Fledgling residents’ association won't submit on plan

A ratepayers’ lobby group in Dunedin has appointed a committee, but it is not ready to start lobbying.

Dunedin Area Residents’ Association chairman Jon Visser said the fledgling organisation was focused on the long term.

Public consultation on the Dunedin City Council’s 10-year plan finishes today and Mr Visser said the association would not be a submitter, but individual submissions had been made.

The association would first develop a clear purpose and working model, he said.

A growing sense the city council should refocus, listen to retailers and avoid wasteful spending fuelled the drive to create a ratepayers’ association in recent months.

The city has not had such an association since 2013, but an incorporated society was set up at the end of last year and a call was put out in February for expressions of interest to form a committee.

That committee has since been appointed, and Mr Visser said the association would also take an interest in the activities of the Otago Regional Council.

Committee members had a range of expertise, including finance, strategy, social media, infrastructure, asset management, knowledge of local government processes and constructive relationships with local government and communities, he said.

Mr Visser is an infrastructure assets engineer for Port Otago and a former transport engineer for the city council.

Deputy chairwoman Bronwyn Powell is a mediator and employment disputes investigator, and treasurer Murray Lawrence is a former WellSouth chief financial officer.

The other committee members are South Dunedin advocate and engineer Neil Johnstone, former University of Otago infrastructure and applications manager Steve Lucas and university shared services performance and delivery manager Syd Gilani.

The committee has a vacancy for the role of secretary.

Mr Visser said the association would have a membership base that would be integral to raising, discussing and researching issues.

He signalled the lobby group may promote the election of particular candidates for the councils, but it was too soon to say what form this might take.

Other possible activities for the committee could include monitoring the performance of councillors and evaluating how well public consultation is reflected in decision-making.

"While the councillors and their goals for the city may change every three years, [the association] intends to be around for the longer-term good of Dunedin," Mr Visser said.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz