Submission
9 year plan feedback
Should we remove 231 Stuart Street (formerly the Fortune Theatre) from the list of strategic assets in the DCC Significance and Engagement policy?
Do you have any comments about 231 Stuart Street?
Should we charge an entry fee of $20 (incl. GST) for international visitors aged 16 and over, at Toitū and Dunedin Public Art Gallery?
Do you have any comments about the entry fee for international visitors?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Seniors Climate Action Network (SCAN) www.seniorsclimateactionnetwork.org is a Dunedin group that has over 500 members. SCAN regularly showcases people, groups, and organisations, including the DCC, in free public events at the Dunningham Suite, Dunedin Public Library, which promote a healthier present and future for us all. We thank the DCC for its support in providing the space, which is an excellent example of high- quality council initiative for the benefit of the community.
SCAN’s vision for the city of Dunedin is for it to be a healthy and happy place to live. For this, it is necessary to have flourishing biodiversity, clean air, water and soils, low pollution and noise with low density traffic, to have thriving local markets and vibrant, resilient communities.
We acknowledge that the DCC has a limited budget. Therefore, we urge councillors to make bold choices when prioritising expenditure to achieve the above vision.
Recommendations for Dunedin City 9-year Plan
• the inclusion of additional investment options for accelerating the reduction of carbon emissions, prioritising local inner-city cycling, walking, and bus network
• the exclusion of an increased budget for grass verge maintenance
Rationale
Inclusion of additional investment in reduction of carbon emissions
Accelerating the reduction of carbon emissions connected to transport, heating, and manufacturing will result in a faster reduction in air pollution and particles which wreak havoc on our bodies. Polluted air creates a plethora of diseases and premature deaths. The same applies to noise pollution - it creates long-term stress which leads to impairments and diseases. Cleaning up the air and lowering noise levels prevents suffering and costs and greatly benefits our own health and that of our families and communities.
Prioritising a local inner-city walking, biking, and bus network would give more diverse options to move around, resulting in less traffic on the roads. This would provide cleaner air and less noise. It would create more space for biodiversity to flourish, space for water to sink in heavy rainfall, and trees for shelter from cold and heat. It would produce calming environments for local markets and communities to connect with each other and thrive.
SCAN recommends the inclusion of additional investment in reduction of carbon emissions and to prioritise the building of a well-connected inner-city cycling, walking, and bus network.
Exclusion of increased budget for grass verge maintenance
Instead of increasing the budget for grass verge maintenance, SCAN recommends using part of the budget to educate the public on the opportunities and benefits of investing in growing biodiversity instead. Not increasing the budget for grass verge maintenance cuts pollution and costs. Less transport and machine noise prevents stress and diseases. Connecting with growing plants and soil increases our physical and mental wellbeing and that of our families and communities. Enhancing local biodiversity is vital to ensure there is enough food for all.
SCAN recommends the DCC to provide resources and work with Place Based Communities to facilitate setting up local neighbourhood caretakers with competitions for the best cared for street or neighbourhood, setting up local small scale plant nurseries (see Smaills Beach) and composting hubs, neighbourhood orchards, a public chipping service, tool libraries, permaculture workshops etc. Not only would this help to diversify our natural surroundings, it would increase our health and provide food security and resilience.
SCAN recommends the DCC to exclude the budget for increased grass verge maintenance.
We ask current councillors to make choices that benefit the wellbeing of all, like previous councillors did with the George St restoration project. The health of all Dunedin citizens is at stake.
Local Water Done Well feedback
Which water services delivery model do you support?
Why did you choose this option?
Do you have any other feedback related to the proposed water services delivery models?
Supporting information
Submitter
Submission id number: 1132660
Submitter name:
Sue Novell
Organisation
Seniors Climate Action Network