Requests for 10-year plan

Dunedin's next decade could feature council composting of organic waste, a better network of cycling tracks or a drive to sort out basic infrastructure.

Members of the public and a few organisations have provided early indications of what they argue should be in the Dunedin City Council’s next 10-year plan.

Among 55 pieces of feedback, subjects ranged from the need to meet challenges associated with climate change, to preserving heritage and maintaining vibrancy in the central city.

The Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) argued for organic waste collection by the council.

"We believe this is an important and incredibly necessary step to reduce the individual and collective waste of the Dunedin community," OUSA political representative Francesca Dykes wrote.

The association also wanted rubbish and recycling collections beefed up in the tertiary precinct.

The first priority, however, should be development of a climate change mitigation and adaptation plan, Ms Dykes said.

This should lay out the council’s plan for a zero-carbon future, she said.

The OUSA had an ally in Cassandra Bahr, who agreed climate change was the top concern and said a council composting scheme should be a priority.

Formal consultation on the draft 2021-31 plan is not expected to take place until March or April next year, but the council gave people a chance to chip in ahead of the plan being drafted.

Councillors will have to weigh up next year such factors as debt, rates rises, the economic impacts of Covid-19, city growth and the need for suitable facilities when they debate what should be included and what should be left out.

Several submitters argued for cycleways and mountain-biking tracks.

Others reflected on the growth of Mosgiel and a range of challenges South Dunedin is expected to face, including coastal erosion.

Judy Martin suggested a tiny-homes park could meet a need for accommodation.

There was a shortage of lower-cost one- or two-person units for rent, she said.

David Murray asked the council to affirm the value of residential and suburban heritage.

"Obviously, Dunedin needs to cater for future population growth and housing demand, and address issues of supply and affordability," he said.

"Planning for this should go hand in hand with further identifying and protecting the best individual and collective heritage sites."

Nigel McCleery called for development of the waterfront and Camille Cowley lamented a lack of parking available for people with disabilities.

Murray Bond wanted a drastic cut in capital expenditure.

James Cockle wanted public transport to be free and to "make car travel harder".

But Terry Wilson urged the council to abandon its "car-hating crusade", restore "stolen" car parks and increase some speed limits.

"Every day in Dunedin, tens of thousands of people choose to use a car to get to work and do their business," he said.

"Consider that every day this choice is a vote for cars and against your anti-car agenda."

He also said the city’s sewerage, water supply and stormwater systems were substandard, because of neglect.

"It shouldn’t be hard to see that funding for essential infrastructure needs to be prioritised before wasteful, harmful, non-essential and ideologically driven projects."

grant.miller@odt.co.nz