The latest Residents’ Opinion Survey results show the Dunedin City Council is focused on the priorities of the people who live here.
Satisfaction with Dunedin City Council’s overall performance, including value for money, also remains stable compared to results from 2023/24.
Mayor of Dunedin Jules Radich says, “The results being made public today show our residents have clear priorities – they want the DCC to be focused on the basics of maintaining our infrastructure, controlling rates, reducing debt and managing our stormwater.
“The good news is we’re delivering on all of these fronts, despite the economic difficulties confronting all councils during these challenging times.”
Mayor Radich says the maintenance and renewal of core infrastructure remains a central focus, including roading, stormwater and wastewater pipe renewals across the city.
The DCC has allocated $44.2 million for further flood alleviation work in South Dunedin, designed to ease the threat of future flooding for residents.
A further $1.2 billion is earmarked for upgrades of the city’s water and wastewater pipes, roads and footpaths, as well as the city’s much-loved playgrounds, sports fields and other recreational facilities, in the 9-year plan.
At the same time, Council continues to seek savings where possible – to alleviate the upward pressure on rates – and is on track to deliver a balanced budget for the first time in years.
Debt levels are continuing to climb, but increases will flatten during the 9-year plan and core council debt (excluding water) is now forecast to decrease in the years ahead.
“Rates and debt are important – they provide the mechanism through which we can invest in the areas our residents want us to spend money on – but we need to manage this carefully to balance competing priorities.”
Mr Radich says he also understands reduced satisfaction in other areas, including Moana Pool, the Edgar Centre, and parking.
“As a regular Moana Pool user, it is easy to understand dissatisfaction while the end wall was being repaired, often letting cold air in, but it is finished now, and it looks much better. The Edgar Centre will be getting a new roof and similarly, that should improve satisfaction significantly.
“It’s also great to see our city’s cultural and creative facilities, together with our recreational and sporting and our green spaces – including our wonderful Dunedin Botanic Garden – once again recognised for the value they deliver to our community.
“The ROS results send a clear message that we are on the right track, but there’s always more to do.”
The survey was conducted over 12 months from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 by an independent research company, GravitasOPG, and received 1,349 responses from 4,800 survey invitations sent to a random sample of residents aged 18 years and over from the electoral roll.
Highest satisfaction scores by users:
- Dunedin Botanic Garden – 92%
- Tūhura Otago Museum – 91%
- Toitū Otago Settlers Museum – 90%
- Olveston Historic Home – 90%
- Libraries – 88%
- Reserves – 87%
- Walking/biking tracks – 81%
- Kerbside recycling – 80%
Other key results:
- Roading related infrastructure– 35% satisfied, up 9%
- Waste management – 67% satisfied, up 5%
- Performance of Mayor and Councillors – 30%
- Service and infrastructure delivery – 63%
- Sports and recreational facilities – 75%
- Cultural and creative facilities – 81%, down 3%
- Parks, reserves, open spaces – 78%
Significant improvements:
- Ease of pedestrian movement +13%
- Flow of traffic off-peak +9%
- Flow of traffic at peak +10%
- Condition of footpaths +9%
- Condition of roads throughout the city +12%
- Kerbside rubbish collection +4%
- Overall planning and urban design +4%
- Look and feel of suburb or township +4%
- Look and feel of central city retail area +8%
- Look and feel of the city +4%
- Look and feel of most convenient retail centre +5%
DCC Chief Executive Sandy Graham says, “The results deliver an important snapshot of the public’s sentiment and staff will continue to deliver the best possible services and facilities, based on the direction set by Council, as we all work to make our city a fantastic place to live for everyone.
“It’s especially pleasing to see a good percentage of our residents consider Dunedin to be a great place to live, and that overall residents see we’re doing well in many of the areas they consider to be of most importance.”