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Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Councillors told option the riskiest
Councillors who backed going it alone on building a new Dunedin landfill were warned by independent experts it was the riskiest option being considered. The report on Smooth Hill, developed by consultancy Morrison Low, was released publicly last week ahead of deliberations on the Dunedin City Council Long Term Plan. In November, councillors voted 11-2 to build a landfill at Smooth Hill independently, subject to long-term-plan funding, rather than exporting waste out of the district or building in partnership with a private company. Cr Sophie Barker said she was "satisfied" the council made the right decision, while Cr Andrew Whiley was concerned the proposed model could be affected by private competitors. Council staff recommended the council go it alone, but Morrison Low's report advised the Smooth Hill landfill be built in partnership. In 2023, Morrison Low said although a council-owned and operated landfill would have a lower impact on annual rates, it had significant capital requirements and was the highest risk of the final options. Morrison Low also ranked the option 12 from 13 longlisted options, where it scored low in potential affordability and achievability. Building in partnership would provide the council with industry expertise and access to a wider disposal market while disposing of waste out-of-district was "not a viable" alternative. In a 2024 update, Morrison Low told councillors building alone had the highest potential revenue but remained the highest financial risk. Running with a commercial partner was highly dependent on the commercial model and "deficiencies in contractual arrangements" between councils and private waste companies had been recently highlighted. "Overall, the difference between [building alone or in partnership] is small." If the council built the landfill alone, there was a risk of competition from commercial waste companies. "AB Lime have already signalled they would look to develop their own transfer station in Dunedin, attract commercial customers away from DCC and transport waste to their landfill in Southland." In their report to the council, staff said building independently provided more autonomy to dispose of its own waste and meet waste reduction goals. It did rely on annual waste to the Smooth Hill landfill remaining "the same or similar" to current tonnages to the Green Island Landfill. "There may be measures that could mitigate this risk, such as a landfill management contract with appropriate incentives," the report said. It also noted Morrison Low estimated the landfill would cost $80 million, including 20% contingency. The council had included $92.4m in the draft long-term-plan budget, which included a further contingency. Cr Barker said councillors had "ample opportunity" to ask questions during the process and she was "satisfied" with the decision. Risks were able to be managed through the contingency and Dunedin had "mountains of waste to dispose of", she said. Cr Andrew Whiley opposed building the Smooth Hill landfill and said he was surprised to hear of AB Lime's planned transfer station. "That was mentioned briefly in our papers, but yet when you look at our modelling and everything else, I found that revelation actually quite concerning because I believe that does change our business model on that basis." Mayoral candidate Andrew Simms said he welcomed the release of information which allowed greater scrutiny of the council's decision but urged councillors to be certain they had considered all options. "At first read of the report there are some figures that are difficult to reconcile with my evaluation of the business case for Smooth Hill. This requires more investigation and more questions before I could be in any way confident that council is making the correct decision." Councillors are expected to vote on funding for the Smooth Hill landfill today, as part of long-term-plan deliberations.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Nine city councillors confirm intention to seek re-election
Photo: ODT files Most Dunedin city councillors are hoping to return to the fray come October. Nine of the 15 Dunedin City Council members have said they will stand for re-election in this year's local government elections. Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said she would stand as an independent candidate after first being elected to council in 2022. "I believe that this first term is like an apprenticeship," she said. "Even though I had previously worked for DCC many years ago, it takes a long time to get over [or] fully come up to speed on so many diverse areas. "I've invested a lot in council as it has in me and I think I owe it to the city to put my hand up again." For the moment, she said her focus was on the council's long-term-plan process. Cr Andrew Whiley also said he would run for council again as an independent candidate and thought it would be an "interesting and challenging election period". "I am deeply concerned about the level of toxicity already coming through on social media," he said. Cr Steve Walker said he planned to stand for council again and, "despite being constantly asked", would not contest the mayoralty. He and his fellow candidate, University of Otago student Jett Groshinski, had been endorsed by the Labour Party. "Running as a Labour-endorsed candidate gives the voting public a clear, unambiguous understanding of the values I bring to the table, rather than hiding those values under the opaque mask of 'independence'," Cr Walker said. Crs Christine Garey and Bill Acklin both said they would be running for council as independents. As well as standing for council, Crs Mandy Mayhem and Lee Vandervis said they would have a tilt at the mayoralty, as will incumbent mayor Jules Radich. Though widely expected to join the mayoral race, Cr Sophie Barker said she would not make a decision until the long-term-plan process was complete. In January, Cr Carmen Houlahan said she would run for council as an independent. Nominations open on July 4 and close August 1. The election will be held on October 11.
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Fewer top staff sign of ‘disrespect'
Kevin Gilbert. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED The absence of senior staff from Dunedin's long-term plan hearings showed a lack of respect for submitters and a "thumbing of the nose" towards elected members, a councillor says. Three councillors have raised concerns about fewer members of the executive leadership team (ELT) being at last week's long-term plan hearing than in previous years. The long-term plan (LTP) will set the direction for the next nine years of council services, activities and spending and includes a proposed capital budget of $1.89 billion, with rates rises of about 10% forecast for the first three years. The four-day hearing also included submissions on government reform of the future delivery of Three Waters. Cr Kevin Gilbert said the absence of council executives was "appalling", Cr Sophie Barker said it was "challenging" and Cr Andrew Whiley said low attendance was "surprising". However, the council said elected members had been briefed on the situation ahead of time, and while staff did not have a role in the hearing some, including chief executive Sandy Graham, had attended. Crs Steve Walker, David Benson-Pope and Christine Garey all felt the level of attendance from executive leadership was appropriate. Cr Gilbert said the lack of senior staff during all but the closing hours of the final day was "nothing short of an affront to the Dunedin public and a thumbing of the nose to councillors and the process". "As I understand it, while members of the ELT may have wanted to attend, this was a decision made by the CEO and one I cannot fathom without a hefty degree of cynicism." Knowledgeable staff were at the hearings, but he saw great value in the executive hearing from the public, gauging councillors' responses and noting "to-dos". Ms Graham and the ELT showed disrespect to submitters. "This to me was the lowest part of the proceeding," Cr Gilbert said. Andrew Whiley. Cr Whiley was "extremely surprised" at ELT's minimal presence and understood leaders were on retreat for two days, a claim the council has denied. He said in 12 years as a councillor, he had never seen senior staff "missing for the week", especially during hearings on a "contentious" long-term plan. "It would have been beneficial, I think, for some of them to be engaged." Cr Barker said she would have preferred senior staff be at the hearings and it had been challenging without them. "There's a huge amount of information being shared by LTP presenters and I think it's important that senior staff hear that information and public feedback verbatim." Council corporate services general manager Robert West said suggestions the council had lacked respect were wrong. "This stage of the process is a chance for councillors to hear from submitters, before making decisions that staff then implement," he said. Councillors were told in advance about the approach and no concerns had been raised, he said. Last week, ELT members had attended a routine, two-day planning session — "not a retreat", Mr West said. Staff did not have a role beyond offering governance support to the hearing, but some senior staff — including the chief executive — did attend, either in-person or online while continuing other work. Cr Garey said councillors were well supported and live-streaming hearings had changed attendance requirements. "At a time where the volume of work is huge, the approach taken was entirely appropriate. "To suggest anything untoward is simply mischief-making." Cr Walker said senior staff could be contacted by phone and it was "ridiculous" for them to sit in on a week of hearings when other work needed to be done. Cr Benson-Pope said the staff presence was "fine" and when a question could not be answered on the spot, arrangements were made to provide it. — Additional reporting Grant Miller
