Sustainable Dunedin City has asked 5 environmentally themed questions of candidates for Mayor, Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council – Dunedin Constituency
The document is available to download as a PDF (1.2MB) here.
In no particular order: Not all candidates answered our questions.
Scout Barbour-Evans
1. In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
A sustainable Dunedin City is one where we make decisions that will last a long time into the future. The last council has inherited a lot of issues, particularly around infrastructure, and Dunedin’s facing a really unexpected population rise. We need to begin to find ways that our residents can move around the city more efficiently, through better bus networks and potentially a train, especially as carparks and cycle lanes in the inner city are about to be affected by the hospital rebuild. 40k cars come into the city past the oval every day, so we need to make sure there’s room in the city for them. We also need to make sure our housing stock is up to scratch – right now we build and insulate to a sub-tropical standard, but Dunedin is sub-antarctic. Having a council that works collaboratively with the health board on housing would make it easier for families to put roots down in communities for longer.
2. How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
I think the current council has put in a lot of the good steps towards doing this, but the real issue in Dunedin is our transport links. No one is saying that we need to ban cars, but a lot of Dunedin residents use them where it isn’t actually necessary to and it’s impacting on our rural communities. Finding and implementing sustainable transport options as soon as possible will solve quite a few issues at once.
3. Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
Recently a tree on the berm outside my parents’ house died. They wanted to replace the dead tree with fruiting pear trees, knowing the area got brilliant sunlight, but the council refused and replaced the tree with another non-fruiting cherry. It took six separate visits from different contractors over three weeks to manage this. I think there’s a lot of need in Dunedin for housing, and I’d hate to see us turn down sustainable housing development in favour of food production, but I would love to see us start to use our berms and parks in smarter ways with community gardens, orchards, and resting places.
4. How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
There are definite issues with waste in Dunedin. Our recycling can’t go anywhere and our landfills are filling up. This is not my area of expertise though, and it would be irresponsible of me to pretend it was. This is one of many issues where I need to speak to experts in a few areas to find solutions that help us all.
5. What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’?
To me, wealth is excess, and often comes at the expense of somebody else. Wellbeing is sustainable – have what you need in order to sustain yourself and your family, so that other people have enough too.
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Andrew Whiley
- In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
A sustainable Dunedin is a city that is economically viable and progressive. In order to afford the best of the evidence-based greener technologies to mitigate the effects of climate change including sea level rise, we have to have economic growth so that we don’t just raise rates or delay other investments in our city. I have voted in support of the investment of $1.1m for the Climate Resilience Work Programme also believe that a sustainable future involves ensuring that there are enough homes being built to house our citizens (that includes rental properties).
- How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
It may seem like a paradox but I see Dunedin benefiting greatly from a natural gas find off the coast. Natural gas is a transition fuel which will assist Dunedin, NZ and the world to transition to cleaner options of like solar, wind and electricity. Most of us aren’t in a position to stop using petrol and plastics today….but we are all doing our best on a personal level where we can. The biggest real impact that we could make on the world would be to sell our natural gas to China to stop them from building the 200 new coal burning plants every year! Plus this find will absolutely boost our economy, again allowing us to invest in more expensive and high tech infrastructure that we need.
- Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
Not all farm land is high class food producing soils so we do need to watch the balance of development and what is productive farming land. I see the opportunities for farming alternative protein sources that don’t require vast amounts of land and water resources. I am currently exploring cricket and other insects.
- How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
The City needs to Reduce, Reuse and Recylce – just like most people do at home. Where we can, the city could provide Water Tanks at it’s organised events and ask attendants at public events to bring their own resuable water bottles – rather than selling or providing bottled water. A major issue is that NZ needs investment in recycling. A well designed recycling plant would create jobs. We lived in Vancouver and saw a large scale city wide composting facility created. Dunedin can do more in this area.
- What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’?
Well-being is a holistic term that is not about how much money you earn. To me it’s about more personal issues that make you a happy and productive person. It can be influenced by your surroundings and that’s why the city of Dunedin and the Council can have an influence on well-being. We want our city to support the development of good healthy homes, we need clean and safe drinking water. We need to have amenities such as parks for people to enjoy, particularly children and families. We need to ensure that we support our educational institutions and retain our industries so that our community people have jobs. Well-being is supported by a huge raft of things and it’s going to be different for different groups of our community.
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Aaron Hawkins
- In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
A sustainable Dunedin city is one that has a plan for achieving our zero carbon and zero waste goals. Where the social and environmental wellbeing of our community is our top priority, and the success of everything we do is measured against that.
