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?
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?
SUBMISSON TO THE 9 YEAR PLAN: NEW SKATEPARK and MAINTENANCE ON EXISITING PARKS.
This feedback to the DCC 9-year plan relates to the community need for a new Skatepark in Dunedin.
While many other NZ council’s continue to proceed with new skateboarding facilities the DCC lags well behind.
The re-built ramps built in Fairfield, the revamp of the Street Skating area at Fairfield, new ramp in MacAndrew Bay, and upcoming re-build of the ramp in Brockville are all amazing new additions to the community. All of which are well used and greatly appreciated by local, national and international Skateboarders.
It's common knowledge that most of these facility upgrades have come about because the old one’s were left to rot, thus new one’s were obliged to be built - simply necessary maintenance.
At the same time the DCC has neglected to maintain the existing Skateparks at Thomas Burns, Mornington and Mosgiel.
The Dunedin Skateboarding Association worked with the DCC back in 2011/2012 to prepare a list of necessary maintenance issues to address at Thomas Burns/Mornington but none of these issues have been dealt with.
So while they have needed maintenance for over 10 years, nothing has been done and they continue to deteriorate into unsafe community facilities. In fact, local Skaters have used their own time and money to try and address these maintenance issues.
The DCC has embraced an up-to-date approach with aspects of the George St upgrade – certain areas are allowed to be skated. But they have not included any budget towards existing Skatepark maintenance or new Skatepark. This ambiguity is concerning and lacks foresight.
The Dunedin community needs a new Skatepark, and the Dunedin community needs the existing Skateparks to be maintained.
The nature of Skateboarding and skateparks has evolved in the past 20 years since Thomas Burns Park was built.
The sport is now in the Olympics and is embraced by perhaps the greatest variety of age group users than any other sport – it’s not uncommon to see skaters 40+ interacting with skaters 5+ in the same facility, something that will never happen with “traditional” sports.
Under the previous council a budget of millions of dollars was allocated for a new skatepark and maintenance towards the existing parks, this was removed without notification by the existing council, whilst the need for these facilities remains.
A great example of the potential of embracing Skatepark's is illustrated by the Tauranga City Council which shares a similar numer of constituents to Dunedin:
https://letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/news/artmid/20012/articleid/11043/putting-the-destination-into-destination-skatepark
The DCC needs to address these longstanding issues by way of allocating budget that does not expire and providing long term commitment towards new modern Skateparks for its community.
Supporting information
No associated documents with this submission.
Submitter
Submission id number: 1132655
Submitter name:
Craig Strong
Organisation