Services and activities
The reserves and recreational facilities group includes activities and services related to:
- Aquatic services
- Botanic Garden
- Cemeteries and crematorium
- Parks and recreation
The DCC operates four community swimming pools and over 100 playgrounds, sportsgrounds, parks and reserves. They are maintained every day to meet the leisure, fitness and lifestyle needs of Dunedin residents. The DCC also maintains open green spaces and reserves like the Botanic Gardens and other important facilities like cemeteries and crematoriums.
Green spaces, aquatic facilities and the other activities in this group are central to the wellbeing of Dunedin’s communities. The maintenance of these activities allows a breadth of leisure opportunities and the pursuit of ‘active’ lifestyles in parks, pools, gardens and reserves so that Dunedin’s communities can be fit, active and connected in natural spaces.
Community outcomes
The reserves and recreational facilities group contributes to the following community outcomes:
- An active city with quality and accessible recreational spaces and opportunities
- A supportive city with caring communities and a great quality of life
- A sustainable city with healthy and treasured natural environments
Significant negative effects
Aquatic services
No significant negative effects are currently identified, but examples of potential negative effects on the local community are:
- The potential exists for negative effects on the environmental interests of the community from the use of chlorine gas as a pool disinfectant, resulting in harm from a leakage in the gas storage or delivery system.
Emergency systems for early leak detection and emergency cylinder shut-downs to minimise adverse effects are in place. Alarms are wired directly to the Fire Service to ensure a quick response. The gas cylinders are stored in an area separate from the primary pool facilities.
- High energy consumption involved in the heating and operation of pools may impact environmental interests.
Energy use has been reduced with heat recovery projects. The 10 year plan included a project to install a second heat recovery heat pump at Moana Pool (cutting 75% of our LPG use at the facility) and then installing either a wood pallet boiler or an air source heat pump (which would mean using no LPG at all). Energy efficiency has been a key consideration in the design of the new Mosgiel Pool.
- The social wellbeing of individuals could be impacted by near-drowning, drowning incidents or perception of a danger of drowning.
This is managed by supervision of all pools by trained lifeguards.
Botanic Garden
No significant negative effects are currently identified, but examples of potential negative effects on the local community are:
- Use of chemicals for pest plant, animal, and disease control.
This is managed through the compulsory adherence by the contractor to: Agrichemical Users Code of Practice – NZS 8409; Regional Plan – Air; and Fertiliser Use Code of Practice – (NZFMRA). The adherences to these standards are monitored by staff supervising the work.
- Biosecurity risk of exotic (and native) plants and captive birds escaping or causing or disease in local native flora and fauna.
This is managed by monitoring of the health status of aviary birds and plants, staff who engage all measure necessary to ensure bird and plant health is maintained at optimum levels at all times. Holding structures for birds and potential of weediness of plants are checked and monitored at all times, with appropriate remedial work carried out before any harm or loss occurs.
Parks and Reserves:
No significant negative effects are currently identified, but examples of potential negative effects on the local community are:
- Conflict between provisions of recreation pursuits (e.g. mountain biking) vs. environmental protection.
This is managed through the adoption of appropriate, consulted policy (Tracks Policy) and Reserves Management Plans.
- Use of chemicals for pest plant, animal, and disease control.
