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Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Letters to the Editor: DCC, heritage and Gaza
Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including the DCC pushing water uphill in South D, protecting Dunedin's heritage buildings, and Jules Radich's Gaza letter. Four decades of water being pushed uphill The Dunedin City Council has nearly chalked up four decades of moving beyond the legacy of the pre-1989 local body amalgamation. With amalgamation of the St Kilda borough, it was promised a new South Dunedin Public Library would be established. What a battle that has been, to see this promise honoured. Then, until 1989, with Green Island being a separate borough, the sewage from the Dunedin City hill suburbs, directed down Kaikorai Valley, could not continue on into another borough for treatment, so was (ingenious idea at the time) channelled through a pipe, via the original 1870s Caversham railway tunnel and through South Dunedin to Musselburgh. Since 1989, the much larger Dunedin City Council has had the opportunity to rectify this anomaly. Even with the lobbying from the cycling fraternity in recent decades to upgrade the original 1870s Caversham railway tunnel and turn it into an integral part of a new cycle way, the lobbying has certainly not fast tracked the removal of the sewage pipe. Come on DCC bureaucracy, stop treating the South Dunedin community with the blatant contempt that has become all too obvious. None of our local streets should be subjected to repeats of contaminated flood waters such as those of our respective residents in Surrey St, who have been putting up with this diabolical situation for several decades now. The cumulative four decades of bureaucratic culture in the DCC reminds one of the phrase: to push water uphill. Heritage and housing Re Lyndon Fairbairn's comments (Opinion ODT 2.7.25) in "A masterclass in how to block progress" I would note that Dunedin is renowned for its heritage appeal. Christchurch, sadly, has very few heritage places to retrofit. The current carbon copies of homes crammed in together, built in 10+ Dunedin suburbs, diminishes the streetscape of each suburb. They do not enhance the heritage look and feel of Dunedin as a whole. As a past developer, I budgeted for the cost of "red tape", that you say, "stifle progress". As a prudent financier I totally concur with the councillor, who claimed we were "leading the industry". The checks and balances were made to protect others. On one hand you say, "once New Zealand's fourth largest city, Dunedin is falling behind" yet at the same time also urge, "the needs of a growing population". Which is it? The comments about Dunedin having poor housing catastrophises, is unnecessary and harsh. As a prudent landlord who ensures that each apartment is totally Healthy Homes compliant, I find it alarming to read your evaluation of Dunedin rentals and see that as not becoming from a professional man like yourself. I have seen so many two-storeyed wooden lookalike, little boxes. Are we creating the slums of the future? We must make retrofitting our first option to protect our heritage established by the early pioneers (who fled from a lack of space, overcrowding and oppressive conditions) and give people appealing, interesting, architecture that will meet Healthy Home requirements, to live in. [Abridged — length. Editor.] Fitting session How ironic that David Seymour accuses Te Pāti Māori of "insane views" and being in Parliament to "wreck it" (democracy) when it is his party's Regulatory Standards Bill that is the real wrecking ball for democracy. Likewise Shane Jones calling the Otago Regional Council the "Kremlin of the South Island" when it is his party trumpeting the fast-track legislation which is attempting to sideline the democratic process. When the cap fits. Painting a reminder of respected literary figures Congratulations to Quinn Bailey and others involved in the Connect[ed] exhibition at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. ( ODT 3.6.25). The painting that features prominently behind Quinn is worthy of a bit more mention than the title, Artist and Dunedin Writer Friends . This work by the late Dunedin artist Ivan Hill was featured at the Artists and Writers Exhibition back when the gallery was still located at Logan Park circa 1994. Ivan depicts himself floating downward with a glass of wine and surrounded by tumbling kereru to join his writer featured include George Griffiths, Hone Tuwhare, Errick Olssen, Peter Olds, Cilla McQueen, Brian Turner and Roger Hall. If Ivan were alive today he would take great pride in knowing his work would feature in this worthwhile health/art concept It's a scandal Page 3 ODT 24.6.25: $16m support package for Ukraine. Headline below: Housing project cuts 'perfect storm' for rise in homelessness. People living in tents locally while our government scatters money frivolously. Scandalous. Mayor's letter post-Gaza vote slap in face Thank you for your article on the mayor's letter ( ODT 3.6.25): it does help mitigate the shock at this slap in the face for it not to be swept under the rug. As one of those who got the ball rolling, the main thing I'd like readers to understand is that we came to the Dunedin City Council with this, to ask them for cross-party support. To the question "is it appropriate for council to be requesting the government to ask their own MPs to support a minor opposition party's Bill?" I'd say emphatically yes, it is. Because council were given a clear roadmap. They were told: "Only six more coalition MPs are needed to give this an urgent first reading at central government. Thanks to a new tool, Standing Order 288, MPs can vote their conscience. We don't believe a good conscience stops deadlocked at political party lines. Here