City Talkback

2012

May

Regent Street

Sandra said a huge strip of concrete had been put down the middle of Regent Street – could the money have been better spent on roundabouts around town – for the example the Morton St intersection and the Lindisfarne/Yarrow Street intersection.  Who is it that makes those decisions?

Council Roading Manager Russell Pearson said: "We have also looked at the Regent Street area and agree that some trees and planting would improve how the area looks and feels. Our Engineering and Parks teams are working on this and will arrange the trees soon. The option taken with the asphalt was undertaken to reduce future maintenance costs but we agree some plantings are appropriate.

Cr Graham Sycamore said some of the asphalt would be dug out and plantings put in.

Pothole

Richard said there was a large e in the side street close to Southland Sand and Gravel near the bridge on the way to the Airport.

Mr Pearson said Engineering staff would inspect te area and follow up.

 

April

Museum

John wanted to now what was happening with the new museum.

Councillor Darren Ludlow said there had been an extensive review, due to the shortage of funding within the community and the collapse of the Stadium causing a change in funding priorities for the community.  There was also more of a focus as to what would be going on inside the museum, rather than just focusing on the structure. The whole thing was being reviewed.  It was a $26 million project and the review was looking at whether the community could afford that and what should be included.  Should it be a collections based, or story-based facility? And should there be offsite storage for items that weren’t needed frequently? It would probably be nine months before more information would be put put back out to the public.  It was looking at keeping the facility in Queens Park, although it had considered moving it to the CBD.

LTP Summary 

Iris asked about the cost of the Long Term Plan Summary document was delivered to residents, ratepayers and businesses.

Communications Manager Eirwen Tulett said the cost of the LTP summary, including delivery, was 90c each.

LTP figures

Alan asked about the apparent differences in financial figures between the main Draft Long Term Plan and the Summary document.

Councillor Jackie Kruger said she had sought assurances from the Auditor General’s Office, Council’s Auditors and the Chief Financial Officer that everything wass correct. The difference was that Council’s finances had to be put into templates proscribed by changes to the Local Government Act.

Corporate Planner Melissa Short said the Local Government Act requirements were different from the requirements of the accounting regulations. The financial team had to do both – and that led to the apparent differences.

Bus fares 

Hayden asked about the change in bus fare.  Cr Kruger explained there was actually a small decrease for children.

 

March

Brick chimneys

Andrew asked if Council would waive fees to take down brick chimneys. (Mayor Tim Shadbolt said it was something Council should look at in the interests of public safety).

Building Regulation Services Manager Simon Tonkin said the Council would waive any fee to remove a redundant brick chimney on condition that a Schedule 1 form was completed and sent to Council, with photographs of the completed work. He said the exemption was only for redundant unreinforced masonry chimneys. Regarding chimneys still in use, he said the Council was waiting for Department of Building and Housing guidance; when that was received a decision would be made on whether the work could be exempted and if any fee would apply.

Run-down houses

Richard wanted to know what was being done about run-down houses in Invercargill.

Mr Tonkin noted that run-down housing issues could come under three different Council departments. The Building Department dealt with dangerous or insanitary houses and Council policies were available on the ICC website. He said the Council would act where a house or any building was likely to cause injury to a member of the public under the dangerous policy. "Run-down houses usually involve a number of Council departments with the usual discussions taking place with the owners to try to have them repair their properties. Council has approved funds for the coming financial year to look at ways that this issue can be dealt with more productively," he said. "But where a building is dangerous then Council staff will act appropriately: this may be by demolition of the building as at 173 Tweed Street, or by removing the occupants of the property such as a recent situation at a Tyne Street property."

February 

Art gallery funding
Tim asked what Council funding went to art galleries around Invercargill.

ICC Director of Finance and Corporate Services Dean Johnston said Council funded Anderson Park Art Gallery by $129,580 per annum.

South City parking
Coralie asked if the land behind South City Mall could be used to improve parking in the area.

Senior Traffic Management Officer Eddie Cook said the land behind the mall was privately owned which meant Council had no control over its use and there was no funding available for improvements. The landowner would need to be contacted to discuss the improvement of parking in this area.

Leven Street carpark
Ray asked if the Leven Street carpark was earthquake proof.

Council Building Assets Manager Paul Horner said the building had been assessed as being adequate to resist loading from a one in 500 year seismic event for an “ordinary” importance building, ie 100 per cent of the new building standard.

Ray asked if the Leven Street carpark was a paying proposition. (The Mayor said it wasn’t built to a high standard and had been improved upon, but had been very expensive.)

Mr Cook said the carpark building is not a paying proposition. "It is provided as a convenient park for members of the public," he said. "Access to the Public Library from this carpark is also very important."