Radich remembered
The meeting opened with a reflection by board member Cheryl Neill on the death of former mayor and councillor Jules Radich.
"He was a kind man who always had a ready smile and a willingness to listen."
Harbour watchers return
During the public forum Ecotago chairman Andrew Innes spoke about the Healthy Harbour Watchers project which the environmental organisation was "reawakening" this year.
Mr Innes requested funding for fresh media (culture medium) to measure enterococci bacteria levels at various sites in Otago Harbour.
Ecotago scientist Dr Murray Vickers said students from Trinity Catholic College, St Hilda’s Collegiate, Columba College and Logan Park High School would assist with the sampling.
The board approved providing $500 towards buying testing media.
Boardwalk tender soon
Dunedin City Council project director Glen Hazelton said the tender for the Latham Bay and Portobello boardwalk project would go out shortly and he hoped a contractor would be in place by April.
Dr Hazelton said staff were still investigating options to improve a path near Beaconsfield Rd going to the playground.
There was a temporary arrangement at the moment outside the Portobello Hall, and one possibility being discussed was creating a pathway within the playground that might allow pedestrians such as children to be further away from the road.
This however would be dependent on discussions with the parks team and budget constraints.
Pump track planned
Chairman Paul Pope discussed a concept design for the former Tomahawk School site.
The concept included areas such as a pump track, half court, a play area and shelter.
Although the plan reflected what the community had asked for, development of the site did not have budgeted funding from the council at present.
Mr Pope said he hoped there might be opportunities for partnerships between the community and the council, for example the council providing seed funding and the community raising the remaining funds.
Bylaw concerns raised
The board discussed the Otago Regional Council’s draft Navigation Safety Bylaw.
Mr Pope raised concerns about some of the items in the draft bylaw such as the lack of mapping for five-knot zones, whether a section on marine mammals complied with the Marine Mammals Act.
The board agreed to make a submission based on points raised.
Board backs Poole
The board considered nominations for the Local Government New Zealand Community Board Executive Committee zone six representative. Members discussed the candidates and agreed Marian Poole’s experience aligned well with the board’s interests. The board voted for Marian Poole.
Wild bid fails
Wild Dunedin, through the Dunedin Wildlife Trust, requested $1000 to host Co Theatre Physical to perform Wild Feelings.
Members discussed the application and questioned the level of connection to the Otago Peninsula.
The board declined providing $1000 towards the project.
Maintenance woes
Members provided updates on their respective areas.
Cheryl Neill reported on successful planting at the Harwood community gardens and a dangerous hump on Stepney Ave.
Hugh O’Neill reported on the Pukehiki Hall, on which work has stopped at present as the budget has been exhausted.
A new legal charter is being adopted which will then be signed by community members.
Once that has been completed the new entity can approach financial backers for additional capital.
Emma Strybosch highlighted maintenance issues in Macandrew Bay, sharing photos that showed a broken handrail, rotten fence palings, broken rubbish bins and damage to the shared pathway.
Scholarship changes
In his chairman’s report Mr Pope discussed the Peninsula Connection project and the need to consider the annual plan in light of potential rates capping.
Board member Stacey Kokaua-Balfour discussed the community board’s scholarship initiative.
She suggested merging the guideline and application forms online to simplify them and adjusting the eligibility criteria, including that the scholarships are for children in years 9 to 13 who live in the Otago Peninsula Community Board area and that scholarships go towards initiatives outside of normal school activities.
Council caps concern
Councillor Mickey Treadwell reported on the implications of the rates cap and a review of how council grants are administered.
He also noted upcoming submissions regarding regional reorganisation and spatial planning.
