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Otago Daily Times
29 minutes ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Mayor's vote seals decision to go with CCO
Queenstown mayor Glyn Lewers. PHOTO: ODT FILES A mayoral casting vote was needed to decide how Three Waters services will be delivered in the Queenstown Lakes district. After nearly three hours' debate at a full council meeting yesterday, Mayor Glyn Lewers used his vote to ensure council staff's recommended option of a council-controlled organisation (CCO) won the day. Councillors were evenly split on the issue, despite 77% of the 118 submissions received during community consultation favouring the retention of Three Waters services in house. In her report for councillors, strategy and reform manager Pennie Pearce said submitters' main concerns about a CCO had either already been addressed by her original analysis, or would be dealt with by amendments to the government's "Local Water Done Well" reforms. Since submissions had opened in June, amendments had been made to the Local Government (Water Services) Bill that strengthened the case for a CCO, Ms Pearce said. Asked by Cr Esther Whitehead whether the council's recommendation showed a disregard for the consultation process, chief executive Mike Theelen said it was not a "game of numbers". He urged councillors to make their decisions "based on the information and evidence before you". The decision means the council will transfer the district's drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets — and associated liabilities — to a CCO, but will be its sole shareholder. Ms Pearce's analysis projects average annual water charges for households to be 10% lower under a CCO in the long term, compared with the in-house model. The CCO will operate independently from the council, with its own specialist board and management, although amendments to the Bill will require CCOs to consult with the community on matters of significance. The council's debt is expected to significantly decrease, giving it more headroom for other capital spending. Property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery told councillors a CCO would be "singular in its purpose", faster to respond to changing circumstances and better placed to secure debt and expertise. Cr Lisa Guy said the small number of submissions — about 100 from a population of more than 50,000 — did not represent a mandate for keeping the status quo. Many submitters had opposed a CCO, but also criticised the existing model for its delivery of Three Waters services. "If we're in agreement the status quo isn't delivering, how can we not be open to a model that might provide us with hope of doing it better?" Cr Niki Gladding said they were making their decision in a "fear and pressure environment" arising from repeated staff warnings of how central government might react if they chose the in-house model. "Neither option is the status quo. Both are an improvement. "I don't see why we can't achieve the benefits of a CCO — bar losing the debt — with an excellent in-house model." Cr Matt Wong said he was wary of basing his decision on cost, because he was sceptical about the accuracy of financial projections over such a long time period. They were under pressure from the government to make a decision based on highly complex information and a great deal of uncertainty, and he joked he would "need a coin" to make his. "I hope the public listening today is not going to judge any one of us on which way we vote."
Otago Daily Times
42 minutes ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
South D residents don't want ‘status quo'
Dunedin mayor Jules Radich. PHOTO: ODT FILES Clear signals have been sent about what South Dunedin people want for their future amid climate challenges, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich says. "The No 1 thing they don't want is the status quo," he said. "The infrastructure we have got simply cannot cope with the amount of inundation that we are prone to getting — so we have to install more." Large-scale retreat because of climate change and flooding threats was also unpopular and another version of managed retreat — letting water in and relocating to raised land — was not well supported either. People wished to continue to live in South Dunedin, he said. If the least popular options were discounted, a mix of what remained — making space for water while keeping the "liveable, workable" land dry — was what they favoured. Immediate action to enhance drainage infrastructure was key, which was why the council approved an additional "pipes and pumps" package in its 2025-34 long-term plan, Mr Radich said. The mayor's comments came after a report from the South Dunedin Future programme about community engagement results relating to a hazard risk assessment and seven approaches for adaptation. The programme is run jointly with the Otago Regional Council and it is principally aimed at establishing a comprehensive long-term plan for adapting to climate change. Feedback about the potential approaches was received from more than 1200 people and organisations. An option described as "space for water" was the most preferred overall. There was "mixed support" for several other options. "This suggests an openness from community and stakeholders to different approaches for managing risk and adapting to the impacts of climate change," the report for councillors said. An initial shortlist of three approaches is expected to be available this month. The regional council discussed the South Dunedin Future report last week. City councillors had a wide-ranging discussion on Wednesday about the feedback, the property market, insurance, risk and climate adaptation. Cr Christine Garey said there was a strong public mandate for change. Cr Brent Weatherall said the full options for adaptation were "mainly cost-prohibitive" unless central government came on board, but this was "clearly not yet on the horizon". Cr Carmen Houlahan said hazard information appearing on Lim reports was causing significant concern for some property owners. Cr Lee Vandervis — the only city councillor who voted against noting the report — criticised "planning for its own sake".
