Latest news with #WestHarbourCommunityBoard
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Community issues in focus
Community advocacy was top of mind at the West Harbour Community Board meeting, held last Wednesday at Port Chalmers Town Hall. At its public forum, the board heard a presentation from local resident Ms Wilson, who complained about excess lights used at night by Port Otago and asked for board support. The board also heard from Port Chalmers residents Mike Webb and John Innes about a local bus shelter that had been removed earlier in the year. Local musician and co-organiser of the Lines of Flight musical festival Peter Porteous spoke in support of a funding application from the Metonymic Trust for $700 towards the hire of Port Chalmers Town Hall for the event in October. The festival had been running two-yearly for the past 25 years, featured many local musicians and attracted people from around the world, he said. Later in the meeting, board members voted unanimously to grant the requested $700. Bus routes Otago Regional Council regional planning and transport general manager Anita Dawe attended the board meeting to speak about the Regional Transport Plan, which was adopted in June. Directives from the government had resulted in the team investigating a zoning model and small rises in fares — from $2 to $2.50 for adults, and from free to $1.50 for children. In response to questions from board members, Ms Dawe said there would not be a return to very high fares, but there were few "levers" for the council to pull to cover bus service costs. Planning was also well under way in advance of cruise ship season. Scholarship The board considered an application for a scholarship from emerging young Māori leader Ngāki Kiore for $500 towards attending the Ngā Manu Kōrero national speech competition in September. The board voted to grant her the $500 requested. General The board voted to continue advertising in the Rothesay News , at a cost of $1500 for the year. The column features board members' contact details. In discussing the Community Plan, board member Barbara Anderson raised concerns over lack of progress from the board on the plan. She also spoke about communication with the community during emergencies. In the subsequent discussion, it was highlighted that official information had to come from the bunker in an emergency to be shared, and there were changes under way. Following board reports, Ms McErlane congratulated Ms Goldsmith and board member Duncan Eddy on their efforts in organising the recent West Harbour Community Awards. Information panels Cr Mandy Mayhem shared progress on the creation of six panels highlighting historic sites and events for display around the Port Chalmers area, and requested an additional $78 for the cost of the sixth panel — this was granted. WEST HARBOUR COMMUNITY BOARD NOMINEES • Duncan Eddy • Jarrod Hodson • Jenny Kendrick • Ange McErlane • Matthew Newton • Barbara Olah • Marion Poole • Wayne Sefton Postal votes need to submitted by Tuesday, October 7. After this date, votes must be returned to the council's secure ballot boxes before noon on Saturday, October 11.
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Volunteers' efforts recognised
The efforts of community volunteers in the Port Chalmers and West Harbour areas were recognised last week through the annual West Harbour Community Awards. About 30 people attended an awards ceremony at Port Chalmers Town Hall on June 24, receiving certificates and congratulations from Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich. Presented by the West Harbour Community Board on behalf of the community, and co-organised by board deputy chair Kristina Goldsmith and board member Duncan Eddy, the awards aimed to celebrate those who made a difference in their community. "These awards celebrate the contributions that unpaid, underpaid and largely unnoticed decent people make to the West Harbour area," Mr Eddy said. "Good people who take some time to do something positive that makes a real difference." Among those who received the awards in person on the night were generous West Harbour youngsters Ella-Rose, 10, and Henry, 8, Preece. When the Port Chalmers Volunteer Fire Brigade's donation box, containing an estimated $200, was stolen from the counter at Port Chalmers Dairy, the pair sourced a new box online and replaced the stolen money from their own savings. Anita Zainey accepted a community award on behalf of Koputai Foodshare, which turns Pioneer Hall in Port Chalmers into a food exchange every fortnight. The event, which is run in conjunction with KiwiHarvest and local food donors, aims to help those in need while reducing food waste. Port Chalmers resident Stephen Stedman received a West Harbour Community Award for his activities in the music and community spheres. Mr Stedman is a member of the Flying Nun Foundation Board, and the Dunedin City Council's music advocacy panel, as well as being involved with the sea cadets. He also looks after the sound for Port Chalmers Anzac Day commemorations. Ravensbourne resident Rachel Gibb received an award for her long-term efforts advocating for better controls and monitoring of the effects of the Ravensdown Fertiliser site on the wider Ravensbourne area and residents. Ange Jones received an award for her work over many years as a caregiver — a tough and often undervalued job, and has made a big difference to the lives of older residents in West Harbour. The team at Otago Vacuum Tank Services received an award for swinging into action when the water pipeline between Dunedin and Port Chalmers was smashed by a slip at Maia during heavy rains last October. The team took water tankers to stricken communities, and were in the thick of the cleanup, using their pumping gear to help drained flooded residential properties in West Harbour. Retired electrician Bruce Dunn, of Maia, received an award in absentia for his contribution to the community over decades — from coaching rugby to children in the 1980s to his support for local bowls. He was recently spotted cutting grass and pruning trees at the Rudolf Steiner School. Kelsey Porter received an award in absentia for getting stuck in to remove graffiti at Long Beach caves. Having reported it to the Dunedin City Council, Ms Porter and some friends removed most of the graffiti themselves. John Davis was recognised for his long service as secretary of the Aramoana League. Mr Davis stood down last year after 40 years of service.
