Written by Paul on the PeninsulaMay 25, 2018
Having Skin In the Game
Community Support . Dunedin . Local Issues . Otago Peninsula . Otago Peninsula Community Board . Paul Pope Article
The debate between the Otago Peninsula community and the Otago Regional Council over the provision of bus services for school commuters has been a long and arduous one. Recently, local parent Jason Graham and I presented a petition of nearly 1000 signatures seeking three very simple things; A timetable change An additional bus to create
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaMay 16, 2017
The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round
Broad Bay . Dunedin . Harwood . Local Issues . Macandrew Bay . Otago Harbour . Otago Peninsula . Otago Peninsula Community Board . Otakou . Paul Pope . Portobello . Pukehiki . Tomahawk Article
The announcement of the review of the Dunedin City Council Book Bus service is a pertinent reminder to all Otago Peninsula residents of the importance of local services. The review should be treated as an opportunity by the community to consider modernising the services that the Book Bus can supply. These should include WiFi, online services
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaSeptember 17, 2016
Dunedin-the Affordable City?
2016 Elections . Dunedin . Paul Pope Article
One of the main themes of the Dunedin City Council Economic Development Strategy has been the notion that Dunedin is an affordable city. That’s an admirable idea and one that every person would naturally support. However, when looking at the annual fees and charges that the City Council ask citizens pay for services it becomes
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaAugust 30, 2016
Ko to tatou hapori i te tuatahi
2016 Elections . Dunedin . Local Issues . Paul Pope Article
I was a little whakama (shy, nervous) about putting out an election sign in Te Reo Maori. However, living on the Peninsula and working in Dunedin has taught me to look deeply at the nature of our community and how we can support one another.Language is one of those ways, and through it we can
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaAugust 12, 2016
The Freedom Factor
2016 Elections . Local Issues . Paul Pope Article
In the last few months we’ve seen the knotty problem of freedom camping in areas like Warrington raised by the community. Having spent the last three years on the Otago Peninsula Community Board dealing with this issue its become clear that we must act far more decisively than we have done to date. That means investment,
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaJuly 28, 2016
Our Hospital and its Future
2016 Elections . Dunedin . Local Issues . Paul Pope Article
This has been an issue that the City Council has not engaged with or supported the community. Protest over changes to food contracts have been met with deaf Council ears. The future of the hospital for the community, University of Otago Medical School and employment is a crucial issue for Dunedin. While its true that
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaMay 2, 2016
Food for Thought
Broad Bay . Dunedin . Local Issues . Macandrew Bay . Otago Peninsula . Paul Pope . Portobello . Tomahawk Article
I recently attended the protest regarding the standard of food on a wet Friday afternoon outside of the Dunedin Hospital. I went because a lady from my Community Board area has been seriously ill in hospital and her family have been bringing in meals from home to help build up her strength. Her grandson plays
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaApril 4, 2016
Putting the Community First
Dunedin . Local Issues . Otago Peninsula . Otago Peninsula Community Board . Paul Pope Article
The Otago Peninsula deserves better service from public transport provided by the Otago Regional Council. However, we are not the only community that are not having the appropriate service delivered in the community. Its not about asking for special treatment, but asking for what is fair and reasonable to get our kids to school, people
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaMarch 14, 2016
Wind Blown Dust and Dirt
Broad Bay . Dunedin . Local Issues . Macandrew Bay . Otago Peninsula . Otago Peninsula Community Board . Paul Pope . Portobello . Tomahawk Article
The recent gale force winds that ripped through the city last week were a bleak reminder of just how vulnerable we all are in the face of natural storm events. With damage to infrastructure, power outages and road closures our ability to be resilient in the face of such events was sorely tested. On the Otago
Written by Paul on the PeninsulaFebruary 16, 2016
Sand Mining at Tomahawk
Dunedin . Local Issues . Otago Peninsula . Otago Peninsula Community Board . Paul Pope . Tomahawk Article
The Tomahawk Community have expressed long-term concerns over the removal of sand from the beach. In 2015 I met with the Otago Regional Council to discuss those issues and to ask them to provide more information on the issue. One of the things they have agreed is to make their monitoring reports available to me