Annual Plan 2010-11

There were emotional scenes as Dunedin city councillors agreed to accelerate the pace of a three-year climate change planning project yesterday.

Opening hours at the Dunedin City Library seem set to survive the Dunedin City Council's scalpel, following a public outcry against a proposal to close the doors earlier on weekday evenings.

A third sweeping review of Dunedin City Council operations has been announced, as Cr Syd Brown continues a push to find operating efficiencies.

The long-running saga over the future of Dunedin's John Wilson Ocean Dr has taken another twist, with the cost of reopening the road likely to double to nearly $500,000.

Work on an $8.6 million entrance to the Otago Settlers Museum is to proceed, after Mayor Dave Cull warned a delay could put the museum's future in jeopardy.

About 300 submissions were received on the Queenstown Lakes District Council's 2010-11 draft annual plan. Queenstown Times reporter Joanne Carroll looks at the issues raised in the submissions.

The long and controversial debate over the realignment of Lovelock Ave, in Dunedin, effectively ended yesterday, with a knife-edge vote ensuring the project proceeds.

Farmers are calling for all Otago ratepayers to help fund future flood and drainage works on the Taieri.

Groups seeking funding from the Otago Regional Council have been reminded of its policy to consider "tangible" projects rather than operational expenditure.

Plans for Dunedin's Harbour Cone - now owned by the Dunedin City Council - will be subjected to further scrutiny, following public appeals to last week's annual plan hearings.

Child minders, web designers and anyone else working from home could also face overnight hikes in their rates bills, if they - like bed and breakfast owners - suddenly found their rating classifications had been changed, Dunedin city councillors have heard.

Allegations which surfaced last year about an unhealthy management culture at the Otago Museum resurfaced at the annual plan hearings yesterday, when a city councillor accused museum chief executive Shimrath Paul of having his "head in the sand" on the issue.

The development of a car park and access road behind Logan Park High School would help develop the Signal Hill recreation reserve into a world-class mountain bike park, Mountainbike Otago president Hamish Seaton told the hearings committee.

Plans for a major new heritage rail event for Dunedin, that organisers say could attract a significant number of overseas visitors to the city, are building steam.