Latest news with #Dobbie
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Here's a 'unique' feature approved for Glasgow student flats
A planning application to add features to the four rooftops of Dobbie's Point in the West End was approved by council planning bosses recently. Documents detail what the spaces will look like after the transformation, each with a specific purpose. The first terrace will have various seating options, including chairs, stools and bean bags, for relaxing and socialising. It will allow different functions and uses. Visuals of roof terrace one (Image: Sourced) Here's a 'unique' feature approved for Glasgow student flats (Image: Sourced) The second area, nicknamed the games terrace, will offer a place to "chill out", including tables and chairs for board and card games and a curling pitch - in line with Scottish traditions. Once built, this can also be used for organised events. According to the application, storage is also planned to accommodate sporting equipment. Visuals of roof terrace two (Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced) The third rooftop will be the night terrace, providing a quiet place to study in enclosed pods, which will be heated and lit. All of them will be situated in a "sea of pebbles", making them "feel like islands". Visuals of roof terrace three (Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced) Finally, the fourth and largest terrace will be a space for socialising with covered seating, benches, a 'grow your own' planter, as well as a quiet contemplation pad. The papers added: "Each section is subdivided with meadow grass bands which offer increased biodiversity whilst allowing the spaces to enjoy a feeling of separation." Visuals of roof terrace four (Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced) READ NEXT: A-listed Glasgow church to be transformed - here's the new plan Currently, the rooftops have planters, walkways and some benches for seating. Applicant Roost Procpo 3 Limited, who manages the student block, said the upgrade will help better utilise the existing spaces, attract residents and act as the accommodation's "unique selling point". Current view of one of the roof terraces (Image: Sourced) The areas will be used both for studying and socialising. Dobbie's Point is located on North Hanover Street, near Glasgow Caledonian University.
Otago Daily Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Govt planning rules could 'override the community'
New planning rules proposed by the Government could override community aspirations, says a Canterbury council boss. Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said he struggles to see how a proposal to stop councils defining rural-urban boundaries would work. ''If they override something in the planning document, they are not overriding the council - they are overriding the community," he said. Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced proposed changes last week which he said will stop councils from stalling housing developments. ''We have had decades of local councils trying to make housing someone else's problem, and we have a planning system that lets them get away with it,'' Bishop said at the time. The Government proposal would stop councils from imposing rural-urban boundary lines in planning documents. A Rural Urban Boundary identifies land suitable for urban development, and areas to be kept rural. The proposal would give the Government the power remove provisions in council plans which impact on growth, and replacing development contributions with a development levy system, increased flexibility of targeted rates, and strengthening the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act. But Mr Dobbie said preparing a District Plan is ''a long and tortuous process'', as councils strive to find a balance between community aspirations, the need for growth, aspirations of developers and Government legislation. He said rural-urban boundary lines allowed councils to ensure development occurred where there is council infrastructure. Drawing rural-urban boundaries was integral to developing spatial plans, which identified areas for future housing growth and protected agricultural land. The proposal appeared to go against the national direction of developing regional plans, which included spatial planning, to replace district plans, he said. ''I don't know how you can identify areas for housing and agriculture without drawing lines on a map,'' Mr Dobbie said. ''But I might be about to learn something.'' The clause allowing the Government to override District Plan provisions which impacted on growth would be open to interpretation, he said. ''Imagine somebody wanted to build a nuclear power plant or a whale slaughtering station. ''It might be something the community would not want, but the Government would have the power to override it.'' Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling said the council is considering the proposals and will be making a formal submission. Parts of the region are facing significant population and demographic change, particularly Greater Christchurch, he said. ''We need to make sure we get the balance right, and we're actively safeguarding the environment, as well as social, and cultural values at the same time.'' Any decisions needed to consider the region's infrastructure capacity, housing availability, labour market, transport connectivity and natural hazards. Public consultation on the Going for Housing Growth discussion document closes on August 17. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Hanmer's proposed adrenaline ride still in limbo
An artist's impression of the proposed flyride for Conical Hill, Hanmer Springs. Image: Supplied by Hurunui District Council There is hope a proposed Hanmer Springs flyride will still go ahead, despite a three-year delay and rising costs. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa was granted a consent three years ago to install and operate the gravity-based ride on the western face of Conical Hill Reserve. But the decision was appealed by The Friends of Conical Hill Incorporated due to concerns around the visual impact on the area, as well as traffic congestion, noise and the risk of fire. The project was finally given the green light by the Environment Court late last year, but Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said there are still a few bumps in the road. ''We are working on it, but we need to re-evaluate the project and the financials to make sure it still stacks up. ''Five-years have gone by since we started this project, so we need to re-look at it and bring a business case back to the council.'' When it was first proposed, the attraction was expected to create 23 jobs and inject $4 million into the local economy in its first five years of operation. Mr Dobbie said the cost was originally estimated at $2.7m, with the council receiving $2m from the Government's Shovel Ready fund in 2020. ''There has been cost escalations, and the technology has changed. ''And the market has changed. It was pre-Covid when the project started, so we need to redo the whole business case.'' Despite the challenges, Mr Dobbie said he is optimistic the project can go ahead - if the numbers stack up. ''There hasn't been a lot of new tourism products created in the last five years, and my firm belief is there needs to be some more.'' Staff are expected to report back to the council later in the year. