Concerns about the effects on nearby organisations and problems of noise and pollution have been raised as the public has its say on the proposed Otago Regional Council bus hub.
Submissions on a notice of requirement the ORC lodged with the Dunedin City Council to use a block of Great King St between Moray Pl and St Andrew St closed last Friday.
The city council received 22 submissions before hearings it said yesterday were set for October 24.
The hub will include 10 parking bays for buses, five on each side of the road, and loading zones for businesses.
New, more advanced bus shelters would be provided, and, eventually, ``real time'' electronic displays showing when buses would arrive.
The hub was a key part of a $3million transport project the ORC says will introduce a better public transport system for Dunedin.
In its submission, the University of Otago supported the proposal.
The organisation said it was committed to the reduction of private vehicle transport for staff and students, and there was scope to increase their use of public transport.
Current routes, timetables, information and fares did not promote that.
The hub was a key part of making ``significant improvements'' to the system, including new timetables and routes.
Public Health South was neutral on the proposal, but said in its submission it recognised the need for a hub within close walking distance of the city centre.
The organisation said the hub would ideally have real-time timetable displays, maps, and an app to allow users to access the information.
It would need CCTV cameras, toilets, lighting and seating, as well as facilities including a drinking fountain, breast-feeding spaces and nappy-changing areas.
Public Health South called on the ORC not to have food and drink vending machines, as ``nearly two in every three adults and one in every three children are either overweight or obese''.
Heritage New Zealand noted in its submission the Dunedin Community House building on the corner of Moray Pl and Great King St was a category two historic place.
It opposed a planned double bus shelter outside the building.
The shelter would affect the appearance of the building, and could adversely affect its viability.
Occupants would experience increased noise and a reduction in outlook and amenity.
Community House's submission supported the bus hub, but raised concerns about noise, emissions, car parks and privacy.
The east side of the building, in which there were meeting rooms and a radio station, faced proposed bus bays.
The ORC had agreed to mitigate the impact of noise, but the detail of that had not yet been agreed between the organisations.
``We would like you to require us to reach agreement before consent is granted,'' the submission said.
The same went for changes to air conditioning to deal with emissions, mitigation of lost car parks and privacy issues.
Ngai Tahu Justice Holdings Ltd, which owns the police station, opposed the hub.
The organisation was concerned about access to the station, vandalism, and its ability to participate in the consideration of any future changes at the site.
It asked that no building or structure be built that would restrict the visibility of vehicles entering or exiting the station, that CCTV be installed to monitor public activity, and that Ngai Tahu be consulted on any change in the operational characteristics of the hub.
New Zealand Police was neutral on the proposal, but also raised concerns about access to the station.
It was concerned passengers would ``stand around the patrol vehicle egress''.
Police could be asked to exit the station only via Cumberland St, but a dedicated lane or similar control mechanism would be needed on Cumberland St.
Bus users group Bus Go Dunedin raised concerns about weather protection and pedestrian safety.
Individuals who entered submissions described the hub as everything from ``pathetic'' to ``foolish'' to a plan that should be applauded.
Some submissions opposed the placement of the hub, saying it was congested and difficult to access, and could affect local businesses.
