Funds for patrol vehicle
During the public forum, Brighton Surf Life Saving Club chief lifeguard instructor Scott Weatherall and president Craig Dinnissen spoke to their application for funding towards buying a replacement Can-Am side-by-side rescue vehicle.
The vehicle is used for beach patrols, transporting equipment and lifeguards and responding in the Ocean View area as part of pre-deployment plans for search and rescue, police and Hato Hone St John.
Mr Dinnissen said the vehicle was used for 10-20 trips daily during the 20-week patrol season as well as during a six-week summer season.
It also supports road crash response at nearby locations.
The club performs 700-900 preventive actions and about five to 10 rescues per season.
Members noted the vehicle's role as a community asset.
The board approved providing $2000 towards the side-by-side rescue vehicle upgrade.
Oar FM radio package
Members discussed participating in the Oar FM "Round the Boards" programme, which offers 11 monthly live-to-air interviews on issues relevant to the community. Board members Vianney Santagati and Barry McLellan volunteered to take turns to be interviewed, with Cr Jules Radich in reserve.
The board approved providing $220 plus GST for the programme segment.
Traffic concerns
Board member Vianney Santagati raised concerns about traffic congestion at the Green Island motorway exit near the NPD petrol station, particularly about 5pm and on discount fuel days. She noted vehicles queuing to turn right could back up close to the motorway.
Board member John Moyle noted that parking on the opposite side compounded the problem, meaning cars did not have room to move past the petrol queue.
Board boundaries
In his report, board chairman Paul Weir noted the board is exploring extending its boundaries to include the Green Island and Abbotsford areas, where residents had expressed confusion about representation during the election.
Board member John Moyle provided information on how the boundaries were established during the 1989 amalgamation of local councils into the Dunedin City Council and the creation of community boards.
"At the time, Green Island had a sitting ward councillor, so that is why Green Island and Abbotsford were excluded ... and then I think in the early 2000s, when they abolished the wards, they just had a councillor at large."
Mr Moyle plans to meet the Dunedin City Council chief executive Sandy Graham to clarify the boundaries.
The board approved a resolution for Mr Moyle to develop an action plan on what steps were required to include areas such as Abbotsford, Fairfield and Green Island.
Mr Weir highlighted the Brighton Gala Day on January 18 next year, where the board usually has a tent to engage with the community.
Representation, roles
Members allocated responsibilities for community projects and liaison roles.
Mr Moyle, with the assistance of Mr Weir, will lead the Youth Ambassador Award process.
Mr McLellan was assigned Civil Defence Emergency Management.
Ms Santagati took on Keep Dunedin Beautiful.
Deputy chairwoman Tracey Boereboom will oversee Community Pantries.
Board member Lianna MacFarlane will take on the Brighton Beach Toy Box.
The board also discussed adding the Dunedin Trails Trust and Mr Moyle was assigned this role.
The board set March 13 as the closing date for its Youth Ambassador Award applications and scheduled a special meeting for March 18 for interviews.
The awards support young people aged 13 to 18 in the community who have achieved excellence in sport, creative fields or academic activities.
Up to $3000 is available to distribute to a number of successful applicants.
Community plan
Members reviewed the board's community plan and discussed priorities, including flood relief for Ocean View, a shared pathway between Waldronville and Brighton, coastal erosion management and road safety improvements.
Councillor Jules Radich suggested when it came to cycle trails and shared pathways, the quickest and easiest way to get them under way was to break them down into segments that could then be led by community groups to raise funds and secure resources.
While the council would be involved, helping with resource consent costs, it could take longer for projects to get going waiting on council funding.
Regional council shakeup
In his update, Cr Radich reported the new council was still resolving committee structures and portfolios. He has been appointed to the infrastructure portfolio and is prioritising flooding in Surrey St and South Dunedin. Additional work to reduce flooding events in Ocean View and Brighton was not at present on his agenda.
Those issues would need a concerted community board advocacy plan. He noted while some work had been conducted to help with flood overflow, the installation of larger culverts might help reduce ponding.
Mr Radich highlighted government proposals on getting rid of or amalgamating regional councils, as well as a rates capping Bill that would mean a "big shakeup" which would then affect the city council.