In all of this, we need to make sure mana whenua are actively involved in our discussions and decision making.
2. How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
The biggest opportunity council has is in the transition to a 21st century transport network. That means continuing to invest in safer cycling and walking, and making our bus service more affordable and efficient (ultimately free).
We also can’t forget our outlying townships, and need to make sure there’s sufficient charging infrastructure to let those communities move around more sustainably.
We’re also working on options for a district energy scheme, which could tie in to the new hospital and tertiary precinct, allowing both major public institutions and private businesses to be powered by renewable energy.
3. Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
As an RMA commissioner my job is to make decisions according to the current and proposed district plans. Expressing an opinion outside of that would disqualify me from hearing relevant applications, but I will be watching with interest the new standards being proposed by MfE around high class soils.
4. How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
I support council’s push towards a circular economy approach to managing waste, as part of the Waste Futures project. We have the opportunity (finally!) to introduce an organic waste collection service and do away with black plastic rubbish bags.
We also need to ramp up our efforts to divert waste from the landfill, to extend the life of the Green Island facility and reduce our carbon footprint.
I support the concept of neighbourhood scale resource recovery facilities, acknowledging that making that work will look different in different places.
The ORC’s Regional Plan: Waste hasn’t been reviewed since 1997 and this needs to be made a priority of theirs.
We also need to work at a national level to develop more on shore recycling processing facilities; strong mandatory product stewardship schemes; and a more even application of the waste levy.
5. What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’?
The reinstatement of the “four wellbeing” into the purpose of the Local Government Act is important here.
We have an obligation to provide for the economic, cultural, social and environmental wellbeing of our community. Council has committed to a strategic framework for doing that, which includes both GDP growth and zero carbon targets (for example).
In that sense, wealth is just one element of achieving our more holistic wellbeing aspirations.
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Jules Radich
1. In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
When eco-action is popularised, people will embrace change and gladly help in the process of moving us to a carbon neutral community. The areas of transport, agriculture and buildings will all contribute to the net result, but the key is to enrol people positively so that action may take place.
- How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
With electricity
- Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
No. This can be prevented by making it easier to develop lesser land.
- How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
Extend the landfill life at Green Island
Recycle plastics, glass and tyres. I am actively engaged in these areas.
- What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’?
Wealth is for individuals to achieve if they are so motivated, whereas wellbeing is for us all to work together as a community to achieve for everyone.
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Finn Campbell |
In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
My vision for a sustainable Dunedin City would account for 4 key “pillars”. Transportation, Housing, Waste, and South Dunedin/Low lying areas. The most important steps we can do to ensure sustainability within this space is disconnect them from fossil fuels and plastics. Whilst this is not a complete picture of sustainability, these pillars and this carbon neutral goal is my priority.
How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
I believe that an approach that considers Transportation, Housing, and Waste Management is the best whole system understanding of how city based people are forced to continue to use fossil fuels in their daily lives. To build a better transportation network we need to create the infrastructure for cycling, walking, buses, and electric cars. Whilst using urban/spatial planning to create a housing system that facilitates alternative transportation. Then we need stronger legislation to pressure the “introducers of waste into the supply chain” (business) to be accountable for the products they try to sell to individuals. To do that we have to create short term and immediate 3 year carbon budgets for the city, so that we can start the action now and can continue to monitor how we are progressing.
Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
We should not be building over food producing soil! I think the DCC should be working to develop a better and longer established food market to the farmers market so that local food producers have a viable place to sell their goods. I like the current farmers market, its just not as equally accessible for everyone (like shift workers), and it is vulnerable to the weather.
How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
I want to see a plan to reduce waste going to the landfill, I think the new product stewardship laws will help with this. I want to see initiatives to reduce restaurant and business waste (like shareabowl). Dunedin and the South Island need to develop a recycling facilities so that we are accountable for the products we try recycle and what they are turned into. I think once the city centre has better alternative transport options we will see further urban regeneration as the businesses and apartments become more accessible. I would like to see excessive use of green space within central city urban redesigns.
What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’?
Wealth is associated with money, or an over abundance of something. Well being exists as a concept ‘above’ wealth that is a more holistic approach to comfort, enjoyment, life satisfaction, etc.
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Christine Garey
In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
The three pillars of sustainability are economic, environmental and social. There is much work to be done in the next triennium of Council as we focus on these three areas.
If we look as tourism as an example, it’s a main economic drivers for the city. One of the pillars of sustainability in that sector is the host communities. As visitor growth continues, we need to ensure host communities within Dunedin are benefiting in a tangible way from the visitors, through employment and improved facilities. Otherwise resentment builds in the host communities and visitors are no longer made welcome.
