News and Notices
Community news and notices
Dunedin Community Accounting
Dunedin Community Accounting is a free, volunteer service for non-profits
Senior accountancy students form the University of Otago provide answers and practical help under the supervision of a Chartered Accountant.
For more information and how to use this service please see the attachment at the end of this section.
Place Based Community Grants Round Opens in August
Applications for Place Based Community Grants will open on Monday 5 August and close at 5.00 pm on Friday 30 August.
Grants will be decided by the DCC’s Grants Subcommittee in October, with grants allocated in early November.
Place based grants support a whole of community approach / community-led development in specific geographical communities across Dunedin.
In 2018 $300,000 was awarded to support place-based groups working in seven communities; South Dunedin, Green Island, North East Valley, Mosgiel, Waikouaiti, Blueskin Bay and Caversham.
To be eligible for place based funding groups must show that they are working on a range of community development initiatives that support community resilience and connection. They must also demonstrate the ways they are engaging with their community on local initiatives and evidence their role as a representative group for their place based area. Projects or groups working in interest areas e.g. working with only certain ethnicities, communities of interest, or age groups will not be funded.
Further information about the grant criteria can be obtained by contacting Community Advisor Hung Lam (hung.lam@dcc.govt.nz) or calling him on 474 4000. Information and applications will be on the DCC website from 5 August at the www.dunedin.govt.nz/place-based-community-grants-fund
Candidates encouraged to stand in local body elections
If you’re thinking of standing in the upcoming local body elections, there’s an easy way to find out more.
Nominations open on Friday and close at noon on 16 August.
People interested in standing are encouraged to come along to an information evening being held next week. This is a chance to learn more about what councils and health boards do, the work involved and what the rules are around nominations and campaigning.
The candidates’ evening will be held at 7pm on Wednesday, 24 July at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum. Speakers will include representatives from the Dunedin City Council, the Otago Regional Council and the Southern District Health Board.
DCC Chief Executive Sue Bidrose says it’s important that people from all sectors of the community put themselves forward so a wide range of views are represented around the decision-making table.
“The more the Council represents the city and its diversity, the more likely the decisions made will reflect the wishes of Dunedin residents.
“Local body elections are an opportunity for anyone with a passion for our community and strong leadership skills to put their name forward and help shape the direction of our city.”
Those wishing to stand for election must be New Zealand citizens and be on the electoral roll. They must be nominated by two people who live in the area in which they want to stand and they must pay a $200 deposit.
Postal voting is used for local body elections. People need to be enrolled by 16 August to receive their voter packs, which will be mailed out from 20 September. Voters must return their voting papers by noon on 12 October (election day) to ensure their votes are counted.
Visit www.dunedin.govt.nz/election for candidate information and nomination forms or call 03 477 4000. Candidates can also get further information at www.vote2019.co.nz.
For more information
Sharon Bodeker
Deputy Electoral Officer
Phone 03 477 4000
Neighbourhood Matching Grants and Small Project Grants
Small Project Grants and Neighbourhood Matching Grant applications are open again!
Up to $500 can be granted by the DCC for Small Project Grants to support community or arts projects. Projects must contribute to achieving Community Outcomes set out within Dunedin’s Social Wellbeing and Ara Toi (Arts and Culture) Strategies.
For more information and to apply please go to the following links
Rental home insulation requirements
A reminder to all landlords that their rental properties must have a certain standard of ceiling and underfloor insulation as of 1 July 2019. There are certain instances where it is not “reasonably practicable” to retrofit insulation, and information can be found on the Tenancy website about how landlords can get written evidence to prove it.
Landlords who do not comply may be faced with a fine of up to $4000. MBIE will be undertaking random audits, and there will be MBIE compliance officers operating out of Dunedin for the first time.
Healthy homes standards are now law
The healthy homes standards introduce specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. From 1 July 2021, private rental properties must comply with the healthy homes standards within 90 days of a new (or renewed) tenancy.
While the first compliance date is two years away, there are some things landlords need to do from 1 July 2019:
- All new or renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed statement that the landlord will comply with the healthy homes standards.
- Landlords must keep relevant documents as evidence of compliance with the healthy homes standards.
