Waikouaiti Coast Community Board
MINUTES
Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board held in the Warrington Hall, 11 Stephenson Street, Warrington on Wednesday 10 June 2026, commencing at 5:30 p.m.
PRESENT
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Chairperson |
Mr Alasdair Morrison |
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Deputy Chairperson |
Ms Anna Knight |
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Members |
Mr Andy Barratt |
Mrs Sonya Billyard |
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Cr John Chambers |
Mr Danny Hailes |
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Ms Geraldine Tait |
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IN ATTENDANCE |
Heath Ellis, Group Manager Parks and Recreation (Senior Officer) |
Governance Support Officer Lauren Riddle
There was no Public Forum held.
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Two late funding applications to be considered under Item 10.
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Moved (Mrs Sonya Billyard/Mr Andy Barratt): That the Board:
Confirms the agenda with the addition of late funding applications to be considered under Item 10 - Board Discretionary Fund.
Motion carried (WCCB/2026/027) |
Members were reminded of the need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arose between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.
No changes or updates were made to the register.
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Ms Anna Knight): That the Board:
a) Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and b) Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests.
Motion carried (WCCB/2026/028) |
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Moved (Mr Andy Barratt/Ms Anna Knight): That the Board: a) Confirms the minutes of the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board meeting held on 08 April 2026 as a correct record. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/029) |
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5.2 Waikouaiti Coast Community Board meeting - 18 February 2026 |
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Moved (Mr Danny Hailes/Mr Andy Barratt): That the Board: a) Confirms the minutes of the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board meeting held on 18 February 2026 as a correct record with the addition of wording “companion dogs” to the last bullet point in Item 6 – ORC Public Transport Update. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/030) |
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Harvey Aughton (DoC/Halo Project Lead) and Pru Casey (Warrington Trapline Volunteer Group) spoke to the Board on the group’s trapline activities on Warrington Spit.
A briefing note was tabled providing a summary of the Warrington Spit Trapline project work, covering partnership and resources supporting the work and thee key conservation objectives of the programme.
Pru Casey and Harvey Aughton also spoke on the use of: · integrated motion-activated trail cameras to allow study of animal behaviours (without human presence) to assist in the understanding of trap avoidance in target species; · analysis of animal approach behaviour to trap equipment, and the monitoring of non-target species to ensure the trapping operation remains 100% safe to native wildlife or non-target animals.
Harvey Aughton and Pru Casey responded to questions on the trapline work and the collection and use of data.
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The Board requested Harvey Aughton to provide trap data from the Warrington Spit trapline work to the Board for their information. |
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The Community Board Plan was tabled for discussion for the purpose of review and update as required by the Board. |
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Discussion was held on the updated text to the Community Plan.
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Moved (Mr Andy Barratt/Mrs Sonya Billyard): That the Board:
a) Approves the updated text for the Priorities of the Waikouaiti Coast Board’s Community Plan. b) Adopts the Waikouaiti Coast Board’s Community Plan for the 2026-27 year. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/031) |
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Chairperson Alasdair Morrison provided a verbal update on items of interest at the meeting, including: · DCC Annual Plan 2026-27 - Spoke to the WCCB submission on the Community Board priorities for the Board area at the Annual Plan hearing on 13 May. · Warrington half-basketball court – the concrete pad has been poured, landscaping is underway and completion is due by 30 June. · Karitane wharf – the building has been demolished and pile work to commence in the new financial year. Once a concept plan has been finalised, flyers will be circulated to the community for the waterfront area to seek feedback on future development/use of the area. · Community Board Chairs/Mayor/CEOs catch up meetings – the first meeting of this triennium (2025-2028) is set for 8 July. · New bus stop – near 6 Coast Road (ORC bus route 1 – new service October 2026) – Alasdair confirmed that all buses on the new service would travel through Warrington and advised there would be installation of a new permanent sheltered bus stop. A joint letter from the ORC and DCC on the proposed bus stop change was tabled at the meeting for the Board’s information. · Oamaru to Dunedin bus service - Alasdair advised it was the role of the Otago Regional Council (ORC) to supply ongoing services, and that he would write on behalf of the Board to the ORC regarding the bus service including a graduated fare opportunity for collection points within the Oamaru – Dunedin service, rather than a flat rate. · Access to grass walking track at Warrington – Alasdair advised he would speak to the local contractor about using gravel to improve muddy and wet areas on the walkway. · Doctors Point Road, Waitati – Alasdair spoke of road disruption and road surface conditions due to 3Water infrastructure work for the new housing development. He expressed his concern over the lack of communication and sought for DCC and DCC contractors to speak with the community board ahead of works, on the best way to communicate with the residents. |
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· ORC Dunedin and Coast Catchment Plan - Anna Knight provided feedback from a meeting she attended of the ORC Dunedin and Coast Integrated Catchment Group, held on 5 June, to discuss co-development of a catchment action plan (CAP) for Dunedin and Coast. Attendees included DCC, ORC, University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic, local Rūnaka, Fish and Game, Department of Conservation, Greenpeace, EOCG, Kiwirail, Port Otago, Albatross Colony, Halo Project, Oceana Gold, Harbourfish, and Southern Wood Council. Information from the 5 June meeting was tabled, summarising the steps to developing a CAP, the scope, timeframe for meetings and workshops scheduled through to the end of 2026, and opportunity for input. Anna advised the process would be guided by ORC staff and that the plan would be presented to the Otago Regional Council in February 2027 for consideration.
