Local worries about road closure impact
I am concerned about the effects that the closure of Blueskin Rd from April 28 to June 19 will have on our community by both the cost and inconvenience to the many people who use the road daily and local business.
For some reason council staff think that the tourist season ends once the cruise ship visits finish when in fact there are still many travellers using our beautiful scenic routes during the month of May of which Blueskin Rd and the Orokonui WildLife Sanctuary are part of and that local business benefit from.
Having made inquiries why there needs to be complete closure of the road for that length of time I am told that this is the easiest option which will make it easier for the contractor and save money for the ratepayers.
Unfortunately, the DCC has failed to add the extra costs that the 800 daily users will incur into their financial equation.
I consider the cost to 40,000 vehicle users over this period is significant and outweighs the savings trying to be made to the roading budget and remind DCC that most people that this road closure affects are also ratepayers.
It would be good and appreciated if a bit more effort could be made to keep the road open.
Mark Brown
Waitati
[Jeanine Benson, Dunedin City Council transport manager, responds: ‘‘The planned closure of Blueskin Rd will allow significant excavations needed for slip repair work to take place in the most efficient manner. Minimising the total duration of the work will reduce overall disruption for motorists, nearby businesses and residents living in the area, as well as minimising costs for all ratepayers. Detours will be in place, via Upper Junction Rd for light vehicles and via SH88, North Rd and Mount Cargill Rd for heavy vehicles. Orokonui Ecosanctuary will be accessible from the Port Chalmers end. We acknowledge this work will still cause some disruption in the area, but our teams will be working hard to deliver this important safety work as quickly and efficiently as possible. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.’’]
Lest we forget
Thanks to Lucy Corry for her article on the do's and don'ts at an Anzac dawn service (ODT 24.5.26). With regards to her final question ‘‘What can I do, if I can't make it to a dawn service, to show my respect?'’, there is another avenue not mentioned, which may be unknown to many readers.
The Auckland War Memorial website has an online cenotaph which is a national initiative, and is a biographical database that allows researchers, enthusiasts, and veterans and their families to explore, contribute to, and share the records and stories of those who served for New Zealand.'
It allows anyone from throughout the country and beyond to place a virtual poppy on the name of a loved one or one remembered, for making the ultimate sacrifice.
It is not dedicated to April 25 alone, and can be placed any time hereafter throughout 2026, and is yet another way of showing reverence.
Lyn Menzies
Wānaka
Don’t get me started
Cr Ong’s offer to fund startups is either an opportunistic attempt to use his notoriety to make money on his own behalf, or an attempt to appease ratepayers by playing the “good guy” following his weird, self-titled and disruptive behaviour as a councillor.
If regaining credibility is his intention, as he clearly has the funds, might I suggest he start by offering to repay to ratepayers the cost of the, undoubtedly expensive, investigation that his behaviour solely occasioned. In plain English, “put up or shut up”: that will work.
Brendan Murphy
Ravensbourne
Invite city to contribute ideas for New Year’s
There is a medley of talent out there who should be able to organise a wonderful New Year celebration.
Music, bands, schools, choirs, hard rock , jazz bands, etc.
String quartets, variety of dance groups. Pipers, ukulele groups, Rock Tenors etc, etc.
The award-winning St Kilda Brass. Why haven’t they been invited to march the street? You look after your winners.
Fireworks on the harbour is a must: we are a port city. Display of fireworks on the harbour basin, with visibility encompassing city hill suburbs and peninsula sites.
Close off Portsmouth Dr (or a portion of it). Invite families to bring their picnic tea, BBQ, tea kettles, food trucks, coffee carts. Spread along the foreshore from early evening with entertainment, people can enjoy the performing and musical talent from this city with a great big picnic.
We have a beautiful harbour - use it.
Talent and ideas lie within the city, not around the council table and backroom staff.
Invite the wildlife as well. We will all survive another New Year’s Eve.
Yvonne Sutherland
Portobello
Costs rise but rates cash still being splashed
Rates continue to rise year on year but it seems OK for our city leaders to keep splashing the cash and forcing unwanted projects on to the Dunedin ratepayers and residents.
The stadium ($224.4 million) is not paying its own way and needs exorbitant funding in the future.
George St ($110.3m) now has several empty shops and another local popular shop has closed (ODT 21.4.26).
As each shop closes vandals move in writing on walls, sticking posters on/ or even breaking windows. This is so unfair to the present excellent retailers and those who own the buildings.
Once beautiful shops are left looking unattractive and no-one is going to re-let a grubby property.
Another unnecessary unpopular project is under way in Albany St, costing $4.8m-$1.53m to be paid, by a debt-laden government, and the remainder to be paid by ratepayers. This is a ridiculous waste for both the government and DCC.
Somehow $15,000 has been made available to trial the closure of a perfectly formed, well-used drive through the Town Belt, and who would think of painting a hop scotch on an asphalt traffic area?
Surely the CBD seesaws proved just how ridiculous it is to place playthings in the wrong place: can you believe that we might even be walking over coloured pedestrian crossings too?
I can only imagine what these will look like in the future. Do you remember the coloured dots in George St?
Now we read that almost 50 people have put their hands up for Dunedin City Council’s top job. No big surprise when the annual salary has been close to $500,000.
Does any Dunedin CEO really deserve that sort of money? Most people, even wealthy people, are managing on less.
Bernice Armstrong
North East Valley
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: letters@odt.co.nz