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Mayoral hopeful berates council chief executive
Wendy Baker. PHOTO: ODT FILES A Southland mayoral hopeful has taken shots at a council chief executive during a fiery public speech. On Wednesday, Wendy Baker presented to district councillors about the council's dog control policy and bylaw review. But her presentation began on an unrelated note when she read out a letter she had received from the minister of sports and recreation about her sporting accomplishments. "I wanted to bring that up because it's a positive letter of praise. And unfortunately, just recently, your CEO — who is extremely well paid — sent me a letter which was very upsetting to me," Ms Baker said. "This letter as you all know has gone to the ombudsman. A leader needs to build people up, and I will not be bullied when I do amazing amounts of volunteer work, which your council ignores formally, I feel." Ms Baker would not divulge the contents of the chief executive's letter, but confirmed to Local Democracy Reporting it was not related to the minister's letter. The letter was out of the blue, unnecessary and untimely, she said. "They should be praising the work I do and not sending a letter that upsets me." In response to questions, council chief executive Cameron McIntosh was tight-lipped. "We have raised some matters with Ms Baker. They are between council and Ms Baker," he said. "We will leave it with Ms Baker to decide if she wishes to share the contents of the letter with media." Ms Baker's presentation also took aim at the council over a perceived lack of dog control. She said a dog had come on to her property twice in three weeks — once on the eve of Anzac Day attacking a possum and once attacking a back fence at 4am. "I pay $4099.50 in rates to SDC ... and what do I get for it? Stuff all." The mayoral hopeful is one of three candidates in the running for the top job this October. At the 2022 election, she finished last out of six candidates with 211 votes. ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Holiday park sold to overseas investor for unknown sum
Wānaka's Top 10 Holiday Park. PHOTO: ODT FILES Wānaka's award-winning Top 10 Holiday Park has been sold to an overseas-based joint venture, which intends to maintain its current use. Overseas Investment Act decisions released yesterday show Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand has granted consent to Tasman Tourism New Zealand Ltd to acquire a freehold interest in about 3ha of land in Studholme Rd. The applicant is a joint venture between an Australian private equity firm with experience in the holiday park industry and an investment company based in the United Arab Emirates. It owns and operates holiday parks in New Zealand, including Te Anau, under the Tasman Holiday Parks brand. The Wānaka park, which won the supreme award at the Top 10 national awards in 2022, was sold by Andrew and Andrea Kendrick and the purchase price was withheld. ■ A forestry investment company has been granted consent to acquire freehold interests in 641.1ha of land in Cameron Rd, Waipahi, and a further 3182.03ha in Otago and Southland for undisclosed sums. Anzlaff NZ Ltd was established and is managed by New Forests Asset Management Pty Ltd for investing in plantation forestry in New Zealand and specific parts of Australia. It is owned by 14 overseas institutional investor entities. Companies managed by New Forests Asset Management Pty Ltd have previously made several forestry investments around New Zealand. The Waipahi property, which was owned by JEB Farming, comprises about 641ha of freehold land. The total productive area is about 548ha of majority Pinus radiata and a small amount of Cupressus macrocarpa and eucalyptus. The applicant plans to continue using the land for production forestry with harvesting planned for 2053. The larger swathe of land totals about 3200ha of freehold land comprising nine forestry estates, which will also continue to be used for production forestry. The total productive area of the property is about 2651ha of mostly Pinus radiata and a small amount of Douglas fir. The land was marketed together in a joint sale commissioned by the vendors — NZP Forestry Ltd Partnership, All In Forestry Ltd, Harbour View Forest Ltd Partnership, Katea Ltd Partnership, Longview Farm (Otago) Ltd, NZ Timber No 1 Ltd Partnership and Treebilly Holdings Ltd — which share some common investors and engage the same forest manager.
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Event co-ordination plan to capitalise on stadium: council
Forsyth Barr Stadium. PHOTO: ODT FILES A new plan to co-ordinate events across Dunedin will capitalise on the city's stadium, councillors say. At Wednesday's Dunedin City Council meeting, councillors adopted the Dunedin Festivals and Events Plan 2025 and associated implementation plans. The plans aimed to boost Dunedin's profile as "event-ready" with a city-wide, collaborative approach. In June, the council approved $4.4 million to support the implementation plans over the next four years, as part of the long-term plan. Cr Andrew Whiley said Dunedin was a great event destination, but "we just haven't been telling that story". The plan was an "opportunity for great events in Dunedin that can bring a range of diverse audiences and products to town", he said. Forsyth Barr Stadium was a "great asset" which should be celebrated and, combined with the festival and events plan, "we do have a very strong future for our city", Cr Whiley said. Cr Jim O'Malley said the stadium was a "$300m" asset that needed support from transport infrastructure to attract touring acts. "Whenever [Dunedin Airport] is asked about its capacity to take heavy freight planes, it says 'we're not going to bother doing this for the sake of one plane a year'. "We need to consider the investment in that runway capability against the investment we have made and all infrastructure that supports our particularly large entertainment investments. "If we do not upgrade the runway at Dunedin Airport to be able to take heavy cargo planes, kiss goodbye any more Ed Sheeran concerts." Mayor Jules Radich said the plan was significant for the future of entertainment in Dunedin — "in particular for the future of the stadium". Councillors also agreed, with little discussion, the approved budget for a "planned major event" be altered following a date change. Instead of budgeting for the "previously discussed" event in 2026 and 2028, the budget had been adjusted to 2027 and 2029.
