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Jo Galer a DCC councillor candidate on Highgate bridge over looking Dunedin

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Policies

Heritage Legislation

Advocate for bespoke changes to the Government Building Act to address the unique needs of heritage buildings, particularly those in Dunedin. She proposes collaborating with other heritage cities to develop an alternative approach to earthquake strengthening, balancing heritage values and cost barriers with safety and habitability.

DCC Planning Regulations

Seek urgent reforms to DCC Planning rules to allow greater use of inner city heritage buildings and homes -  particularly upper floors of inner city buildings -  for accommodation. And move more character-contributing homes, especially those across City Rise and on streets like Stuart Street, onto the council's District Plan schedule to give them greater protection from demolition without public notification. I will call for public notification of all demolition consent requests for character-contributing or heritage pre-1945 homes and buildings within the inner city and City Rise suburbs, e.g., North Dunedin, Queen Street. This way, the public can comment on proposals to remove these structures from our streetscapes. Additionally, support would be provided to those proposing demolition to explore heritage reuse within the context of new planning and legislative incentives. Notification of demolition plans should also be at the discretion of the Council's own expert heritage advisors, with no power of veto by any other Council Department.  

Rates cap

I support a rates cap that forces the Council and staff to curtail their spending plans and spending on consultants, ensuring that line items are affordable and necessary. Also, this obliges the Council to think more carefully before introducing new staff roles. The cloth needs to be cut to fit budgets, and spending needs to be monitored to ensure that what is stated in annual plans is what occurs during the course of the year. 

This careful approach is not evident in current council spending and position proliferation. Consultants should only be hired when similar staff expertise is not available. There also needs to be closer scrutiny of the need for new managers at higher cost.

Prioritise spending

Prioritise spending according to ‘must haves’, ‘nice to haves’ and long-term value and gain to the city.

Lobby Government for more Economic Development Spending

Lobby for development such as the Physio pool, a bridge over the railway line to support harbourside growth and for Kiwirail to maintain its tracks to ensure the safety and long-term viability of this world-class railway journey. Also, Government funding is needed to build on the feasibility efforts of the Dunedin Cable Car group, which has plans to reinstate a cable car up High Street to Mornington.

Focus Tourism Efforts

Emphasis on attracting smaller cruise and passenger vessels to the city end of the harbour, with the aim of boosting more sustainable and climate-friendly tourism, and enhancing the city's appeal as a destination.

International Airport

Call to restart investigations into establishing a true international airport for Dunedin. Improved access is seen as vital, as many visitors report finding it difficult to reach the city and would spend more time here if travel were easier.

Watch Jo's 2025 candidate interview with Allied Media, where she had 90 seconds to answer these three questions:

  1. What are your top priorities for Dunedin in the next three years?

  2. Why are you the right person for the role?

  3. In your view, what is the biggest opportunity on the horizon for Dunedin?

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