South Dunedin groups rally for area's future

Discussing plans for beautifying Lorne St in South Dunedin are South Dunedin Business Association...
Discussing plans for beautifying Lorne St in South Dunedin are South Dunedin Business Association committee members (from left) Tom Park, Lindsay Campbell (acting president), and Robert McAuliffe. Recent progress has included the installation of a public toilet in the Lorne St pedestrian walkway.
In a week when businesses and organisations throughout the city are pushing for Dunedin City Council funding, advocates for South Dunedin have stepped up for a piece of the pie.

Representatives of the South Dunedin Business Association presented its submission to the DCC's draft annual plan hearings committee on Monday night - outlining a plan for key improvements for the business district.

And Methodist Mission chief executive Laura Black yesterday called on the DCC to become an advocate for the city's most socially
deprived citizens, which included residents of South Dunedin, North East Valley and Brockville.

While approaching South Dunedin's needs from different directions, the groups agreed change was needed if it was to have a prosperous future.

‘‘Several of the groups who have made submissions have talked about the need for an overarching vision for the area - even looking ahead for the next 20 years,'' South Dunedin councillor Dave Cull said, when contacted by The Star.

 ‘‘I take that on board, but a vision like that can't be imposed on the community - it must come from within,'' Cr Cull said.

Based on the results of a survey of its more than 50 members, the South Dunedin Business Association submission pushed for ‘‘key improvements'' in the business district. Issues included parking, traffic congestion on King Edward St, the development of a South Dunedin Library, improvements to amenities, and beautification of the streetscape.

After a ‘‘reasonable hearing'' from councillors, the association had been asked to come up with ideas for alleviating the parking issue, acting president Lindsay Campbell said.

‘‘It is a tricky issue to resolve, as we need to find a balance between short and long-term parks for shoppers,'' Mr Campbell said.

Along with other groups in the city, including the Dunedin Public Libraries Association, the South Dunedin Business Association submission urged the council to speed up work towards a planned South Dunedin Library. In particular it requested that council secured a site that could be used to develop a library at the ‘‘earliest opportunity''.

In its submission, the Methodist Mission noted the recent news from Statistics New Zealand that stated South Dunedin was the third most socially deprived area in the South Island. With the economic recession putting huge pressure on government funding and social agencies experiencing increased demand for services, a strategy was necessary.

‘‘This appears . . . to be a time where as a community, we must come together to work smarter and harder if our citizens and our city are to do any better than simply weathering the times,'' the Methodist Mission submission said.

‘‘We urge council to take a position of moral leadership to advocate for the city's needy with the Wellington funding agencies,'' Ms Black said.

With councillors in annual plan hearings, The Star was unable to speak to South Dunedin Crs Bill Acklin and John Bezett. Cr Neil Collins felt it would be inappropriate to comment until after the annual plan process was completed.

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