Dunedin's community boards have made their opening pitches for new projects and continued funding during the first day of the city council's budget hearing.
Among the pleas were requests for support for a new Mosgiel swimming pool, extensions of the city's harbourside walking and cycleway and funds for a new jetty at Portobello, to enable a ferry service between the township and Port Chalmers.
Mosgiel Taieri Community Board member Bill Feather argued Mosgiel needed a new swimming pool, costing up to $10 million, to replace the existing ageing facility.
However, his suggestion a $600,000 budget for maintenance of the existing pool be diverted to help pay for a new pool raised a few eyebrows, with Cr Colin Weatherall suggesting that could lead to the early closure of the existing pool and a period without any pool in the town.
Chalmers Community Board chairwoman Jan Tucker said the city's new harboursidecycleway, completed as far as Maia, was one of the most popular recreational facilities in Dunedin.
"I would like to see it completed before I retire or die - whatever comes first."
Mrs Tucker said the area needed help with stormwater and sewerage problems, and asked the council to get involved with projects like "Bags, not plastic bags", a project to rid the area of plastic bags.
She said there was a strong wish for a green waste transfer station after the Sawyers Bay landfill closed in June this year.
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairwoman Irene Scurr asked for budgeted roading improvements to be secured, following delays to some work on the Peninsula due to bitumen price increases.
She also wanted funds in the 2010-11 budget for the planned Portobello jetty, which would provide a home for the area's Coastguard vessel and improve access to the area for cruise ship tourists and other visitors alike.
Saddle Hill Community Board deputy chairman Scott Weatherall said a public toilet and disposal unit was needed at the Ocean View site, near Brighton, to cater for more campervan tourists and other visitors.
Strath Taieri Community Board chairman Barry Williams took the chance to remind councillors of the board's plans for a range of social events coming up, including a singles dance to be held again later this year.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison asked councillors not to forgot about erosion problems north of the city as they considered how best to deal with St Clair and St Kilda's problems.
He also said continuing funding was needed for smaller roading and footpath improve-ments in the area, many of them safety-related.
The issues raised will be included in the annual plan submissions to be held in May.
