Upbraiding the ‘gang of 8’ over Albany St votes
The reversal of the Dunedin City Council’s recent decision on the Albany St cycleway project is a great disappointment to me, for a number of reasons.
Firstly,where will the people currently parking on this street do so in the future? This past Sunday I drove up and down the full length of this street at 6pm and every park had a vehicle in it. The food businesses were humming.
There are four speed bumps, a 30kmh speed limit and one roundabout: when was the last time anybody was injured crossing Albany St, and how many fatalities do the eight councillors who reversed this decision believe will be avoided?
The continued fiscal profligacy of this council ensures that all Dunedin citizens, homeowners and renters alike can look forward to more rates/rent increases, far in excess of the rate of inflation, as we continue to fund these minority group projects.
Is a million dollars a week in interest repayments not enough for the "reckless eight"?
Mayoral aspirant [Sophie] Barker professes collaboration with the university on Albany St and yet, ironically, won’t allow them to demolish one of their circa 1970s buildings. Make sense of that.
Time for the council to govern for us, not over us.
What an appalling abuse of power for the gang of eight to overturn a democratic vote that they lost fairly and squarely only a few weeks ago. Nothing significant has changed, so by what right do they launch this coup?
A waste of time and money and clearly a last gasp by a number who will be very unlikely to feature in the newly elected council.
Take note of who the petulant poor losers were and make them pay at the polls.
I will not vote for present temporary leaders who have complained about any other councillors.
I will not vote for those who earlier reversed the democratic votes which changed the George St design and ruined hardworking business people. Just look at the empty shops and grubby frontages.
Unbelievable, but once again the same disgruntled councillors have reversed a democratic vote and the Albany St cycle project will go ahead. It will be forced on to so many people who don’t want it.
Some government funding will be available, but what will be the total cost to the ratepayers and the hard working business people when this unpopular, unnecessary, unwise project is forced on to them? Sixty carparks will be removed and customers, student tenants, maintenance workers, visitors to the university, museum, stadium, hospital and CBD will be affected.
We all need to vote carefully.
Wilting vegetables
An earnest man informed me on the news that the average supermarket bill has risen by 5% over the past year. I must thank him for thinking I am not average but question his findings, as my what I thought were average purchases have risen by at least 35%, with about 10% of that over the past month and a half.
I also question his findings because I do not purchase butter or cheese, and only limited milk. Perhaps he didn’t include the prices of the wilting vegetable sections which always seem to leave me hoping that I can get them home before they go off or the prices throughout the stores that go up but never come down.
Perhaps also, the government could do more than read out about their findings into inquiries of supermarket prices each couple of years, and actually do something positive.
Graphic scope too narrow for controversial plan
Re the article by Ruby Shaw "Work on Mosgiel’s park and ride to start in November" (ODT 18.9.25).
To fully inform readers the article and accompanying graphic’s scope is too narrow given that tender documents are about to be released and that local residents have a vested interest in traffic integration, directional flow and timing.
Bus size and movements, having to join SH87 with its lane complexity and lighting control, rail crossing, merging and exiting traffic from Haggert Alexander Dr, Gladstone Rd north and south and soon to be additional traffic to and from the proposed bus hub are of concern to all road users. A wider view showing all approaches and exits to what the locals refer to as spaghetti junction and its traffic control would be informative, and give understanding to a very complex and dangerous section of essential roading infrastructure that constitutes the entranceway to Mosgiel. Many questions will be asked as to whether this is an improvement on a very controversial piece of roading.
Planting project growing a heart
The Silverstream runs through the heart of Mosgiel, a natural feature that should be both a source of pride and a sanctuary for the community. For too long, its banks were neglected.
What began as an idea in 2020 to restore and beautify this important waterway has now grown into one of Mosgiel’s most successful community-led projects.
Over the past four years, thousands of hours and dollars have been invested. Thanks to the tireless support of the local schools — Amana Christian, East Taieri, Elm Grove, Taieri College — and Otago Polytechnic.
A huge thanks must go out to Mosgiel Rotary, Corrections Facility in Milton, Corrections Community Services, Downers, Mitre 10 and many volunteers. Now more than 2000 native plants line the banks between Wingatui Rd and Gordon Rd. Each planting season, students bring energy and pride, learning first-hand the value of environmental stewardship.
The results are plain to see: a stream that is greener, healthier and becoming a true community asset. The response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, with many residents offering their own help to keep the project thriving.
Yes, there have been hurdles along the way, navigating bylaws, approvals and compliance, but the vision remains strong.
This project is not only about plants in the ground; it is about building community, teaching future generations and leaving Mosgiel a little better than we found it.
Next winter marks the final stage of planting, and we are already considering a community planting day as a way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported us.
The Silverstream Planting Project is proof that when communities come together, great things can happen.
[Mosgiel-Taieri community board member Brian Peat has been involved with the planting project since its beginning.]
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