Simon Henderson looks at highlights from the West Harbour Community Board.
Shining light on dark skies
During the public forum of the West Harbour Community Board, Dunedin Dark Skies Group member Michael Broughton said he had observed an increasing number of homeowners installing bright lights on the exterior of their homes that would "be better suited to an industrial setting".
The "exceedingly bright" lights could have an impact on wildlife in the area.
Light pollution had been documented in New Zealand and overseas as a significant issue for wildlife that adversely affected their physiology as well as their behaviour.
He showed an example of the type of light people were installing, literally dazzling board members with LED lights to demonstrate the type of cool blue lights installed on some homes.
"If I was shining this into your bedroom, you wouldn’t sleep too well, and I don’t think wildlife sleeps too well, either."
He asked for the board’s help in providing people with information on some of the issues relating to external lighting.
Housing update
Kāinga Ora Otago Southland regional director Kerrie Young provided an update on its housing redevelopment in Albertson Ave, Port Chalmers.
Eleven homes at four locations in the avenue were being replaced with 20 new homes.
All the homes would be built using universal design principals, suitable for people with mobility issues and enabling tenants to "age in place".
The new homes comprised three one-bedroom homes, 15 two-bedroom homes and two three-bedroom homes.
The bedroom composition took into consideration the types of homes people on the the Ministry of Social Development housing register had applied for in the area.
There were more than 400 households on the register for Dunedin, she said.
"The overall majority of homes that people are requesting are one bedroom."
All but one of the public housing tenants of the properties had been rehoused in suitable accommodation.
"Not all have stayed in Port Chalmers but they have been happy with the moves [for] the most part."
It was not possible to guarantee previous tenants would be able to return to the new homes.
"We are not able to offer people first priority to come back, we simply can’t do that.
"Rest assured I think they are appropriately housed and happy with those moves".
Demolition of the properties would begin soon after asbestos testing, and where possible, items would be recycled.
"They will be deconstructed, not just knocked down."
Neighbouring residents would be contacted before the demolition and construction began, she said.
Shared path update
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency senior project manager Jason Forbes provided an update to the board on Te Ara Moana (The Ocean Path), the shared path along State Highway88 from Dunedin to Port Chalmers.
About three-quarters of the riding surface was now in place, and there were small sections in a number of locations to be completed.
The new lane at St Leonards was being sealed, balustrades and hardwood handrails were being installed in the concrete section of the path, lighting was being installed in some places, asphalt and new pavements were being laid in some sections, and a new bus shelter was being installed for Port Chalmers.
Near Curles Point a car park would be installed.
"But when we are at the point of opening the path, we will still be utilising that for construction, so that won’t be open to the public.
"That is where we currently have a lay down area and a small site office," Mr Forbes said.
While stretches of the path were now completed, he reminded residents not to use the path until it was finished and a certificate of public use had been issued.
Legally, Waka Kotahi was not allowed to provide access to any part of the path until the correct documentation was issued.
It was anticipated the path would be completed by the end of August.