· Waikouaiti Water Treatment Plant - Discussion was held on arranging a Board site visit to the Waikouaiti Water Treatment Plant. Following discussion it was agreed to undertake the visit on 9 July, with Alasdair to co-ordinate the visit. · Hawsbury bus stop – Alasdair advised he had spoken with ORC about the use of the existing bus stop in the Hawksbury Village and advised that ORC would progress with the option. · Postal Service – Alasdair responded to concerns from Board members on the lack of a timely postal service for Warrington, Karitane, Waitati and Waikouaiti. Alasdair advised he would speak with the local NZ Post management about the postal delivery services and feedback to the Board.
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Mr Andy Barratt): That the Board:
a) Notes the Chairperson’s update. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/032) |
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Cr John Chambers provided a verbal update on items of interest to the Board area from Council meetings including: |
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13 April 2026 · Discussion on the proposed sale of 231 Stuart Street (former Fortune Theatre) · Approval of an in-house housing outreach service
13 May 2026 · Annual Plan submissions – including no swimming fees for the disabled, road sealing for McMasters Road, OneCoast for a new building 27 May 2026 · 2026-27 Annual Plan submissions and deliberations included: no increase to community boards discretionary funding; no rent increase for social housing; provision of subsidised entrance to DCC swimming pools for Hāpai Access cardholders. · Workshop on Marlow Park as a destination playground
Cr Chambers advised that the rates increase would be adopted at the Council meeting scheduled for 26 June 2026.
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Moved (Cr John Chambers/Ms Anna Knight): That the Board:
a) Notes the update from Cr John Chambers. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/033) |
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The report provided information on activities relevant to the Board area. |
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Ms Anna Knight): That the Board:
a) Notes the Governance Support Officer’s Report. b) Endorses the Board’s submission to the DCC Annual Plan 2026-27 c) Endorses the Board’s submission to the ORC Oamaru to Dunedin Orbus survey d) Endorses the Board’s submission to the DCC Keeping of Animals Bylaw Review e) Approves the change of meeting date from 9 December to 2 December 2026
Motion carried (WCCB/2026/034) |
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The report provided details of funding requests laid on the table from the 8 April meeting for the Board’s consideration. There were no new funding applications received for consideration by the Board. The balance of funds available for distribution was noted as $934.97. |
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Two applications were left to “lie on the table” from the 8 April meeting:
East Otago Riding for the Disabled Association
The application sought funding of $1,429.32 for the purchase of two laptops. Following information given by the Board to the applicant at the 8 April meeting of a charitable business able to assist with supply of reconditioned laptops at no or low cost, the application was withdrawn.
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Mrs Sonya Billyard): That the Board:
a) Uplifts from the table East Otago Riding for the Disabled Association application for consideration of the funding request received at the 8 April 2026 meeting b) Notes with withdrawal of the funding request from East Otago Riding for the Disabled Association. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/035) |
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Otago Catchment Group
The application sought funding of $5,984 for a one-off project to provide a functional walkway through the native reserve at Inverary Street (bordering the Hawksbury Lagoon).
Sonya Billyard advised that new information on the project was being collated and requested that the application be held over until the August 2026 meeting.
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Ms Anna Knight): That the Board: c) Uplifts from the table from the Otago Catchment Group application for consideration of the funding request received at the 8 April 2026 meeting. d) Defers Otago Catchment Group funding application to the 12 August meeting e) Notes the discretionary fund update. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/036)
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Board Project – signage for Evansdale bus stop shelter. Discussion was held on parking issues near the bus shelter at Evansdale from vehicles parked for long periods to access public transport, truck drivers using the area for rest breaks and leaving trailer units parked for periods of time in the area. The Board considered proposed wording for a sign and its placement on the side of the bus shelter, requesting drivers be aware of not blocking parked cars in and awareness of the area being a collection point for bus passengers. Alasdair Morrison tabled a quote from Speedy Signs Dunedin for a 850 x 850 mm sign for the Evansdale layby bus shelter along with a draft image of the sign for the shelter, at a cost of $431.25. Further discussion was held on the quotes received for the signage and the proposed wording. |
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Mrs Sonya Billyard): That the Board:
a) Approves funding of $431.25 for the production of a sign by Speedy Signs Dunedin for the Evansdale Bus stop to advise of restricted parking. b) Appoints a sub group of the Board to determine the exacting wording for the signage. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/037) |
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Karitane Emergency Resilience Group and POWA
Sonya Billyard declared a conflict and sat back from the item.
