Community news and notices

South Dunedin roads to be resurfaced at night

Several roads in the South Dunedin business area will be resurfaced over the coming weeks.

Princes Street and King Edward Street (from South Road to Macandrew Road), Bridgman Street, Cameron Street, Sullivan Avenue, and part of Hillside Road will all be resurfaced. Worn areas of road will be removed, and pavement renewed to provide a safe, smooth and durable surface for all users.

To minimise disruption, work will take place at night (between 6pm and 6am). Traffic management will be in place during these times and contractors will help to provide affected residents and business owners with access to properties as needed.

This work is part of the DCC’s annual resurfacing programme, which this year will see $6 million spent on renewing some 66km of roads around the city. Other areas of focus over the summer months include parts of Andersons Bay Road, Stuart Street, Maclaggan Street/Serpentine Avenue, the Cumberland Street overbridge, and more.

Please see the timetable and map at the end of this section for more information. 

Working for Ōtepoti Women (WŌW)

Working for Ōtepoti Women (WŌW) is now taking expressions of interest for funding of community projects/initiatives. These projects/initiatives must benefit women in Ōtepoti. They need to be strengths based, uplifting and developmental for women (not from a crisis centred or deficit approach). Self-sustaining proposals will be given priority.

Expressions of interest are due by Sunday, 30 January 2022 and must include a proposal outline which links to an area of interest identified in the WŌW research report.

The outline should describe who will be delivering the project and who will benefit from it. In your project plan, please include how you will evaluate your project and measure its impact. An indication of the level of funding you require will assist us in our decision making process.

A shortlist will be communicated by the end of February 2022 after which invitations to submit a full proposal will be sent. Please send any questions you might have to workingotepotiwomen@gmail.com.

To watch the hui, please go to the Working for Ōtepoti Women facebook page.

Growing Future Farmers

Growing Future Farmers (GFF) charitable trust  is offering an essential Sheep and Beef farm skills programme for 15 – 19yrs olds. This is a  2 year course, on-farm with NZQA certifications. 

The programme aims to have 100 1st year students across New Zealand next year with an average of 10 per region (Winton, Marlborough, Mid-Canterbury, North Canterbury, Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Kurow, Taihape and King Country).

Call for emissions reduction ideas

The Dunedin City Council is urging local businesses, organisations and residents to put forward their ideas for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan consultation which is currently underway.

The Government recently released a consultation document containing a range of policy ideas to decrease the country’s emissions.

Initiatives identified in the discussion document account for up to two thirds of the emissions reductions the New Zealand Climate Change Commission has calculated are needed by 2035 to meet the Government’s ‘Zero carbon by 2050’ target. The document calls for proposals from communities and the private sector to “fill the gap”. This is a great opportunity for local organisations and people who have ideas for emissions reductions to get those in front of the Government for consideration.

The DCC intends to review submissions made by local people on the national Emissions Reduction Plan and use the feedback to help draft a Dunedin specific plan to help the city achieve its own target of becoming net carbon zero by 2030. The DCC plans to engage with the community on a Dunedin Emissions Reduction Plan in 2022.

The Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan discussion document and online feedback form are available on the Ministry for Environment website.

Feedback is open until Wednesday, 24 November 2021. 

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Vacancies

MSD Work Brokers advise that there are more than 140 positions available in the South Island (mainly in Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill).

There are positions available in many sectors, including part-time and full-time work.

About 40 positions are urgently required to be filled in the lead up to Christmas.

For more information, please visit the Work and Income website. 

Ministry of Social Development Income limit changes for financial Support

The Government has agreed to temporarily increase income limits for hardship assistance, meaning more people may be eligible for hardship assistance from 1 November 2021 until 28 February 2022.

This increase means casual or part-time workers, or people who aren’t already getting financial support may be eligible for help with their immediate or emergency costs. (Note: Income thresholds for Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants, Transition to Work Grants and the Course Participation Allowance are not changing.)

From 1 November, if you're new to MSD, you can click on check what you might get guide. Some easy questions will be asked about costs, and then you will be advised about Work and Income payments you may be eligible for.

Alternatively, if you would like to speak to MSD, please call:

• 0800 559 009 for working age
• 0800 552 002 for over-65’s
• 0800 88 99 00 for students

Interpreters are available if required.

There’s information about the new income limits on the MSD website.

MSD Flexi-wage

Flexi-wage is one of the ways Work and Income is supporting employers to get more people into work. They can help you find, train and retain good people.

Whether you’re recruiting now or starting to make recruitment decisions to meet the longer-term needs of your business, Work and Income may be able to help.

Flexi-wage can include a wage contribution, support and ongoing training. The wage contribution is paid to you, the employer.

Work and Income can talk to you about what they can offer and how it’s paid, based on individual circumstances.

For more information please go the the Work and Income website.

Youth Guarantee Scheme

Tree House is an NZQA approved training provider and have just started offering a New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (level 2). Like all Youth Guarantee Schemes, this is a free course for youth aged 16 -19 years who may have struggled in school and need help gaining a nationally recognised qualification.

Unlike other providers, we will have a focus on security related subjects. Tree House is the only provider in New Zealand offering this field.

For more information please see the attachment at the end of this section.

Lottery Community Grants

The Lottery Community grants opened 3 November and close 1 December 2021.

Lottery Community grants are available for not-for-profit organisations with a community or social service focus, for ongoing operating costs or projects which help improve the quality of people’s lives in their communities.

Each Lottery Community Committee determines the outcomes and priorities it wants to achieve from the investment of the grant money available in its area. To see the Otago/Southland Committee’s funding priorities please check out the Community Matters website.

Funding available to support Community Organisations

Funding opportunities have been collated by the DCC to support community organisations searching for funding. While the DCC doesn’t administer these opportunities, the community advisors are available to support you if you have any queries.

Vaccination Clinic

The Pacific Trust Otago (PTO) vaccination clinic is open every Saturday until December 2021 from 10am to 3pm at 350 South Road, Caversham. You can either book through Book my Vaccine, call 022 428 1402 and walk in.

PTO are offering $50 vouchers to anyone who visits them to get their vaccination (via lucky dip) and you will also go into the draw to win a $1000 voucher from Noel Leeming.

PTO are happy to arrange transport to and from the Vaccination Clinic for students, if required.