will not please everyone, but responsible budgeting means making hard choices, rather than pretending they do not exist.’’
Cr Lee Vandervis noted the playground renewals budget was cut almost in half.
‘‘I have not been advised of the rationale for this particular budget cut, but I believe that the DCC needs to make many cuts across the board, including operational budgets and staff numbers if we are to become financially sustainable,’’ he said.
Cr Russell Lund doubted now was the right time for a multimillion-dollar spend at the dinosaur park. He was also unconvinced pulling back on renewal of playgrounds was the right approach.
‘‘I would like to see if council has monitored the use of Chingford Park to justify the decision not to renew,’’ he said.
‘‘Council needs to maintain and renew its assets as a prudent public steward.’’
The Otago Daily Times asked by-election candidates what their instincts were about what is proposed.
Richard Knights said the council was under huge pressure to find savings in its capital expenditure, given noise from central government about rates capping.
Chingford Park had long been signalled as going ahead, he said.
‘‘I am disappointed to hear that it is being proposed to be dropped.’’
The annual plan had not been signed off yet and councillors had reversed proposed cuts before.
‘‘I don’t think I will be the only disappointed person in our community,’’ Mr Knights said.
‘‘Fiscal restraint is a worthy vision, but if it ends up leaving our city with dilapidated playgrounds that no-one wants to use, then we are letting our city and our community down.’’
Jo Galer felt the previously planned spend was a ‘‘nice-to-have’’.
‘‘Chingford Park will absolutely remain a beautiful recreation space for many to enjoy, as they currently do, until we can afford to reassess this.’’
Ms Galer was comfortable with the proposed budget cut and also wanted such things as staffing levels and zero-carbon work reviewed.
‘‘The council’s debt is untenable and the 10.5% rates increase is far too much for ratepayers to stomach — we need to get down to no greater than a 4% increase.’’
Aaron Hawkins said the proposed budget cut was ‘‘an entirely predictable outcome of the current austerity drive, both locally and nationally’’.
The ex-councillor and former mayor said moves to invest in playgrounds were among the things he was most proud of from his time on council.
‘‘Thinking about things like the neighbourhood basketball hoops — those upgrades provided some of the best-value community infrastructure you could find.’’
It was easy to set aside initiatives for young people when times got difficult, he said.
Mr Hawkins said playgrounds helped to build stronger communities.
‘‘When we think about climate adaptation, and an increasing number of extreme weather events, we need to think about more than pipes and pumps and wetlands.’’
Conrad Stedman said he was interested in how projects such as Chingford Park had been prioritised relative to others across the city.
‘‘Before landing on a firm position, I’d want to understand more from staff, particularly the condition of existing assets, any safety implications and whether this is a deferral or a long-term removal.’’
Lianna MacFarlane said it was encouraging to see some form of fiscal restraint, but she was not comfortable about cuts to playground renewals.
‘‘Because there has been spiralling expenditure in other areas — peninsula cycleways, Albany St and George St — we are now in the position of having to make these sorts of decisions.’’
Lync Aronson said it looked like ‘‘fiscal constraint in the wrong areas, and I would instead vote to freeze the bureaucracy’’.
‘‘I strongly disagree with these cuts and I would vote against any decrease in playground renewal funding. Our parks and playgrounds are a big part of what makes Dunedin such a great place to live and raise a family.’’
Andrew Whiley said he believed there could be some savings from the playgrounds budget.
Working in smarter ways had been outlined late last year regarding the planned upgrade at Marlow Park, he said.
Bill Acklin said he was supportive of playground upgrades.
‘‘We have a lot of good playgrounds in the city, and the planned upgrade of the dinosaur park will be great,’’ he said.
‘‘At the moment, any other new initiatives need to be considered alongside all other future expenditure.’’
