Otago Peninsula Community Board Update!
Please scroll down or click on the .doc below to read all the exciting news (e.g. Road Improvements, Slip Repair, Movie Shoot, etc.) from OPCB Chairperson and Broad Bay resident, Christine Garey:
Otago Peninsula Community Board Update
There is plenty of positive news to celebrate……..
Congratulations to:
• Lox Kellas – a long serving member of the community board, who has been awarded, Communication & Incident Volunteer of the Year, Coastguard Southern Region
• Larnach Castle – for winning Excellence in Customer Service at the NZ Hospitality Awards recently
• STOP on the launch of their “Otago Peninsula Birds – A pocket guide” which the Board supported with a grant
• Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Trust who were recently awarded a $136,000 DOC grant for its possum eradication work
• Broad Bay School, Broad Bay Boating Club and Fletcher House guides who participated in the recent Keep Dunedin Beautiful Clean-up and all those unsung local people who pick up litter on a regular basis – a great effort and thank you for the pride you show in our beautiful Otago Peninsula!
You will have read in the ODT that a feature film is to be partly shot on the Peninsula and that the Targa Rally will be held here also, both putting the Otago Peninsula on the map.
However, the most exciting news of recent times is DCC’s investigation into the feasibility of accelerating the Portobello/Harrington Point Road Safety Improvement Project (aka the Peninsula Cycleway). This significant development shows real commitment by the DCC to exploring the possibility of completing the project in a much shorter timeframe. By the end of October we should have an indication but certainty would not be secured until March/April next year. However, I am very encouraged and especially since meeting with the consultants this week who have been engaged to do this investigation. I believe that completing the project in a much shorter time than is currently planned, is a very real possibility now and every one of you who made the effort of submit to the Annual Plan can take credit for that even being considered. With the nearly 600 submissions DCC received on this project, the common theme was, finish the project and finish it soon! Congratulations to Korena Paterson, Sean Hogan and Zoe Mitchell and all of you who participated in the submission process especially the pupils of Broad Bay School – your letters, drawings, and appearance at the Council hearings, made a huge impression and won the day! Your efforts definitely made a difference!
Turnbulls Bay Slip Repair – the new temporary traffic management was put in place after feedback about ongoing problems with the traffic lights. It seems to be working well to keep traffic flowing but some drivers are not slowing down enough! The construction project is well behind schedule but I have been assured that “the tenders are programmed to be called on 27 September. It is anticipated that site work would start in early November. This will be very tight completion by Christmas but this is still the target”. The Board will monitor this timing very closely.
ORC Bus Service Review – recently the Board made a detailed submission regarding Peninsula bus services, especially around local considerations. All the signs are that this review will bring positive changes.
Submissions invited for
• Draft Dunedin Arts & Culture Strategy 2104 – consultation closes 3 Oct.
• Statement of Proposal Local Alchohol Policy – consultation closes 10 Oct
OPCB Meeting Our last meeting for the year: 10am Thursday 13th November, Portobello Bowling Club. Deadline for grant applications to be considered at that meeting, is 31st October (details on the DCC website).
Christine Garey
Chairperson
Otago Peninsula Community Board