Dippie apologises for comments
Allan Dippie's views about councillors were contained in an email exchange when he butted heads with mayoral candidate and fellow businessman Andrew Simms over the planned $100 million Smooth Hill landfill south of Brighton.
Mr Dippie yesterday said he had had an "unusual response from the councillors in terms of them telling me that they weren't offended".
Instead, they backed his support for the Smooth Hill landfill, he said.
The commentary in the emails, which both businessmen have now shared with the Otago Daily Times , "was kind of a bit of private banter", Mr Dippie said.
"I did have the graciousness to apologise.
"I apologised to the councillors, and then I got a whole lot of councillors backing me.
Mr Dippie shared texts and emails he had received from councillors in response to his apology , which included:
"I totally agree with your weird and woke comment, no apology needed from me ... "
And: "Thanks for your email. No offence taken. Your submission was so refreshing thank you. It was great."
Cr Steve Walker said: "I'm hard to offend Allan, so no issue from me. To be honest, I've begun taking it as a compliment being referred to as woke!"
Mr Dippie's emails — in which he said Mr Simms had been "hijacked by both the existing landfill operators and some alarmist Nimbys" — questioned both the quality of the Future Dunedin ticket that Mr Simms assembled for the October election as well as the present crop of councillors.
"Just look at the lack of talent and the general weirdness and wokeness of some of the present councillors, probably the best money they have ever been on and ever will be," Mr Dippie wrote.
"The scary thing is these individuals are sometimes in charge of decisions way beyond their capability.
"It's probably cruel."
The email exchange included Mr Dippie's brother Martin Dippie and council chief executive Sandy Graham copied in.
Mr Dippie said yesterday he copied in the chief executive as a courtesy.
Mr Simms said yesterday the fact Ms Graham was copied into the emails was why they were now public. However, he "immediately pushed back" on Mr Dippie's characterisation of both prospective councillors and sitting councillors because it was "really unfair".
"I think the 'private banter' argument kind of disappears when you start copying the chief executive of the DCC into emails."
Mr Simms said he wanted a discussion of the merits of building a landfill at Smooth Hill compared with transporting waste to AB Lime's landfill at Winton, but Mr Dippie had made his criticism of this through an "attack" calling Mr Simms' position "populist electioneering" and claiming he had been captured by those with a vested interest.
"The affordability of rates is going to be a big issue this election, as is the mounting core council debt," Mr Simms said.
"And both of those things are contributed to significantly by a decision to spend $100 million on a landfill when there is an option that doesn't seem to have received sufficient consideration."
Ms Graham did not respond to ODT questions yesterday. A council spokesman said "it was not a staff matter".
However, Cr Mandy Mayhem said there were "some great minds" around the council table.
"I am sure Mr Dippie is embarrassed about his remarks."
Cr Carmen Houlahan said she appreciated Mr Dippie's comments about Smooth Hill at the hearings.
"His comments are unacceptable but need to be taken in context that they were private communication between him and Andrew Simms," she said.
It did a disservice to the community when a project was being "slammed for the purpose of electioneering", Cr Bill Acklin said.
"I think the greater concern for the community is expensive advertisements containing individuals' opinions being delivered as if they were facts."
Cr Sophie Barker said she was pleased to receive "and accept" Mr Dippie's apology, which celebrated councillors' diversity.
Cr Andrew Whiley said he did not believe Mr Dippie owed councillors an apology.
Cr Brent Weatherall said everyone was entitled to an opinion and it was "sad" Mr Dippie felt the need to apologise..
hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz
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