Two funding requests under the umbrella of the Progress of Waikouaiti Area (POWA) were tabled for discussion:
Community Information Flyers Funding of $187.50 was sought for the production of 250 A4 double sided colour flyers for distribution to the community to raise awareness of emergency preparedness, resilience planning and local resources available during emergencies and the development of the Karitane foreshore area (to seek community feedback).
Half-Pipe Skate Ramp Project Funding of $325.02 was sought for the cost of materials for the East Otago Blokes Shed to build and install a half-pipe skate ramp for local youth.
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Mr Andy Barratt): That the Board:
a) Approves that Progress of Waikouaiti Area (POWA) be the umbrella organisation for production of the community information flyers and the Half-Pipe Ramp Project totalling $515.52. Payment to be made to the POWA bank account for these projects:
(i) funding of $187.50 for the production of community flyers to raise awareness of emergency preparedness, resilience planning and local resource available during emergencies. (ii) funding of $325.02 towards materials for the production and installation of a half-pipe skate ramp by the East Otago Blokes Shed group. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/038) |
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Board members provided an update on activities including: Community Resilience Groups (CRG) Waikouaiti, Karitāne, Waitati, Warrington: (Sonya Billyard, Andy Barratt, Danny Hailes, Geraldine Tait)
· Waikouaiti - Sonya Billyard advised that a 20ft container was on site at the East Otago Events Centre carpark to house generators, fuel and supplies. A meeting is to be held at the end of June with Taylor Hendl, Emergency Management Advisor, to plan future training for the group. · Karitāne - Andy Barratt advised that the Karitane CRG held a meeting early June and was is in the process of being formal constituted. A community meeting on coastal hazards will be held on July 7th with iwi involvement. A flyer will be distributed beforehand · Waitati – Danny Hailes (following on from the Waitati community meeting on 14 April) advised the group has met and is now awaiting formalisation of the CRG group. · Warrington – Geraldine Tait acknowledged that each of the CRG groups were at different stages of development. The Warrington CRG will provide information to residents to inform what the CRG does and where residents can go in an emergency. Training with Taylor Hendl, Emergency Management Advisor is scheduled for 2 July.
Cycleways – Anna Knight provided data on users numbers on the coastal connection.
East Otago Catchment Group (EOCG)– Danny Hailes advised Steph Scott (Catchment Co-ordinator) is awaiting the outcome of an application to ORC for funding. Funding applications have also been made to other organisations for sediment traps. He advised the AGM of the EOCG was set for 22 July.
Freedom Camping - Alasdair Morrison advised the main grass area at the Warrington camp ground will be closed for the Winter season.
Keep Dunedin Beautiful – Anna Knight advised the Trees for Families planting day was held in May. Nominations for the 2026 Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards was open until 24 July with the Awards evening being held on 21 August. A new initiative by KDB and partner Street Smart allowing any wheelie bin to be used to collect stray litter to stop rubbish ending up in stormwater systems. An identifying sticker will be placed on any bins participating in the initiative.
Karitāne Foreshore – Andy Barratt requested some concept drawings be provided by DCC staff to assist in providing a starting point for discussion on what is next for the area.
OneCoast Recycling - Geraldine Tait advised that a porch cover has been added and a gravel tidy up at the site has occurred.
Truby King Recreation Reserve Management Committee - Andy Barratt advised a meeting was held to discuss the open day being planned for late February/early March 2027 (to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the Plunket Society founded by Dr Frederick Truby King in 1907). The intent is to develop up guided walks and signs for significant trees in the reserves and the sharing of historic stories. The status of the Management Committee and potential change to meeting agenda will be discussed at the next meeting.
North Coast Promotion – Sony Billyard advised that POWA are investigating having a website for POWA and a separate website for tourism for the whole coastal area.
Waikouaiti Main Street Beautification Project – Sonya Billyard provided a further update from the 8 April meeting and advised a report on the beautification project by Batchelor of Arts students was being compiled with the report to include next steps and the production of concept documents. The report is expected to be completed in July.
Warrington Spit – Anna Knight Information was provided under Item 6 – Halo Project Update
ORC Catchment Action Plan – Anna Knight Information was tabled on the development of a Catchment Action Plan as part of Item 8 – Chairperson’s report.
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Moved (Mr Alasdair Morrison/Mr Danny Hailes): That the Board:
a) Notes the Board updates. Motion carried (WCCB/2026/039) |
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DCC researching unmarked graves Heath Ellis, Group Manager Parks provided information on DCC work being undertaken from a Government grant to research unmarked graves of people who died while in institutional care in the Dunedin area (such as the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum). He advised that DCC will engage with mana whenua and families to determine what is an appropriate in regards to memorialising and acknowledging those buried in unmarked graves. |
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Danny Hailes requested that the minutes record that his request for a list of senior DCC staff names and positions, that he requested on behalf of the Board in April had not yet been provided.
Heath Ellis, as Senior Officer, advised that both he and Lauren Riddle as Governance Support Officer to the Board were the first point of contact to assist Board members. He advised he would follow up on the request for the stiff list with the Executive Leadership Team and CEO and respond back to the Board. |
The meeting concluded at 7:43 p.m.
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CHAIRPERSON