Residents of Portobello and the Otago Peninsula awoke on Tuesday morning to find a good covering of snow throughout the township and across the hills. With schools closed for the day and roads covered with snow it was a chilly reminder of the winter that lies ahead of us. Keep warm everyone.
Greeted by a glorious Mother’s Day morning members of Portobello Community Incorporated gave up their breakfast in bed or preparing it for mum, cleaning up litter around the township and outer areas. With a busy day in Portobello with the Peninsula Challenge event being held this was an opportunity to make our township shine a little brighter in the autumn sun. Among the bottles, cigarette packets and fast food wrappers four traffic cones were retrieved from the harbour on Harrington Point Road. Nature has an incredible ability to adapt and the cones were encrusted with chitons, tube worms and other sea life, many of which were removed and returned to the shoreline. With support from Keep Dunedin Beautiful who supplied bags and gloves the morning was a positive step to keep our area clean and tidy. It was also great to receive encouragement and words of thanks from cyclists and walkers passing by who praised our efforts.
The blocked outlet of Hooper’s Inlet has been an issue on the Peninsula for some time now. The issue has been one that has frustrated local residents as the responsibility for its management is volleyed between the Otago Regional Council and the Dunedin City Council. Both local authorities seem hamstrung between their own responsibilities, policy and legislative requirements and a fundamental lack of funding to undertake the work.
The issue of responsibility for opening the inlet seems set to continue if both organisations can’t escape their fear of “precedence” that will bind them to the continued financial management of the inlet in the future. However, that argument seems shallow when compared to the actual number of times physical works to open the channel has been required over the last 25 years. What is certain though is that the road and property assets of the Peninsula are effected by the choking of the channel, which creates difficulties and stresses for many local people. These issues may become more pronounced as we move towards winter. Other concerns also arise in terms of the recreational, water quality, biodiversity and scenic qualities of the inlet if the current situation continues. All of these factors affect our quality of life and that of our environment.
Funding for the clearance of the channel is at present the most obvious constraint for the Otago Regional Council. The Peninsula community must send a clear message to the Council that this issue needs resolving. Otherwise a simple problem may develop more complex and costly implications if it is not dealt with effectively and meaningfully. Annual Plan submissions for the Otago Regional Council close by 5pm on Friday 3 May 2013, and residents should take the time to voice the needs of their community over the Hooper’s Inlet issue.
You can email, fax or post your submission to;
Email: annual.plan@orc.govt.nz
Post: Draft Annual Plan Otago Regional Council Private Bag 1954, Dunedin 9054
Fax: (03) 479-0015
The forms for submission can be downloaded below.
Portobello will hold its annual Anzac Day service at the Portobello Museum war memorial on April 25th, 9.30 am. The service will commemorate those servicemen and women who served in military campaigns and pay homage to those local men who were killed while on military service. Portobello School will take part in a reflection of what Anzac Day means at the service and family members and community groups will lay wreathes at the memorial.
Anzac Day is an important event in the Portobello community just as it is for many New Zealand communities. It is a time to remember events that have taken men and women far from their communities and their loved ones, some of whom did not return. We hope to see everyone participate in the service and take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Anzac Day.
It has been reported in the Otago Daily Times that Portobello Domain sports grounds are unfit for use by the Hereweka Junior Football Club, despite the impending start of the new season. Rabbits have been a constant problem at the domain over the summer, digging into the grounds and creating deep holes that could cause a nasty injury.
The City Council have yet to complete the necessary repairs on the domain and this will cause problems for the programming of fixtures there. In a small place like Portobello our community needs to have its facilities operating in an appropriate condition and on time, the delay is disappointing.
Read the full Otago Daily Times story here…..
The recent edition of D Scene reported on the submission made by Portobello Community Incorporated on the Dunedin City Council’s proposal to widen Portobello Road and the effect that the proposal will have on the township and its community. Click on the picture or the link here to read the full D Scene article.
A public meeting will be held at the Coronation Hall in Portobello at 7:00pm 28th March to discuss the propose changes made by the Ministry of Primary Industries to allow the commercial take of paua from the Otago Peninsula area. The Ministry propose opening the Cape Saunders to Harakeke Point and Robertson’s Creek to Smaill’s Beach areas. These are the areas of highest paua numbers in the Dunedin region, and the prime region for recreational paua fishing. If this proposal is approved by the Minister, commercial fishing begins on the 1st of October this year.
You have six weeks to make a written submission stating why you are opposed to having these opened up for commercial fishing. This is a very important issue for the Otago Peninsula and every resident who has concerns over this issue should make it clear that they oppose this change in use.
The submission form is available here to download. Have your say about what happens to your recreational fishery by 4pm Friday 19th April 2013.
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Last nights Annual Plan consultation meeting in the Coronation Hall was well attended by residents who came to hear more about the Annual Process for 2013-2014. With presentations and discussion with the Mayor, Chief Executive and Council staff there was an opportunity to voice opinions on the road widening project and other issues in our area.
It appears that the road widening for both Harrington Point and Portobello Road appear to be on track to be included in the Annual plan. However, there is still an opportunity for residents to voice their opinions on the design of the proposed widening project. This is crucial if the road widening proposal is to meet the community’s recreational, conservation and landscape needs. The present configuration for the portion of widening between Bacon Street and the Portobello township needs sensitive design to meet those needs.
While the City Council may have a “big vision of liveability” for cycling and pedestrians as Mayor Dave Cull mentioned last night, liveability also means ensuring that it works for those who live beside and ultimately pay for these projects. Fundamental to that is ensuring that the values that makes Portobello such a desirable and beautiful place to live are not compromised or obliterated for the sake of an idealistic vision. It also means that the design enhances and complements the individual qualities of the Township, rather than arbitrarily using a cut and paste design. Based on the artist’s impression of the design to date, it would appear that the Council have a way to go before that criteria is met, and the community must actively participate in that process.
The Dunedin City Council will be consulting with the community on the 2013/2014 Annual Plan. This is an opportunity for Portobello & Peninsula residents to discuss its priorities in the next financial year. The Otago Peninsula Community Board also submits on the Annual Plan, but individual residents should also make submissions about the issues that they are passionate about in their community. Take the opportunity to read what the Annual Plan will mean to you as a ratepayer and how those things will affect you and your family. www.dunedin.govt.nz/draft-annual-plan
As part of the consultation process there will be a public meeting held at the Coronation Hall, Portobello on Wednesday, 13 March at 7:30pm. Portobello Community Inc. encourages everyone to take part and have your say. Annual Plan Poster
After a summer of long hot days and a flat calm Otago Harbour it was a shock to be welcomed by a stiff south-westerly breeze for the harbour fun day and picnic. With the looming weather and a busy weekend of other competing events in the city, the numbers visiting was fewer, but those who did turn out were equally enthusiastic. The Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade gave the kids a real hands on introduction to fire-fighting, which was also a future recruiting drive. It was great to see the dedication of the local Coastguard’s new boat with a blessing by Otakou Kaumatua Edward Ellison and the Coastguard chaplain. Also with the celebration of Seaweek, Kimberly Collins from Marine Metre Squared program was available to motivate citizen scientists in the study of Portobello’s own Latham Bay and its marine life. Many thanks to those who paid us a visit today and to the Portobello Community Incorporated team for putting in another great effort, despite the reminder that Autumn has arrived!
Click on the pictures below and view as a slide show.
Portobello Community 