Flow primarily pertains to 3 areas – water flow, people flow and cash flow.
Our expenditure on water infrastructure has doubled and we have a 30-year programme mapped out. Early investment in our water systems has meant that we are able to fund ourselves without exceeding debt limits while maintaining ownership and control of the network and also work in with Christchurch on shared services so that we can develop the most efficient methods, materials and machinery possible.
We have a Future Development Strategy, produced in conjunction with the Otago Regional Council (ORC), which sets out growth for the next 30 years and we have a South Dunedin Future (SDF) programme, also involving the ORC, which we are working through to establish resilience for an area that has flooded.
The first structural solution for South Dunedin is what I call the 3 Pipes Plan which will significantly improve stormwater flow under Hillside, Forbury and Bayview roads. These are funded early in the 9-year plan and will make a definite difference to the catchment. Following that will be a wastewater diversion project for the Caversham tunnel then a SDF climate adaptation plan which will add community amenity as well as stormwater control.
The vital traffic flow conduit of our 1-way system which enables rapid transit across the city for national, regional and local traffic, has been saved from a previous plan to shut it down to 2 two-way roads which would’ve condemned us to gridlock.
Another key roadway surrounding our beautiful harbour has been upgraded to a wide shared thoroughfare and is now enjoyed by hundreds of walkers and cyclists daily, safely separated from motorists.
We have successfully achieved consent for a new landfill and while it is not a popular idea for those who have contrary interests, it has been designated for decades and will provide self-sufficiency for our city with a modern facility.
These major infrastructure problems have been addressed and resolved although there is plenty of work to do before the solutions can be considered delivered.
Financial flow means that we have increased income and decreased costs so that we now have a balanced budget for the first time in years while still remaining within previously established financial limits.