Council's U-turn over secret meeting on 'anti-social behaviour' at bus hub
By reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Anti-social behaviour at Dunedin’s bus hub has led to a secret trial – including on-bus security, a previously public excluded council memo has revealed.
The bus hub on Great King St – the same street as the Dunedin Central Police Station – has made headlines for all the wrong reasons since it opened in March 2019.
The incidents, some of which were caught on video and supplied to Stuff, included a girl kicking a disabled man in the head, and teenage boys fighting each other. One Dunedin high school told its students to arrive at the hub just five minutes before their bus departed.
An agenda item, previously withheld from the public, reveals the council was seeking "approval for the continuation of the Dunedin bus network security trial for the remaining eight months of the 2023-24 financial year".
It noted an increasing volume of antisocial behaviour on the Dunedin bus network has been reported in the media, and to the council throughout the last year.
"The presence of a network of CCTV cameras, and a police station, in the bus hub has not significantly impacted these behaviours," the agenda item said.
"Anti-social behaviour in and around public transport settings is not unique to Dunedin."
Transport staff implemented a trial security presence at the bus hub, beginning December 2022, which has led to a decline incidents.
Further incidents in March 2023, and feedback from transport operators, led to the trial security services extended "to cover a targeted security presence on buses".
"They provide a visible presence to deter bad behaviour and are trained at de-escalation."
The funding allocated for the security trial is due to expire end-November 2023 and the council’s transport staff were seeking an extension of this trial to the end of the financial year.
The cuncil was asked to continue that security trial to June 30, 2024, at a cost of $126,000.
"Withdrawing the on-bus service increases the potential for driver assaults, robberies, and other incidents that have occurred over the past two years or more on the Dunedin network," the agenda said.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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83.3% Yes
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14.3% No
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2.4% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
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