Community Conversations 2017 May-June - Feedback from attendees
Community conversations provide an opportunity to update you on some of what has been going on at Council and across our district. Community Conversations are as the name suggests – conversations with the community. Any effective conversation is two way – so we don’t just want you to be listening to what Council is doing – it is just as important we hear from you. We want to use the opportunity to talk with you about some of the bigger picture challenges and opportunities that are coming up for the district.
Below is a table summarising the feedback we received during the conversations. The table is organised by organised by ward and topic.
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Mararoa Waimea |
Stewart Island Rakiura |
Waiau Aparima |
Waihopai Toetoes |
Winton Wallacetown |
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Representation |
We need to create areas based around catchments – economic and water issues/ traditional communities are around places and spaces, but we need to look at other types of communities Frustrated at lack of consultation Need to be listening to CDAs and CBs – and they need to be given more power Lot of money wasted on consultants. We need open consultation. Council needs a real commitment to dealing with community groups. Communication emphasised. What’s the point of having a CDA if it can’t discuss general items? We can’t talk to our communities. If you want to grow this province SDC needs a better process for communicating Josephville/Castlerock people feel left out Are you trying to get rid of us? It looks like it from this side of the fence. |
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Council moved to town and took everything with it – community board trying to improve facilities Council meant to be enablers Amalgamation might work here – communities have changed – opposite view from what happened in Australia – more expensive Community boards have been stripped of the ability to do anything Community boards need to talk to us more – have informal meetings Rural people need to be more involved in those talks – we need to look at rural/urban representation Got to get together and stop being them and us |
Opportunity for Curio Bay trust, South Catlins and Tokanui to combine and work for community together That could be expanded and cover the whole ward We need to work together as a whole Create a passport of things to do and there is a prize at the end We need a collective voice so we can be heard |
We are over-governed. We need to combine our representation in the south to present a strong and relevant front in Wellington Would have real economic clout if amalgamated Southland councils. Role of interest groups v CDAs in future.
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Environmental including oil and gas |
Fracking and oil and gas will wreck tourism – we need to be really careful not to do that Council asked if it sees a future for oil and gas fracking in Southland. |
Hydro-electricity should be a priority. High-priced power a disincentive for living here. Old people can’t afford electricity. Is SIESA best format? Development of hydro hamstrung by national park. SDC can approach Govt for subsidy if community gives mandate. Beauty of environment is a huge drawcard. Diesel too expensive. Community Board don’t accept findings of McCutcheon report on alternative power source. |
Need to own climate change and oil and gas exploration only adds to that Fracking a concern Need more investigation into renewable energies Water quality really important Cow farming should not be allowed on the boundaries of town as they stink people out |
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Tourism |
No signage – nothing to show us off and the heritage park We need to sell ourselves No sign leaving Invercargill that say this way to Te Anau We need signage about where to go and what to do Consistent brand for signage needed SDC needs to encourage businesses, but listen to what the people say. SDC doesn’t have a vision. SDC doing more to harm growth than help it. |
Tourism brings relief to rates through visitor levy. 9000 cruise ship passengers expected this year = $45,000 to community. Promotions role has fallen on individuals A lot of money goes into Venture and i-Site, but they’re relying on individuals to do a lot of the work for them. Council should argue that more money should go into professional promotion of Island. Island missing out because of lack of professional promotion. Funding for promotions hard to get. Rakiura Heritage Centre is going to be huge. Congratulations for introducing visitor levy. Concentrate on sending tourists away with a smile. Great service best ad you can buy. Accommodation crisis on Island. Itinerant workers on $18 an hour can’t find rentals. Shouild look at visitor capacity. What number can Island take? Can’t keep up with “incremental creep”. Overcrowding (eg Ulva Island) is not a great tourism experience |
Numbers increasing but smaller number of residents paying – how can we clip the ticket more Te Araroa Trail – no facilities on it so people pooing in the woods Tourism is a big issue – infrastructure is needed – numbers building up at Clifden Caves so need parking and toilets Tourism being pushed but hardly any money for Southland except Te Anau 10.6% workforce employed in tourism, primary production still key. NZ being promoted overseas for years, not coming but we are not prepared We have something special in Southland – we need to market ourselves better and look at the potential |
Tourism numbers are growing but it is fickle and there are opportunities such as farm visits Tourists speeding on our roads and several accidents Need to have commissionable products Need pullovers as tourists are wowed by sights and stop in the middle of the road Need passing lanes Going to see increase in tourism after bypass done as there are things in Wyndham and Edendale that people want to see |
Need to capitalise on tourism growth – potential for agricultural tourism – on back of food production story Invercargill has had significant private investment in attractions through Richardson’s – Southland needs to leverage off this. Need a tourism tax in NZ |
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Freedom camping |
