Creating a Garden Township

On August 25, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

The Portobello Community Incorporated lad’s team have competed a second landscaping project in the main street of the township. After pruning and removing a trailer load of rubbish and weeds a few weeks ago the edging and planting has now been completed. The newly completed planted area adjacent to the public toilets has allowed more light and less litter in the area. Using the timbers from the old Portobello jetty and mulch donated from local contractor John Clearwater the new border is a welcome complement to the other planting undertaken besides the hotel. There are many other areas around the township that planting could improve for the benefit of the community. If you have any thoughts about these sorts of projects you can drop Chairman, Paul Pope a line through the website contact form. A special thanks to Jenny and Levi for delivering the fresh baking and a welcome hot drink while the work was being finished.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week

On August 19, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

Keep Dunedin Beautiful and the Dunedin City Council are asking residents to beautify their favourite part of our city by ridding it of litter. So Portobello Community Incorporated are going to play their part by undertaking a clean up around our area on Saturday 21st September. If you’d like to take part in the clean up then meet at the Portobello Store at 10:00 am, grab a bag, hi-viz, some gloves and make a difference in your community. Get your family, friends or neighbours involved. Rubbish bags will be collected and disposed of appropriately

The amount of time you spend on it is entirely up to you as every little bit counts. See you there.

Biodiversity Annual General Meeting

On August 19, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community Inc, Public NoticesLeave a comment

Visit the Biodiversity Group Website

Rolling Up Your Sleeves

On July 29, 2013August 19, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

Members of Portobello Community Incorporated put in another solid morning’s work on Sunday preparing the area adjacent to the public toilets for a new planted border. This area has always been a dark damp corner that attracts rubbish and receives little sun. The removal of a willow, rubbish and invasive vines along with the lifting of trees has improved the area significantly. Using more timber from the old jetty and further planting in the next fortnight will create a very attractive space that enhances the area for the benefit of the community. Special thanks to Geoff, Paul, Peter and Thomas (9) for their efforts on Sunday morning in making a start on another important main street landscaping project.

New Trees at the Portobello Domain

On July 24, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

It was a pleasant surprise to see that the Dunedin City council had planted new beech trees on the bank above the Domain last week. The new plantings have really added to the landscaping of the area and in the future they will provide shade, bird roosting and a strong visual impact on the reserve. The bank above the sports-ground has always been a wet area and hopefully the trees will help to soak up some of that moisture. Great to see the City Council proactively planting new trees on its reserve areas, they will really add to our local recreation area. Well done.

Magic Day at the Portobello Market

On July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

It was a magic day at the Portobello Market held in conjunction with Cadbury’s Chocolate Carnival on the Otago Peninsula. A beautifully warm day brought nearly 1000 visitors from around the region and overseas. With a good number of stalls, food, entertainment and plenty of free Cadbury’s chocolate Portobello put on a great day for everyone. Highlights for young and old was an entertaining performance by magician Jonathan Usher, who wowed the crowd with his patter and his magic. Balloon performer Jay also had an enthusiastic and lengthy queue of children wanting balloon hats, animals and cartoon characters.

It was also great to see local music teacher Mary Jennings and some of her local Peninsula students give a performance on the Coronation Hall stage. Local groups contributed to the event by putting on stalls and used the event as an important fundraiser for their organisations in our community. The Cadbury’s Carnival is a popular event for the Peninsula and the Dunedin region and the generosity of the company for its sponsorship is greatly appreciated. Hope to see everyone in Portobello next year. Click on pictures to see in full size viewer.

Hairbraiding was very popular at the market

Peninsula musicians perform at the hall

Jay entertaining with ballon art

Enjoying the show

Camping Ground for the Peninsula

On July 18, 2013July 19, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community Inc, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Dunedin City Council have announced plans to develop a “DoC style” campsite on the Peninsula. In a report in The Star on the 2oth of June a Council spokeswoman announced that the City Council was investigating sites on the Peninsula, but would not name the sites. In an unusual statement the City Council spokeswoman was quoted as saying “It is not something we are going to do secretly and decide…” Now the question here is if its not a secret and the City Council wanted the process to be “fair and let people know they were considering it” why would the Council not provide the community with all of the relevant information now? Clearly it is a secret and it begs the question of how this proposal might affect community use and recreation on public reserve land for the Peninsula community in the future.

The pressures on the business community to actively ensure that their enterprises are viable in the present economic climate are immense. It’s difficult to fathom why the City Council would explore such an enterprise when it will no doubt unduly affect local accommodation businesses like that of Sherryl and Kevin Charles in Portobello. What’s even more difficult to understand is why the City Council wish to compete in the accommodation marketplace? Surely if the demand for an additional campsite was required then those with the funding, land and enterprise in the private sector would undertake to develop such a project. To date private sector investment of that type has not been realised. The City Council will be creating a subsidised accommodation business without having to pay a mortgage, rates or development costs. That’s a distinct financial advantage and one that competes directly with the private sector.

Read the full Star story here….

Cadbury’s Chocolate Carnival

On July 12, 2013July 12, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community Inc, Public NoticesLeave a comment

Check out the other great carnival events around the Peninsula and Dunedin here….

Otago Peninsula Volcano Walk

On July 11, 2013August 19, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

It dawned cool, crisp and clear in Portobello today with a solid frost on the windscreen of the car to remind us that winter still bites. Portobello School have been studying volcanoes and were taking the short climb to the top of Harbour Cone (Hereweka). The cone is a remnant of the volcano that exploded 10-13 million years ago and created the Otago Harbour. After a short steep climb the spectacular views across the Peninsula and harbour are worth the effort, and the whole area was bathed in bright sunshine. Enjoy the pictures by clicking on them for the viewer.

Papanui Inlet and Victory Beach – Harbour Cone

Hooper’s Inlet, Allans Beach and Mt Charles – Harbour Cone

Main Street Landscaping Project

On July 7, 2013August 19, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

Members of Portobello Community Incorporated have worked steadily over the last few weekends to get the planting and edging of the main street plot completed, and what a difference! With a donation from the Dunedin Amenities Society for the plants from Ribbonwood Nurseries, a good supply of mulch from John Clearwater Contracting and using the old Portobello Jetty timber for edging, this little project has really tidied up an unused area of the main street of the township. Thanks to all of the team from Portobello Community Inc. especially Paul, Peter, Richard, Wayne and Geoff Sheridan for the use of the truck to cart all of the timber. Well done, let’s do more! Click on pictures below to see in viewer.