This is managed through the compulsory adherence by the contractor to: Agrichemical Users Code of Practice – NZS 8409; Regional Plan – Air; and Fertiliser Use Code of Practice – (NZFMRA). The adherences to these standards are monitored by staff supervising the work
Measuring performance
| Measure | Data Source | Actual Year 2 2022/23 | Target 2024/25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level of service: Aquatic facilities are accessible to everyone | ||||
| Percentage of residents who visit a DCC swimming pool at least once in a year | ROS | 48% | >50% | |
| Number of annual attendances at DCC swimming pools: | Moana Pool | Internal data | 579,868 | >600,000 |
| St Clair Hot Saltwater Pool | 51,476 | >36,000 | ||
| Mosgiel Pool | 0 | > 44,000 | ||
| Port Chalmers Pool | 12,199 | >14,500 | ||
| Level of service: Aquatic facilities are well maintained and meet the needs of users | ||||
| Percentage of users satisfied with Moana Pool | ROS | 80% | >85% | |
| Percentage of users satisfied with community swimming pools (St Clair Salt Water Pool, Mosgiel Pool and Port Chalmers Pool) | ROS | 76% | >85% | |
| Level of service: The Botanic Garden and its facilities are well maintained and meet the needs of users | ||||
| Percentage of residents who visit the Botanic Garden at least once in a year | ROS | 77% | >75% | |
| Percentage of users satisfied with the Botanic Garden | ROS | 95% | >90% | |
| Level of service: Parks and reserves facilities are accessible to everyone | ||||
| Percentage of respondents that agree sites and facilities are satisfactorily accessible | ROS | 66% | >80% | |
| Level of service: Parks and reserves facilities are well maintained and meet the needs of users | ||||
| Percentage of users satisfied with DCC playgrounds | ROS | 67% | >80% | |
| Percentage of users satisfied with DCC sports fields | ROS | 74% | >80% | |
| Percentage of users satisfied with DCC tracks | ROS | 83% | >80% | |
| Percentage of users satisfied with DCC scenic, bush and coastal reserves | ROS | 85% | >80% | |
| Level of service: Cemetery and crematorium services meet the needs of funeral directors and the bereaved | ||||
| Percentage of users satisfied with cemeteries | ROS | 77% | >80% | |
ROS - Residents’ Opinion Survey
| Dunedin City Council Funding Impact Statement for the Year Ended 30 June 2024 for Reserves and recreational facilities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| (shown in $000s) | 2023/24 Annual Plan | 2024/25 Long-term plan | 2024/25 Annual Plan |
| Sources of operating funding | |||
| General rates, uniform annual general charges, rates penalties | 31,260 | 31,970 | 31,961 |
| Targeted rates | 5,618 | 5,476 | 5,948 |
| Subsidies and grants for operating purposes | 436 | 308 | 255 |
| Fees and charges | 6,823 | 6,813 | 6,981 |
| Internal charges and overheads recovered | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Interest and dividends from investments | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local authorities fuel tax, fines, infringement fees, and other receipts | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Total operating funding (A) | 44,137 | 44,599 | 45,146 |
| Applications of operating funding | |||
| Payments to staff and suppliers | 32,004 | 31,840 | 32,220 |
| Finance costs | 1,931 | 1,833 | 1,877 |
| Internal charges and overheads applied | 3,155 | 3,269 | 3,216 |
| Other operating funding applications | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total application of operating funding (B) | 37,090 | 36,942 | 37,313 |
| Surplus/(deficit) of operating funding (A-B) | 7,047 | 7,657 | 7,833 |
| Sources of capital funding | |||
| Subsidies and grants for capital expenditure | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Development and financial contributions | 269 | 275 | 275 |
| Increase/(decrease) in debt | 12,763 | 9,418 | 7,967 |
| Gross proceeds from sale of assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lump sum contributions | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other dedicated capital funding | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total sources of capital funding (C) | 13,032 | 9,693 | 8,242 |
| Application of capital funding | |||
| Capital expenditure | |||
| - to meet additional demand | 0 | 667 | 333 |
| - to improve the level of service | 2,108 | 3,834 | 3,368 |
| - to replace existing assets | 17,971 | 12,697 | 12,374 |
| Increase/(decrease) in reserves | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Increase/(decrease) of investments | 0 | 152 | 0 |
| Total application of capital funding (D) | 20,079 | 17,350 | 16,075 |
| Surplus/(deficit) of capital funding (C-D) | -7,047 | -7,657 | -7,833 |
| Funding balance ((A-B)+(C-D)) | 0 | 0 | 0 |