Another area we need to address is ensuring that the impact of the visitor growth does not harm the environment e.g natural beauty, wildlife etc that attracts the visitors in the first place. But in all cases any action must put the local people and livability of the city, at the forefront of any initiatives.
In terms of the waste – we need to move to a circular economy in the long term but there is a huge shift required in the way we manage waste in the city for us to get to this point.
How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
Council has already started this with moving investments away for fossil fuels in the previous triennium. In this triennium Council has clearly opposed OMV drilling for oil and gas off the Otago coast. As we enter into the next triennium and focus on climate action and a work programme, this issue will come into sharp focus.
Do you think we should be building over our high class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
No, we shouldn’t be building on our high class food-producing soils.
We have a specific position in our Enterprise Dunedin team dedicated to this area but it is a part-time position. I would like to see this supported with more funding to a full time position.
How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
Following the path we are on now albeit glacially slow. The proposal for waste will be consulted on early next year.
What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘wellbeing’?
Wealth does not equate to wellbeing. The most important thing is for all our people to thrive – warm homes, jobs, good health, and leading happy fulfilling lives etc but that may not mean wealth in monetary terms or assets.
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Mandy Mayhem Bullock
1. In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like?
A sustainable Dunedin would prioritize cycling and walking, and incorporate many alternatives to single-person automobile use – Park and ride systems, commuter bus loops. tram, cable or electric options. A city in which a large number of useful facilities and mixed housing to meet the varied needs of its residents.This would require various price points ( maximum permissible price) to ensure affordability. A Community that is designed to protect the natural features- this includes the natural landscape, our resources and their supply. A sustainable Dunedin would ensure sustainable land use within and outside its borders helps people thrive by providing water, food, and recreation. A city that is able to retain the supply of natural resources while achieving economic, physical, and social progress, and remain safe against environmental risks that could undermine development.
2. How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy?
Ultimately, the political will for fundamental change is lacking. Dunedin council has at least taken the brave step to declare an climate emergency in order to begin to address the issue.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance has estimated that between now and 2030, around 70% of the power generation the world will add will be renewables. If we choose renewables because they’re cheaper, which is far more plausible every day. In some parts of the world, wind or solar power is more than competitive with fossil fuels. About half of the new energy capacity put on the grid globally is now renewables, and the picture going forward is even better.
Currently renewables are a long way from dominating electricity enough to make fossil fuel energy a bad investment.
We need support from central Government to offer incentives and build legislation around renewables to make this work for New Zealand.
3 . Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view?
NO! I feel strongly that we need preserve all top quality soils for market garden land.
Once Dunedin did have local supply, Oamaru are our closest food producers now.Once the Taieri was known as the food basket of Dunedin. Historically South Dunedin, Forbury, Caversham, Kaikourai Valley, Taieri, Outram and Waitati were market gardens , largely farmed by Chinese families when they took up residency here after the gold rush. Today none of these places have large supply.
As a City we need to address many types of food systems, and create relationships with the surrounding countryside and rural populations.
It is a cross-sectoral, multi-level, multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder approach. In an urbanizing world,food systems are affected by changes in social, physical and ecological factors. Food systems for a city require complex networks and community resilience, social inclusion and equity.
4. How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration?
The most efficient , the cheapest and the most enduring way to reduce waste is reduce, reuse , recycle.We, as a consumer and urban dweller, have considerable power to reduce the amount of waste going to land fill by choosing to buy products that use less packaging or are packaged in recyclable materials.Choosing products that are reusable and long lasting instead of single-use disposable products will save a lot of waste and also save money over the long term.
We need to model this as a city by making Naked products the normal- like things used to be, wrapped in newsprint or brown paper if anything. Dunedin has made a start but we need to move faster and make it a revolution.
I see regeneration needs to happen in 2 ways Urban and Ecological
Currently the Dream Brokerage group is making steps towards regenerating the city centre empty shops, I would like to see more artistic and creative, community and studio type spaces created where currently buildings are sitting empty.
Green spaces within the city and larger dense carbon absorption plantings- the city ridge line tracks and trails, town belt and highway verges to name a few.Tying in with community resilience, it is a must that we grow fruit trees on berms, community and school vege gardens, and food co-op type hubs.
