A cut to a South Dunedin community hub slammed as a betrayal may not be a done deal after a councillor’s change of heart.
Cr Carmen Houlahan is leading the charge to reverse the Dunedin City Council’s controversial call to lease the upper floor of the South Dunedin library complex at commercial rates, rather than reserve some space for community organisations at a cheaper rental.
Cr Houlahan said she had submitted a notice of motion asking the council to revoke the decision it made in November and had requested instead a pause on implementing commercial lease arrangements and seeking a report about options for community use.
This was backed by Crs Steve Walker, David Benson-Pope, Christine Garey and Marie Laufiso and could be considered at the end of this month.
Cr Houlahan was among six councillors who had voted for the commercial plan, in a vote that was won 6-4.
"We’re doing this because we need the money to run the library and community centre," she said in December.
"But now, looking at it in retrospect, I think I made the wrong decision, so I've asked to revoke it," Cr Houlahan said yesterday.
"And my reasoning behind that is that I feel the community has had so much input into this — to turn around now at this stage and say ‘no, you can't have the top floor’ is a betrayal."
South Dunedin Community Network community engagement manager Kirsten Gibson viewed this as a U-turn on a promise made for the community’s benefit.
"The decision feels like a betrayal to all those community groups who have been part of the extensive consultation process for the design of this space," she said in December.
Cr Houlahan said she had received a lot of feedback.
"Numerous community groups have come to me and others asking us to fulfil our promise to make the library a community hub," she said.
"It has become evident to me that promises were made that many of us were not aware of and it’s time to put this right."
Cr Bill Acklin is one person who has disputed this narrative.
"There are no broken promises here whatsoever," he said late last year.
Cr Acklin said when the opportunity to build the library on the King Edward St site was presented to the council, leasing the upstairs space was part of making this decision.
"The library and community hub is well placed to deliver for the community within the ground-floor space."
Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar said the move to market rentals was a late change of plan.
A misconception had since formed that "we, the community, want to sit in there for nothing".
"We're quite happy to pay towards the use of those rooms, albeit we can't afford market rental."
Mrs Millar said a resolution was needed sooner or later, referring again to the possibility of a street march.
"I'm more than happy to set up a petition and I will march."