- Landlords can give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice to access their rental properties for the purpose of complying with the healthy homes standards.
More information on the healthy homes standards, including a Heating Assessment Tool to help determine the heating capacity required for the main living room in rental properties, is now available on the Tenancy website.
Seeking suggestions on Dunedin streets
Dunedin City Council (DCC) is seeking suggestions for improvements to some of Dunedin’s busiest streets and roads as part of its Our Streets project.
The Our Streets project will focus on making streets safer for communities.
DCC Group Manager Transport Richard Saunders says “We want to make more people-friendly streets and roads that are safe and easier to use for all, including motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and people using buses. We also want to create streets that are easy to understand, with consistent design across Dunedin.”
Some of the improvements that may happen include more crossings, lower speed zones, more lowered and built-out kerbs, removal of painted flush medians, and the inclusion or development of cycle lanes.
Feedback is being sought on nine main streets during the initial stage of the project: Bank Street and George Street (North Dunedin), South Road (Caversham), Main Road and Main South Road (Fairfield), Musselburgh Rise and Silverton Street (Musselburgh), Serpentine Avenue and Maclaggan Street (City Rise), North Road (North East Valley), Forbury Road (South Dunedin), Hillside Road and Orari Street (South Dunedin), and Factory Road and Bush Road (Mosgiel).
Improvements are expected to commence in 2020 and completion of all nine sites will take up to three years to deliver.
These streets were chosen as they are wide and therefore have enough room to provide for different road users. It is expected that improvements can be made with very limited impact on parking.
Feedback can be given through the online survey or interactive map by Thursday 8 August.
For more information please go to about Our Streets page on the DCC website.
Road safety improvements in central city schools cluster
The Dunedin City Council is installing permanent safety improvements around the central city schools cluster following a trial in the area.
Several options trialled in the area around Otago Boys’ High School, Arthur Street School, Kavanagh College, Otago Girls’ High School and St Joseph’s Cathedral School have been assessed and will be upgraded this year to permanent solutions.
Work begins this week to remove temporary posts, road markings and signs and install more crossing points, kerb buildouts and pedestrian refuge islands at crossing points. The layout of parking in Cargill Street, York Place and Tennyson Street will be changed from parallel to angle parking to create more carparks to offset any loss due to entry points or crossing points. A total of 43 carparks will be added in the area.
The introduction of part time 40km speed zones during school pick-up and drop-off times will aim to reduce traffic speeds. Electronic signs near schools will help enforce the 40km speed limit.
Signs at entry points to the central city schools’ area will be replaced with electronic signs to indicate to drivers they are entering the schools cluster. Posts at entry points will be replaced with kerb buildouts.
Entry points are on:
- Arthur Street (east and west)
- Brown Street
- Cargill Street
- View Street
- Rattray Street (south and north)
- Smith Street
- York Place (east and west)
Feedback from schools and residents and monitoring and assessment by the DCC of the trial show the measures have slowed vehicle speeds and improved safety for pedestrians.
The intersections of Brown Street and Elm Row and Brown and Duncan Streets have been improved using the new crossing design, incorporating kerb buildouts and pedestrian islands. Parking has been changed from parallel to angle in parts of Elm Row and Duncan Street.
The project is expected take seven months to complete at a cost of $1.5 million.
United Way Hearts@Work
In 2019 United Way launched the Hearts@Work service to provide further support to our communities groups throughout the year. This programme provides coaching and specialist capacity building guidance to community charities. Hearts@Work services also extend to businesses wanting to engage with community.
If you would like to know more about Hearts@Work please contact United Way admin@unitedway.org.nz.
Workplace mental well-being survey
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) wants to hear from workers about mental health and well-being.
This survey is an opportunity to share (anonymously) what you think makes a great workplace and any experiences, good and bad, you may have had. This will help the Mental Health Foundation develop a picture of how work is impacting our mental health and what we need to do to create better, safer and mentally healthy workplaces.
We hope to hear from a full range of workers across Aotearoa, across industries, roles, workplace size and cultural groups.
We appreciate that your time is precious and thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. As a way of saying thank you, we invite you (at the end of the survey) to enter the draw to win one of five $100 prezzie cards. To access the survey, click here.