at local level, you're also a broad political church. You have community backing. So you have an opportunity here, with somewhat lower stakes, to light the path for the higher-ups." That's why Cr Garey said the mayor's letter undermined the whole idea. Councillors were directly asked to consider a conciliatory approach and they chose to make it party political and divisive. Faced with the ethical dilemma of "might this give a party we disagree with a windfall?" versus "how can we help alleviate locals' suffering?" detractors decided the former was more important. It was irrelevant who had introduced this Bill. We all would have preferred the sitting government to put forward their own legislation well before more than the combined tonnage of Dresden, Hamburg and London in World War 2 was dropped on Gaza. It is a small strip of land roughly the size of Invercargill but home to 2.1 million people, half of whom are children. Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
A masterclass in how to block progress
Dunedin is doing development all wrong, Lyndon Fairbairn writes. I was born and raised in Dunedin. I am a passionate Dunedite. I have travelled the world, lived overseas, and returned to raise my family here because I believe in this city. I'm a glass half full type of guy and Dunedin has a lot going for it; great people, a rich heritage, a strong sense of community and a great place to raise a family. But it's also facing some serious challenges, and many of them are of our own making. We're making headlines on housing for all the wrong reasons: cold, damp student flats that don't meet healthy home standards, doubling the development contribution rates that stifle progress, and a controversial soil removal policy that can cost developers up to $100,000 per site. Add to that a growing mountain of red tape, and it's no wonder people are questioning how committed our city really is to growth and progress. I have been involved in both international and New Zealand-wide property development for more than 25 years. I've seen what happens when councils embrace change: cities grow, homes are built, and people thrive. Unfortunately, Dunedin is falling behind. Once New Zealand's fourth-largest city, it's now often referred to as a regional centre and it shows. Housing is a fundamental human need. Yet Dunedin has some of the poorest quality housing stock in the country. Many homes are well past their use-by date, and in our cold climate that means people are living in cold, damp homes and therefore spending more on power, maintenance, and medical bills. We need new homes; warm, dry, and healthy homes. And we need more of them to meet the demands of a growing population. Here's the reality: building in Dunedin costs more than it does in other cities and much of this increased cost is due to excessive red tape. It's around $100,000 more expensive per build than in Christchurch. And because supply is so constrained, rents have surged. A two-bedroom townhouse in Christchurch currently rents for around $450 a week. In Dunedin, you'll pay $650 for a similar place. That's a huge gap. Imagine a tenant having an extra $200pw in their back pocket. Saving for a house deposit and or spending at cafes, restaurants and retail. What a boost. Look at Christchurch. They were hit hard by the earthquakes, but they stood up, faced the challenge, and rebuilt on a fault line, no less. Their housing supply, infrastructure, and city planning are back on point. It's now one of the most attractive places to live in New Zealand. Why? Because their council rolled up its sleeves and got to work. Meanwhile, here in Dunedin? It's been over 10 years since the South Dunedin floods, and we've barely touched the core infrastructure issues. Instead of investing, we've doubled down on fear, scaring off residents and developers alike. Our city has some of the lowest average incomes in the country, but some of the highest rents. The result? Young people pack up and leave the minute they graduate. We can't hold on to our own talent because we have cold, damp, expensive homes and make it too hard to live here. We're pricing people out and pushing our talented young people to cities with better opportunities and lower costs. We need a council that understands this bigger picture. Building and development creates jobs, supports small business, and brings in outside investment. Developers are being forced to remove soil at an enormous cost, up to $100,000 per site and the process requires both DCC and ORC consents. One developer has spent over $300,000 on soil removal on 4 or 5 homes. That's more red tape, more delays, and more projects stalled before they even begin. One councillor sitting across from me proudly claimed they were ''leading the industry''. That was the moment I knew the conversation was over. Because this isn't leadership, it's sabotage. Forcing homeowners and developers to spend up to $100,000 to remove soil that national health authorities deem safe isn't protecting Dunedin, it's decimating it. If the council truly believes this is a serious public health risk, then why aren't they treating it like one? Why haven't they issued a formal public health warning to all residents? And if they're so concerned about contamination, why isn't the council removing soil from its own properties, local sports fields, playgrounds, kerbs, and reserves? Almost all urban soils will contain some traces of lead. That's what happens after decades of using leaded petrol and lead-base paint: it is not unique to Dunedin. If we're going to treat every slightly elevated reading as a hazard, then we're talking about a city-wide remediation effort that could easily top $1 billion. And somehow, we're the only council in New Zealand who thinks this is the right way forward. The truth is, this appears