The board was introduced to new Dunedin City Council transport delivery manager Ben Hogan, whose responsibilities include the council’s road maintenance and capital delivery (roundabouts, etc) teams.
Mr Hogan said his aim was to provide a targeted service for the community, which would be responsive to an problems and also proactive.
Board chairman Scott Weatherall said the appointment of Mr Hogan was welcome, as road maintenance and safety work was needed in the area.
A priority for the board was to improve pedestrian and cycle
safety for the Westwood and Ocean View areas, where roadsides often fell away steeply into ditches, he said.
‘‘This means that people are having to run and cycle on the white line at the side of the road, which is a safety issue.’’
Mr Hogan responded that the board would need to work on getting the project included in the next 10 Year Plan for council.
This was frustrating for board members, who highlighted that they had been attempting to get something done about these roadsides for years.
‘‘The roads out here are in a constant state of deterioration,’’ Mr Weatherall said.
After further discussion on roads in the area where maintenance was needed, Mr Hogan and Mr Weatherall agreed that taking a drive around the area together would be helpful.
In other business, the Saddle Hill Community Board considered a funding application from Island Park Golf Club for $2651.91 towards upgrading lighting inside the club rooms, as well as outside security lighting.
After discussion, the board decided to contribute $1000 towards this project.
Reports from board members highlighted that an Ocean View mosaic project had won the supreme award at the recent Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards.
The board also discussed its ongoing support for a project to install a basketball court at Delta Drive, in Waldronville, and agreed to pledge $5000 towards this project.