4. What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’? Wealth is defined by possessions, money or a plentiful supply of a desirable thing
The only places where economic growth has led to an increase in happiness are these countries, Denmark, France, and Germany
Community wellbeing is far more holistic- Public health researchers Wiseman and Brasher reflect this in their interesting definition:
Community wellbeing is the combination of social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions identified by individuals and their communities as essential for them to flourish and fulfill their potential.
Connectedness
Connection is fostered by a community’s social networks that:
- Offer social support
- Enhance social trust
- Support members living harmoniously together
- Foster civic engagement
- Empower members to participate in community and democracy
Livability
A livable community is supported by the infrastructure, including:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Education
- Parks and recreation
- Human services
- Public safety
- Access to culture and the arts
Equity
An equitable community is supported by values of diversity, social justice, and individual empowerment, where:
- All members are treated with fairness and justice
- Basic needs are met (adequate access to health services, decent housing, food, personal security)
- There is equal opportunity to get education and meet individual potential
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Peter Mckenzie |
Sustainable lifestyles require citizens’ willing acceptance of lower consumption and reduced expectations for energy use. This is politically difficult and confronting as most people want a clean lifestyle, conscience and environment but do not want those things to come at the cost of reduced living standards. The key to sustainable living is in modifying people’s aspirations and the city has a role here to enable such a transition. Simple measures such as going back to citizens having the time and space to grow their own food, in their own or shared gardens, can make a big difference. I do not support wasting fertile soils. Electric transport and use of Wrightspeed technology for trucks and buses are good goals for city transport. Wealth in capital terms and wellbeing overall are completely different measures. Encouraging citizens to value the latter over the former should be part of council’s overarching push to sustainability. Dunedin’s sustainable future requires informed and agile-thinking councillors able to react to the fast-changing world, rather than those riding popular waves of transient movements or adhering to party or personal dogma.
A healthy broad-ranging council representing all citizens’ interests is best equipped to govern for a healthy sustainable city with a healthy future.
It’s about the ability to make the best evidence-based decisions for Dunedin’s true guardianship.
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Jason Lindsay
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In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like? A sustainable city would be one that laid out 5-year, 10-year and 50-100 year infrastructure strategy. It also involves making sure that all decisions made by council take Environmental Impact into consideration when making those decisions. We need to improve our stock of inner city apartments, expand our cycle ways in smart practical ways, and look at how to best provide alternative modes of transportation to get in and out of the city in ways that are accessible to everyone. Ultimately, I think we need to look at how we can incentivise self-sustainable building so that we don’t have to expand infrastructure and we are removing other infrastructure from our books. This would also protect us as a city if there were to be an event of wide area damage (i.e., earthquake) by making people less susceptible to damaged/polluted water supply. How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy? We have to get out of the thinking that the old way of doing things is working great. Instead, we need to be innovative and want to lead the way in finding solutions that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. There is always an opportunity to thrive, if we are brave and take chances. This is a city that probably has more belief in itself than it has in over a century. Let’s not waste the opportunities in front of us by slipping back into our old ways. Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view? Dunedin is quite a large city in terms of land, and I do think we need to make it easier for development to happen, so that as we grow over the next decade or two (as expected), we don’t destroy one of the best characteristics of this city – Reasonable housing costs. I do think, however, that we are also on the verge a renaissance of inner-city living, and this will be important as the city grows. How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration? I feel strongly that we need better education about our waste stream. I think most people throw stuff into their yellow bins and think to themselves, “I’ve done my part,” but there is an immense amount of unrecycleable waste going into those bins. Most of us want to do better, but we need more awareness. We also need a green bin system. A final key element is that we should do more to support innovative projects that will help provide answers to our sustainability problems. What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’? I have been very fortunate to have gone through a deep understanding of these two ideas in my life. I have chased wealth and achieved it and found what I was doing to get there incredibly unfulfilling. Wellbeing comes from finding ways to put other people’s needs in front of your own. When you do this, life becomes very fulfilling, communities become stronger, and a pervasive attitude spreads throughout that community where everyone looks after each other, and this creates a true deeper happiness.
