The Otago Peninsula Community Board heard a submission from one of its own at its meeting last Thursday, at Portobello Bowling Club.
Board member Cheryl Neill, also a teacher at Portobello School, spoke in support of the school’s funding request for $1000 towards a replacement cover for its pool.
The request stated that the pool cover was more than 10 years old and was "beyond repair".
Ms Neill said quotes for a new cover for the pool, which was frequently used by the wider community, ranged from $5300-$6300, which the school planned to fund through other grants and school funds.
She also tabled a budget, which showed that the Portobello School pool ran at a funding deficit, with income of a DCC funding grant of $5000 and pool key sales of $2500 not able to cover the $9500 chemical, electricity and caretaker salary costs.
Due to the conflict of interest, Ms Neill stepped back from discussions later in the meeting, when the board agreed to grant Portobello School $1000 towards the pool cover.
Moving on to the governance support officer’s report, the board heard an update from senior office transport group manager Jeanine Benson about transport matters on the Otago Peninsula.
Ms Benson informed the board that information panels for the cycle-way near Wellers Rock would be installed in June, and that the council would look at some plantings in due course.
Board chairman Paul Pope launched a discussion about possible kilometre markers on the cycleway which would help users to pinpoint a location in the event they needed to call emergency services.
Board member Lox Kellas undertook to speak to the local volunteer fire brigade to see if such markers might be helpful for them.
The board also agreed to submit on an array of DCC and ORC plans, including the Draft 9 Year Plan and the public transport plan.
The board heard a verbal report from Otago Regional Council science and resilience general manager Tom Dyer about management of Tomahawk Lagoon.
There was ongoing planning and discussions with landowners about the installation of culverts to help manage water levels in high rain events, he said.
The board discussed the upcoming Anzac Day commemorations, and Mr Pope asked deputy chairman Hoani Langsbury to stand in for him at the Portobello service. Board members Edna Stevenson and Stacey Kokaua-Balfour agreed to attend the Macandrew Bay service on behalf of the board.
There had been two applications for the Otago Peninsula Community Board Youth Scholarship 2024-25.
The board agreed to promote the scholarship again before the closing date of April 30.
