Cr Butcher juggles duties
Childcare and consultation came together yesterday when Fliss Butcher combined her roles as care-giver and Dunedin city councillor.
Annual Plan 2009-10
No vitriol makes for dull DCC hearings
No vitriol makes for dull DCC hearings
There was something missing at the Dunedin City Council's first day of annual plan hearings yesterday.
Lovelock Ave realignment back on the agenda
Lovelock Ave realignment back on the agenda
The long-running battle over plans to realign Lovelock Ave resumed at the Dunedin City Council annual plan hearings yesterday.
B&B tourism rate of $500 too expensive
B&B tourism rate of $500 too expensive
A $500 flat rate on Dunedin's bed and breakfast owners was too heavy a price to pay for businesses often run by retired people for a small second source of income, the annual plan hearing was told yesterday.
Lifestyle block owners: No to city rates
Lifestyle block owners: No to city rates
There were rounds of applause as owners of rural lifestyle blocks, and those who saw themselves as farmers in every sense of the word, argued against being charged residential rates at yesterday's Dunedin City Council annual plan hearing.
Cemetary site 'perfectly usable' for natural burials
Cemetary site 'perfectly usable' for natural burials
Dunedin City Council staff say part of an existing cemetery - as well as other sites around Dunedin - could be used to meet the growing demand for natural burials.
7% rise likely as cutting effort fails
7% rise likely as cutting effort fails
Ratepayers are facing a 7% rise in rates for the coming financial year, after last-minute attempts by the Dunedin City Council to shave spending fell flat.
Councillors frustrated at Govt funding cut
Councillors frustrated at Govt funding cut
An attempt by some Dunedin city councillors to signal their frustration at government funding cuts was narrowly defeated yesterday.
25% hike in building consent fees approved
25% hike in building consent fees approved
The Dunedin City Council has approved a 25% rise in building consent fees to cover a $1.47 million budget shortfall.
Jetty plan hits a sand bar
Jetty plan hits a sand bar
The long-planned rebuilding of the Portobello jetty is uncertain, with its $1.3 million budget found to be "significantly short", and money for the project removed from the council's budget.
$350,000 allocated for design work on Regent Theatre upgrade
$350,000 allocated for design work on Regent Theatre upgrade
The Regent Theatre has been given $350,000 for design work for an upgrade in the next financial year, and $4.4 million in the 2010-11 financial year for construction work, but the latter will not be certain until consultation for next year's annual plan.
Dunedin projects ready, but Government funding has dwindled
Dunedin projects ready, but Government funding has dwindled
The Dunedin City Council has added more urgent language to its commitment to cycleways and walkways, but heard yesterday government funding for such initiatives has decreased.
Basketball the big loser
Basketball the big loser
Basketball Otago was the big loser yesterday among groups vying for grants from the Dunedin City Council's annual plan, with an application for $50,000 to support the Otago Nuggets failing to win support.
$4.7m for Regent upgrade likely
$4.7m for Regent upgrade likely
The Regent Theatre looks set to get the $4.7 million it requires for an upgrade, in a move that could solve the Dunedin City Council's need for a 600- to 800-seat theatre.
$135,000 pledged for extra activities
$135,000 pledged for extra activities
A new $135,000 contestable fund for Dunedin events has been approved after the city's councillors yesterday learned no money was budgeted to allow festivals and other events to grow.
Rates figures reduced
Rates figures reduced
After 50 hours of annual plan meetings, the Dunedin City Council managed to come home with a slightly reduced rate increase for the next financial year of 6.9%, down from an expected 7.8%.
Letter explains city council's actions
Letter explains city council's actions
A nine-page letter explaining the Dunedin City Council's actions on the stadium got a thorough page-by-page, line-by-line grilling from councillors yesterday, before its expected release after June 2.
Funds of $1m put back; housing strategy awaited
Funds of $1m put back; housing strategy awaited
The $1 million a year for social housing removed from the Dunedin City Council's budget has gone back in for the moment, until a social housing strategy is complete.
DCC votes not to speed up library progress
DCC votes not to speed up library progress
An attempt to fast-track progress on a South Dunedin library was defeated amid testy exchanges during the Dunedin City Council's annual plan deliberations yesterday.
Theatre investigation: $30,000 fund approved
Theatre investigation: $30,000 fund approved
The Dunedin City Council will spend $30,000 investigating the use of one of the city's theatres - most likely the Regent - as a home for a planned 600 to 800-seat mid-sized theatre.