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In your view what would a sustainable Dunedin City look like? Answer: Enough affordable housing, rates which do not rise above rises in income, proper treatment of effluent and waste minimisation. How do you see Dunedin negotiating the move away from fossil energy? Answer: Dunedin as a city will not achieve this. It is up to us all as individuals. Dunedin inc can educate and encourage better practices. City leaders should lead by example. They should not be flying anywhere. They should use public transport, bikes and their own 2 feet. We cannot take them seriously while they have and use free car parks. Do you think we should be building over our high-class food-producing soils or do you see an alternative for establishing food resilience in Dunedin City? What does that look like in your view? Answer: most of the food we produce in Dunedin goes elsewhere. We should be more flexible about where else to build to reduce demand on high yielding soils. How would you address waste, recycling and regeneration? Answer. Efficient sewerage schemes, reducing waste through education and being honest about our recycling efforts and appreciating City Forests and the Green our forebears provided. What is your view on the difference between ‘wealth’ and ‘Wellbeing’? Answer: wealth is resources. Wellbeing is how we perceive our personal situation. Wellbeing will be lower very likely when you don’t have enough resources. This will happen more when councils suck up our resources to play international politics instead of using our money to look after the facilities which make us feel better. |
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Bryan Scott
1. Sustainability to me means passing on a world to our children that has not diminished or has in fact improved in resource, environment and wellbeing. Utilising natural energy sources such as solar, hydro, wind and tidal where the impacts on the environment are sustainable or less than minor. Electric or H transport systems. Improved biodiversity. Shared housing. Local food supplies. Population reducing. Democracy. Clean and ample water in our rivers. Clean air. All of this is achievable with focus.
2. The take-up of our bus system is approximately 22 percent. We need to get this to 50 percent. Electric and improved bus and car systems. Reduced parking. Oil companies need to continue to be stood up to. They are getting the message. Currently they are investigating how to invest in more sustainable energy forms. Money talks for them. As an ORC Councillor, I did not attend a recent closed door meeting on local oil drilling. We all need to change our habits.
3. High class soils should only be used for high class foods. Ie no more encroaching on the Taieri plain. I also support local urban food growth. Excellent for our community health and wellbeing.
4. Waste and recycling is all about minimising and correctly allocating our waste. So plastics and packaging on supermarket foods needs to be drastically reduced. Education is required to improve habits. Potential opportunities for waste to energy generation also need to be investigated. In conclusion very little waste needs to go to landfill. Let’s do it.
5. If we view wealth as money and wellbeing as a holistic measure of physical, spiritual, health, community and basic needs then I think you will agree there is a big difference. Only one of these stacks up in the long term.
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Michael Deaker
My vision for a Sustainable Dunedin City includes:
- In the Dunedin city centre there will be largely pedestrianised streets, pocket parks, electric buses, bikes, scooters, and few cars. The downtown will be increasingly a place of eating, meeting, relaxing, entertainment, business, and apartment dwelling; retail will continue to shrink and will be concentrated in two or three malls. There will be full employment, with all on a living wage and much of the work will be in the suburbs, in health, child, and age care facilities. The tertiary precinct will be, by far, the major employment centre and it will be at least 90% car free. Community centres and projects will be a feature of most suburbs. Every school will be an Enviro School. Emulating North-east Valley, Corstorphine and Brockville, there will be multiple community gardens, shared housing, workshops, cooperatives of all sorts for sustainable food production, hobby groups, welfare activities. Under-used school playing fields and suburban parks will have been converted into productive gardens for all to share and work in.
- Community-scale energy systems will distribute household heating through hot water, dried wood, and efficient heat pumps. Coal will be banned. Shared electric vehicles will be available for low rental at each community centre. Public transport will be by electric and hydrogen buses and will be low cost, as now.
- Food security will be an intensifying issue. Urban community gardens will be a big contributor to resilience, but there will be incentives (and sanctions) to encourage the productive use of lifestyle blocks and hobby farms on “lost” areas of high class soil, such as North Taieri. Minimum sub divisions will be 25has and will be permitted only if the land is for fresh food production, not housing. New housing will largely be replacement of old stock, tiny house infill in existing suburbs, and central city sustainable apartments (with shared heating, vehicles, and recycling).
- Landfill dumping will be minimized, and phased out. Plastic packaging of ALL sorts will be banned. Recycling of wood, metal and paper products will be at stations (one for every four community centres) run by a mix of volunteers and skilled workers who can repair, reprocess and redistribute.
- Wellbeing is emotional and physical health and will become a major goal of city and social services. Wealth in a monetary sense will remain important and will incentivise much of the change that must occur. There is money to be made in all the above, although not to the extremes we endure at present.
PS. There is high cost in much of the above. To set up the new and expanded systems detailed in 1, 2 and 4 above, the DCC and the ORC will jointly take management of the city’s share of the $8mill annual dividend from Port Otago Ltd (approximately ($4mill)) and decide on how it can be best invested in Dunedin IFS (Infrastructure for Sustainability) such as community centres, gardens, energy schemes, and electric vehicle pools. This will lead to property owners paying significantly higher rates but there will also be savings eventually.
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