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?
This Submission is on behalf of Town Belt Kaitiaki
Town Belt Kaitiaki seeks increased financial support from the Dunedin City Council to the amount of $50000 annually continue its important education and community work.
Since 2018 Town Belt Kaitiaki has operated as a successful community collaborative education programme that has made use of and uplifted the mana of Dunedin’s special town belt. TBK is student lead and riven but is supported with partnerships from DCC, DOC, Dunedin Amenities Society, Schools, and mana whenua.
In 2024 the programme worked with more than 1000 students and 46 teachers across 15 schools. Engaging the public with multiple events and projects. More than 200 volunteer hours contributed to this success.
This programme and its outcomes align heavily with goals of the previous Town Belt Management plan, with TBK students also submitting on the development of the new plan. When it comes to engaging residents but particularly young people with the Town Belt, its history, ecology, cultural value and general importance to Dunedin TBK is leading the way in this work.
Excerpt from the Town Belt Management plan 2007
“The Town Belt has a rich historical geography. The historical, ecological, recreational, economic and landscape values of the Town Belt, enhance the quality of life for the people of Dunedin. These values need to be promoted through the education of the general public to develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural and scenic qualities the Town Belt provides. Through community involvement in the research, promotion, and education of reserve values, a knowledge of the resource can be developed which will improve future management planning of the Town Belt and ensure its appropriate use. Interpretive information like signs, monuments, memorials, plaques and visitor information, helps to promote and educate people about the Town Belt and its significance to the City of Dunedin.”
Through our education coordinator the programme has engaged with 15 schools 3 ECEs and thousands of students who’s places of learning boarder the town belt. Engaging these students across the curriculum, providing them with opportunities to develop leadership and environmental awareness skills. As well as fostering community around the city’s green spaces.
The programmes student leadership team has fostered lifelong leadership skills in those who have taken part. These students provide leadership to the programme, acting as ambassadors in their communities. Many of them now taking these skills and experiences on to further study and the workforce after graduating from the programme.
Most of all though this programme has empowered countless young people with the skills and opportunities to care for their environment and community amongst uncertain times.
Since 2018 the Dunedin City Council has provided funding to Town Belt Kaitiaki to support the work of its education coordinator. This amount of $32000 and its consistency over the life of the programme has been critical to the programme’s success. However, considering increasing costs and a desire to see the programme grow we ask the Council to consider increase its annual contribution to $50000 and with a term of at least three years to ensure security for programme and the young people involved. This amount reflects an CPI adjustment to the original funding as well as an increase to reflect the greater engagement with schools and the community the programme currently has and ensuring financial sustainability into the future.
The programme has in the past received co funding from Department of Conservation, Dunedin Amenities Society, and the Otago Regional Council. We are currently seeking further funding elsewhere to see the programme grow to engage more of the students from the 30 schools that are within 1km of the Town Belt.
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: 1132803
Submitter name:
Taylor Davies-Colley
Organisation
Town Belt Kaitiaki