Freedom camping a problem at the rivers – damage is being done. Why should I expand my business when I see freedom campers 20 metres away and you’re giving it away for free? Freedom campers don’t spend. Cyclists spend. SDC should focus on and finish the ATMCT. ATMCT is a saleable product and it’s not finished. People are blown away by the trail. Cyclists have got money. |
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Freedom camping does not bring money in Money spent on Thornbury bridge area for freedom campers is a waste as they are not spending here Nowhere else allows freedom camping around the world – why are we funding it. Places like Monkey Island, Clifden Bridge, Thornbury shouldn’t exist as we are paying for it |
Need to get them to pay small levy – it is not fair and legislation needs changing Needs to be monitored and needs resources Campers going into Waituna at midnight Stress around freedom camping – need fair play for camping grounds Are all the spots for freedom camping needed? We need to work out how to clip the ticket and we need to work with the industry |
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SoRDS |
Growth not the answer – need quality of people Aquaculture frightens me – how coordinate infrastructure in national park We need to shift away from the higher volume mentality and think about becoming a “higher-value Mecca”. High-end tourists are a priority. Lumsden is right in the middle of region. |
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Belief that SoRDS is Invercargill, need more understanding of broader picture We need people to want to live here – what are the things that make our communities great? Need to sell those to people further north Retirees are moving here – because it is cheaper to live |
We need a tent at Mystery Creek accentuating the positive about down here – that would bring people in |
SoRDS is a talkfest. We need to work out how keep young in Southland. Economic activity in Auckland has grown 5x relative to Southland. Resources are being ripped out of the province. Disappointed SoRDS has not come up with regional marketing strategy/brand for Southland produce/primary sector World is desperate for animal protein Subsidies for businesses starting up in Southland |
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Population |
Town is growing but services stifled, schools need to be amalgamated and use primary school land |
Ageing always an issue on Island. Only 3 reasons to come to Island: job, tourism, retirement. Does Island want growth? Reactions varied for a small community: “no, bugger off” to “yes Please”. |
Funding based around this is a problem for Southland |
Gorge Road School had 137 students 10 years ago, now down to 38. CDA trying to maintain identity but people making choices and don’t have same loyalty to community |
50% of homes in Winton have two people. Winton population same as 30 years ago. |
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Community |
Hard to talk about the future when things are lingering Want to live in a vibrant community – some sectors like youth not represented Parking a problem Need town planning and need to future proof the town |
Average wage is low. SDC not supporting us. “There is value in national park but every idea is hamstrung by SDC. There is a food and beverage issue on Island. Not enough food outlets apart from pub. Electricity cost for food preparation is astronomical.” To run a restaurant here, without staff costs, you need to turn over at least $30k a year.” Unique problems for Island: cost of getting across strait, can’t eat, can’t find accommodation and there’s nothing to do on a rainy day. Too many regulations. You can cook food and not kill anyone but try and set up a commercial kitchen and you’re stuffed. “So much bullshit red tape.” |
Need information signs at either end of town, have to get people stopping Parking an issue |
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Communities are reliant on volunteers and there needs to be strategies to ensure people continue to volunteer Losing community/farm ownership model in Southland Empty buildings a bad look |
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Other |
Don’t landbank – we are driving on the worst roads in NZ and talking landbanking is ridiculous Stuffed up sewerage at airport and lost pilots to Alexandra.
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SDC places too much emphasis on Southland, not enough on Stewart island. Island is different. Roading not a priority. Footpaths are. Time for SDC to take responsibility for non-compliance over fire regulations on new buildings. |
Need to look at pressures and opportunities around cribs Need to measure not only on economy but on a happiness index Disappointed in Council’s poor performance – cycle trail, Te Anau wastewater We need to look after our communities – our elderly Lots of retired farmers cashing up but we don’t want to lose them from our communities Senior citizens can contribute a lot Regional fuel tax should come back to Southland – that would help fund infrastructure Need to work with agencies like education and health to get mobile services – we need to be very clear on what services we need SDC should do more to promote the country towns – it should have its main office in Winton in the district, not Invercargill – it would be an example of leadership Should rename Venture – Venture Invercargill – not many benefits come to rural areas We need good broadband
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Need to focus on internet and telephone coverage particularly in the south Catlins area Nowhere for trailers to be parked on side of road Welcome to Southland signage old and looking bad Littering a problem Council needs to stand up to Govt and say we are not putting up with stuff and stop changing the goalposts all the time Concerns over flooding and evacuation in Wyndham A lot of talk about the big earthquake and buildings – hard on small rural towns where there isn’t the business to upgrade the buildings Local museum needs support – work out with communities what is needed in their areas Media think they know everything – they need to listen more We have a good future in this area – good schools, Fonterra, people moving here – we need to ensure they have a good time
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Roads of national significance = Roads of voter significance Fuel tax supports Auckland Why agricultural sector paying most roading rates – service industries benefit most from tourism. Honest discussion needed around water quality – rural and urban |