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa is owned by the Hurunui District Council. By David Hill, Local Democracy ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury councils list roading ambitions - if they can find the money
While pleased to see the Woodend Bypass going ahead, Canterbury council leaders say they will keep lobbying for other roading projects. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has been pressing ahead with geotech testing with its contract partners, ahead of work starting on the Woodend Bypass next year. The project is expected to cost close to $1 billion, around half of Canterbury's $1.8 billion roading budget in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). It means other North Canterbury roading projects are having to wait. Top of the list for the Waimakariri District Council is the proposed Rangiora eastern link road, Skew bridge at west Kaiapoi, and the Tuahiwi crossroads intersection on Rangiora-Woodend Road. ''They are all in our budgets for the outer years (in the 2024/34 Long Term Plan), but if we need to bring them forward, we will be only too happy to,'' Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said. The council has prepared a business case for the proposed $35m Rangiora eastern link road to present to NZTA. The road will help reduce congestion through Southbrook by diverting traffic at the 'S-bend' on Lineside Road, passing to the west of the council's waste treatment ponds and cutting through council-owned land and the Spark family farm, before connecting with Spark Lane. From Spark Lane, the arterial route will continue up McPhail Road and Bellgrove Boulevard to Coldstream Road. Should the council be successful in obtaining a 51 percent NZTA subsidy, ratepayers will stump up 25%, with the balance coming from development contributions. The Hurunui District Council has estimated it needs about $3 million a year to maintain and upgrade its ageing network of 286 bridges. But it has received funding for just one bridge replacement in the 2024/27 NLTP. The council's chief executive Hamish Dobbie said if the Canterbury region received its fair share of funding, it would reduce the delays for local roading projects. The Canterbury region has around 13% of the population and accounted for around 15% of vehicle kilometres travelled, but received just five percent of national road funding, Mr Dobbie said. ''If Canterbury got its fair share of land transport funding, then we would get a better deal out of it.'' Mr Dobbie said one of challenges was NZTA funded bridges out of operational funding, when they were expected to last 80 years. ''Funding it through operational funding is not sustainable. We should be looking at intergenerational (or loan) funding, where we spread the cost out over time.'' Four bridge replacements were included in the 2024/34 Long Term Plan, but the council received just $600,000 towards bridge replacement in the 2024/27 NLTP. It is planning to replace a bridge at River Road, Waiau, in this year's annual plan at a cost of around $1m. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Courier-Mail
08-06-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Parents on property ladder worry kids won't make it
Kate and Simon Dobbie are counting their blessings they were able to get into the Brisbane property market in the early 2000s, but worry how their children will ever afford a home. The couple bought their first home in Mitchelton 18 years ago and have just listed their current home in Grange for sale. 'It was daunting at the time (being first homebuyers), but it wasn't necessarily hard,' Mrs Dobbie said. 'I was a flight attendant and my husband was a public servant. 'We managed to buy a house and still live our lives and travel. 'I don't know how first homebuyers are doing it today.' New Canstar analysis showed an income of $171,862 was needed to buy a median-priced house in Greater Brisbane in May 2025, compared to $72,628 in March 2020 — a $99,234 increase. For units, $120,490 was required today, up from $52,164 pre-pandemic. RELATED: Shark mansion devours Brisbane record 'Best house in Townsville' snapped up in a week Motocross mansion named Australia's hottest property The Dobbies sold their first home to build a house in Gaythorne and went on to sell that one to buy 145 Gracemere St, Grange, where they have lived with their two sons for the past 11 years. 'We bought a 100-year-old Queenslander that we added an extension to,' Mrs Dobbie said. 'It's got lots of character and memories, but we're never at home to make use of the big block. 'Our kids have grown up here, the neighbourhood is really good and we will be super sad to leave, but we are ready. 'There has been a lot of growth in the inner north and we want to capitalise on that growth from the last 11 years.' Mrs Dobbie said with one son likely to move out within the next couple of years, they were selling now to buy in their chosen area of Kedron and Wooloowin ahead of further price surges. 'We love the inner north and we're keen to get closer to Kedron Brooke, to my son's school, my husband's work and to Lutwyche Rd so I can commute into the city for my work,' she said. 'The prices will only go up with the Olympics coming and the predicted increases in the north (of Brisbane) are crazy.' While the hot Brisbane market should allow Mr and Mrs Dobbie to achieve a price needed to buy their next property, they were worried what their sons would face when it was their turn to buy a home. 'When I think of our children or any of our friend's children, I don't know how they will get into the market without family help,' Mrs Dobbie said. 'Brisbane is supposed to be a more affordable option than Sydney or Melbourne but prices have increased so much and with the Olympics coming up it's only going to keep increasing. 'We are just so lucky we got into the market 18 years ago.'
