Councillors were presented with a final version of the Ōtepoti Live Music Action Plan at a community services committee meeting yesterday.
The plan was initially devised by advocacy group Save Dunedin Live Music (SDLM), in response to inner-city noise complaints that had caused venues around the city to shut down.
It includes 36 action points identified as priorities for staff to address, 11 of which "will or are likely to" require future investment — including the provision of operational resources and new staffing to co-ordinate the plan through the council.
Also listed was the establishment of a "music advisory group" to provide governance oversight for the implementation of the plan, but further decisions were subject to future council decision-making.
Cr Steve Walker said he understood the constraints of the council’s finances and resources.
But operational resources and new staffing were key, and without it many actions in the plan were at "absolute risk of just gathering dust".
"To me, if we don’t resource this, it’s a wee bit like a collective of football players who don’t have a manager to corral everyone and form a well functioning team."
Cr Walker said he got the impression after speaking with SDLM they had been very happy with initial consultation on the plan, but had since become "frustrated ... by delays, limited communication and lack of enthusiasm for the plan".
"Again, I think we should be a wee bit worried so soon into something new that that’s the feedback from a group that has been trusted by council and who trust our staff.
"If that is true I think that is a sad reflection on what has been up until recently an excellent example of council and community working together to find a solution to problems faced by our long-suffering music community."
Cr Mandy Mayhem said a longer waiting time was an "unintended consequence" of the council deferring its long-term plan to a nine-year 2025-34 plan.
"The wheels of progress turn painfully slowly, and I feel the frustration that the live music community has."
She was excited the investment in George St would invite more creative and vibrant activities to create a sense of belonging in the city, which she had witnessed first-hand during a trip to Wellington.
"I long for a day where we can have that same kind of vibe on George St that you can get on Cuba St at 1am."
Cr Christine Garey said she had also reflected on the adaptation of a nine-year plan, and normally the council would be in the midst of considering decisions such as live music.
Dunedin had world-class musicians and it was hard for the community to understand the extra delays that had been "really stressing people out".
"It’s a great plan. It’s not happening quickly enough but there’s all sorts of reasons for that — we need to keep on with the work."
