The George St revamp is still all go, and a move to make the design more flexible has been rejected after a fiery exchange between Dunedin's mayor and the chairman of the infrastructure services committee.
A bid by mayor Jules Radich to obtain more information in just a week about options to incorporate "flexibility" into the remainder of a revamp of the city's main shopping street was narrowly voted down at a meeting today.
Mr Radich in the past has praised the aesthetic design of the George St redevelopment, but has been sceptical about the value of a more pedestrian-friendly space.
He has also historically argued that two-way traffic should be preserved, instead of switching to one-way traffic.
The outcome means any quest for a mid-project redesign seems likely to have run its course, and one-way traffic for three blocks of George St and a pedestrian focus are now almost certain.
The debate was punctuated by points of order and, at one point, Mr Radich seemed to be on the verge of being ejected from the meeting by committee chairman Jim O'Malley.
This related to whether Mr Radich had misrepresented a point and an instruction from Cr O'Malley to read out some material, which the mayor refused to do.
In the end, Mr Radich was allowed to remain at the table - but the moment illustrated how tense the meeting had become.
Cr Lee Vandervis suggested deferring surface treatment in two stretches of George St - the New Edinburgh Way block and what is now known as the Malls block between St Andrew St and Hanover St.
The public would later be able to compare the completed one-way Farmers block with the two-way Knox block and see which was best, he said.
Mr Radich said a council staff report provided insufficient information and he wanted to know more about options such as a two-way design with a 10kmh speed limit.
He wanted a "relatively small investigation" into ways flexibility might be achieved.
Cr O'Malley said the cost of delaying the project to accommodate a redesign would be between $2 million and $5 million.
Cr Christine Garey said the attempted flip-flop was undermining the council's credibility.
"Stop messing about with this project," she said. "The design has been made. Let's just get on with it."
Ngai Tahu was a key contributor to design and Cr Garey did not want the cultural narrative to be disrupted.
Cr Mandy Mayhem lauded a street environment that would be pleasant for pedestrians.
"Do it once. Do it right. Do it now," she said.
Cr Steve Walker was unimpressed that the revamp was being re-debated mid-project.
"I can't believe we're here yet again."
Cr Brent Weatherall argued flexibility was warranted, in case the design delivered disappointing results.
He believed it would not work and then significant money would have to be spent to reverse changes he expected would negatively affect the city centre.
"I believe it's going to cripple our city."
Cr David Benson-Pope said the "horse has bolted on George St" and staff should be empowered to get on with the "fabulous street works".
Cr Bill Acklin said things might be able to be done to "minimise the impact of the bolting horse".
The vote
The council voted 8-7 in December to ask council staff to explore how flexibility might be incorporated into the remainder of the project.
Mana whenua representatives on the committee Donna Matahaere-Atariki and Marlene McDonald proved to be decisive in today's result.
For requesting more information about potential flexibility (8): Mayor Jules Radich, Crs Lee Vandervis, Bill Acklin, Kevin Gilbert, Carmen Houlahan, Cherry Lucas, Brent Weatherall, Andrew Whiley.
Against (9): Crs Jim O'Malley, David Benson-Pope, Marie Laufiso, Sophie Barker, Christine Garey, Steve Walker, Mandy Mayhem, Ms Marlene McDonald, Ms Donna Matahaere-Atariki.
The Farmers block of George St has been completed and work is continuing on the Knox block.
This week, work began on the Malls block and this is expected to be finished in September this year.
The overall project is due to be completed in 2024.
