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It is with pleasure that I present Dunedin's first State of the City report. This report covers the progress towards achieving the community outcomes, priorities and indicators stated in the Community Plan published in 2006.

The Council has prepared this document so residents can see how we are meeting the community goals for the sort of city we want Dunedin to be. The report shows the things we have done well and is also quite clear about the areas where there is room for improvement.

As well as details about Council activities, the State of the City report outlines the achievements and aims of businesses and organisations also working to make a positive difference in the city.

There are plenty of things happening which show Dunedin remains in good heart. Highlights include high employment rates, growth in Dunedin household and personal income and a flourishing tertiary education sector. It is important to acknowledge that this report is a snapshot of the city looking back at trends prior to the current economic downturn starting. There is now uncertainty for many of us about the future and some trends may be changing as you read this.

We are actively promoting sustainability and continuing to work hard to recognise and protect the city's special heritage and architectural features. While we still have some way to go to deliver higher recreational water quality, more is being done to reduce problems such as beach closures. The commissioning of the extended wastewater outfall pipe at Lawyers Head in late January is already helping with the beach closure problem.

Dunedin people rate their quality of life very highly in comparison with other cities. This is a good place to live and we are working to maintain and improve this. We are building the platform for a city that will continue to be recognised for its quality of life, educational opportunities and social and cultural diversity.

While we need to improve the condition of some sports fields, the city rates highly when it comes to access to sports fields, parks and playgrounds. The number of visitors to Council-owned swimming pools has been steadily rising in recent years.

Improved bus services and the development of more cycleways are encouraging people to leave their cars behind, which has benefits for residents' health and the environment. Continuing work is still needed though to reduce the number of serious and fatal road accidents which occur in the city. And while most residents feel safe walking around the central city at night, people want to see more done to reduce overall crime statistics.

The information provided gives a snapshot of Dunedin nearing the end of 2008. In some areas, results will have changed since then, but they build up a general picture of how the city is progressing.

The Council hopes this report provides another way for citizens to be involved in and passionate about the goals and outcomes which shape this special city.