MEDIA RELEASE

22 August 2016

Drop-in sessions start of community conversation on South Dunedin's future

A series of drop-in information sessions hosted by the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council early next month are the start of a community conversation around South Dunedin's future.

The sessions will be at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum on Thursday, 1 September and Friday, 2 September.

DCC chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose will be presenting information about what happened in the 2015 flood, how the current stormwater system works, and how the DCC plans to invest and work with the community in the future.

Dr Bidrose said that it was important to plan carefully for South Dunedin's changing environment. It was also important to take the time to involve the community in the decision making along the way, rather than to just do things on their behalf.

"Addressing the challenges of the future requires the DCC and ORC starting to have conversations with the community about the challenges, and the expectations and options for what can be achieved. The rest of Dunedin’s population needs to be involved as well.

"There is a great opportunity to turn some of the challenges into opportunities and give confidence for long-term investment in the area.

"These drop-in sessions are the beginning of the process. The DCC will be actively seeking local people’s thoughts on these issues and working with the ORC on what the long-term responses might be. I’m looking forward to seeing as many people as possible from the South Dunedin area at the sessions,” Dr Bidrose said.

ORC director of stakeholder engagement Caroline Rowe said the drop-in sessions were part of a wider South Dunedin community engagement plan, aimed at developing a conversation with locals and groups about managing the risks associated with the changing environment.

Mrs Rowe said they follow the recent release of the ORC's Natural Hazards of South Dunedin report. The technical report pulls together information and analysis gathered over the past seven years on natural hazards facing the area, particularly the increased likelihood of surface flooding associated with rising sea level.

Presentations, with accompanying video, will be at each session and people will have an opportunity to talk individually to staff from both councils.

The hour-long sessions will be repeated several times, with Thursdaysessions starting at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 4.30pm and 7pm.

The Friday sessions will start at 10am, 11.30am, and 1pm.

Ongoing engagement planned for the next few weeks also includes briefings for support service agencies and other specific interest groups such as the South Dunedin Business Association, the Otago Chamber of Commerce, and school and early childhood centres.

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