to be a selective enforcement of policy, one that unfairly targets development, not public health. Is it only dangerous when a developer tries to build a home? Has there been any studies that link lead soil health issues to occupants of new-build homes? Or renovated extensions to a home? I think that's the underlying big question: Do we actually have a health issue here? The Ministry of Health doesn't think so. I've got a simple solution: pause the soil removal policy. Not tomorrow, not next year, but right now. Before another dollar is wasted or another project abandoned, let's take a breath and get some clarity. We need independent scientific advice to confirm whether there's truly a public health issue here. If there is, let's treat it seriously and apply it consistently across New Zealand and all properties not just new developments. Until we have that science and that clarity, this policy has no business holding our city back. In addition, the recent doubling of development contributions by the DCC means many projects in Dunedin are no longer economically viable. Developers are already looking elsewhere and have been invited by more forward-thinking councils who understand the long-term benefits of building. We have a government calling for the removal of red tape. Yet here in Dunedin, we're adding more hurdles. more compliance, more costs, more hoops to jump through and longer processing times. All in a city that desperately needs housing, jobs, and growth. It's frustrating, short-sighted, and frankly damaging. Without change, Dunedin risks falling further behind. The bottom line? Dunedin is making itself unattractive to invest in. The numbers don't stack up. The rules don't make sense. And the leadership is missing in action. We're not competing, we're retreating. There is still time to turn things around, but we need leadership that prioritises housing, cuts unnecessary barriers, and sees development not as a threat but as an opportunity for Dunedin's future. • Lyndon Fairbairn is a Dunedin developer.
Otago Daily Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Blue Sky Property Group: Making a real impact on Dunedin's property scene
Blue Sky Property Group is dedicated to building smarter, warmer homes that feel great to live. Lyndon Fairbairn hasn't counted how many nails Blue Sky Property has used, 'but it's a lot!' he says. The managing director of the Dunedin company and his small team are making a big impact on the city's property development scene. Since Blue Sky Property was launched in 2021 they've focused on creating high-quality homes in great locations. And there's something for everyone including first home buyers, downsizers, and investors. 'We take a lot of pride in delivering new builds that are stylish, low maintenance, and built to last,' Fairbairn says. He and the other directors Tony Illingworth, David Smillie, and Leon Hallett are all Dunedin locals. Between them they have an impressive 120 years of experience in the building industry. Each of them brings something different to the board table: surveying and building, property law, home design, and marketing. 'It's a real team effort and we love what we do,' Fairbairn says. Blue Sky Property works with a broad range of clients, but they have found a particular niche creating homes for downsizers. When the Rawhiti Residences – a trio of beautifully designed single-level townhouses in Musselburgh - sold out in days, the company knew they were on the right track. 'In fact, some of our projects sell out within hours,' Fairbairn notes. 'We often have waitlists for upcoming releases.' Another standout project that sold out rapidly is Villa St Clair, a development of four high-end homes just a block from Dunedin's favourite beach. Architecturally designed, the homes feature raked ceilings, ensuite bathrooms, and beautiful finishes including cedar detailing, stone benchtops, and Fisher & Paykel appliances. Villa St Clair was specifically designed for downsizers, families, and professionals, and is a showcase of Blue Sky Property's passion for luxury and location. They are currently working on their 17th development in Dunedin, comprising around 90 homes and over $80 million is sales. 'Behind those numbers is a commitment to quality, thoughtful design, and making homes that people genuinely love to live in,' Fairbairn says. He and the team are now looking forward to bringing The Grendon Collection to the Dunedin market. This new project on Maori Hill's Grendon Street sees Blue Sky Property working with the highly respected and award-winning Dunedin architecture company Mason & Wales. The luxury development on a prime corner site includes two beautifully designed north-facing three-bedroom homes. In one of the city's most prestigious neighbourhoods, they will offer warm and contemporary living. Supporting the local industries is important to Blue Sky Property. They prioritise New Zealand made on their developments – and even Dunedin made when they can. As well as having kitchens, staircases, and windows made in Dunedin, they also work with standout local partners Lewis Architecture, while NZ Property Solutions provide fantastic sales and marketing. 'It really does take a village!' Fairbairn reflects. 'We're incredibly grateful to all the experts who've been a part of the journey so far. Their hard work means everything to us.' Another big focus for Blue Sky Property is sustainability. They go above and beyond in that sphere, particularly in terms of insulation and natural light. The company uses eco-friendly materials and techniques whenever possible, and all of their developments meet the standards for Healthy Homes. 'It's all about building smarter, warmer homes that feel great to live in,' Fairbairn concludes. 021 562 232 30 Lochend Street, Musselbugh, 9013, Dunedin