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
School scores grant for goal posts
WEST HARBOUR COMMUNITY BOARD A busy public forum, community concerns, and funding requests for local projects kept West Harbour Community Board members on their toes at last week's meeting. Public forum At its public forum, the board had a visit from Port Chalmers School PTA chairwoman Colette Parai and several pupils keen to speak in support of the school's funding application for $1000 towards a set of new football [soccer] goals for its sports ground. Ms Parai told the board the new goals were urgently needed, as the children playing the very popular sport had been stuck playing with old, broken goals, which recently had to be removed for safety reasons. Children of all ages at the school enjoyed playing football and community members also made use of the football/soccer pitch at weekends, she said. Ms Parai said the school had found a local engineering firm to manufacture the goals. The new goal posts were part of a wider project for Port Chalmers School this year to refresh its grounds by updating playing court facilities, digging a new long jump, and upgrading the football goals, she said. Later in the meeting, the West Harbour Community Board agreed to grant the school $1000 towards the project, subject to two quotes being provided, and confirmation the funds could be used by the end of the financial year in June. The board also heard a presentation by T.S. Neptune sea cadets unit committee secretary Jonny Goldsmith in support of the organisation's application for $911.80 towards buoys, mooring equipment, and a safety radio, to support its sailing programme. ''The buoys will allow us to set out a [sailing] course on the harbour for cadet training,'' Mr Goldsmith said. T.S. Neptune also needed a marine radio, as one of its two safety boats did not have one, he said. Later in the meeting, the board considered the request and agreed to support T.S. Neptune with a grant of $911.80. In addition to the two funding application presentations, the West Harbour Community Board's public forum was also attended by Port Chalmers resident Stuart Neill, returning to follow-up on a presentation he made to the board in February. Reminding the board of the issues he had experienced with Dunedin City Council contractors patching up the road outside his property and causing damage to the footpath, which he said was still unresolved, Mr Neill also spoke about his recent correspondence with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi about potential flooding on SH88. Board projects Following the public forum, the board's attention turned to its own projects, including an application for funding from board member Duncan Eddy requesting $153 towards printing of booklets featuring historical local stories, to be offered free of charge to the public. Mr Eddy's booklet The Stories Behind The Streetnames in Historic Port Chalmers had proved a success, and his follow-up booklet is titled Main Street Historic Buildings of Port Chalmers . The board discussed the application, with Mr Eddy stepping out, and agreed to provide the funds of $153 - subject to two quotes, as per the funding rules. Dunedin City Council representative Cr Mandy Mayhem then led a discussion of the first phase of a board project towards enhancing the main street of Port Chalmers. The proposed three-part proposal will include historic information panels (phase one), relocating brass plaques commemorating war service to Chalmers Pl, in association with the Dunedin RSA (phase two), and a main street mural (phase three). Cr Mayhem shared with the board the proposal to create historic information panels relating to the band rotunda, the wharfies, the floating wharf, boat hulks in Carey's Bay and Deborah Bay, information about the late local artist Ralph Hotere, and panels exploring some of the history of local Maori. The board was keen on the idea, and voted to devote its remaining project funds towards it - a total of $500. General business Moving on to general business, the West Harbour Community Board discussed and noted the governance support officer's report, then shared updates on board members' areas of responsibility. In her board chairperson's report, Ange McErlane told board members an update on the historic Simm's building would be coming soon from the council. In her councillor's report, Cr Mayhem reminded board members local body elections would be coming up in October, and wished good luck to board members planning to stand again. @
