A Visit to South Dunedin Community Networks

Nov 17, 2021

Patrick Davies, CNA's wonderful membership engagement officer, paid a visit to one of our members during a recent trip to Ōtepoti. South Dunedin Community Network creates connections across South Dunedin to address challenges and build strength in the community. We are very proud to have them as a CNA member!

Journey Up South!

Yes, you read that right, ‘up’ since direction is relative. Which is why I was in Ōtepoti/Dunedin - for a relative’s birthday. While I was there I took the opportunity to drop in on one of our newer members, South Dunedin Community Network.

Situated on King Edward Street, the main drag of South Dunedin, SDCN works out of offices which are owned by the Dunedin City Council (DCC), though they will soon be moving to new premises, when the building is demolished to make way for a new library and community centre. Their current space is an open plan office with loads of nooks, crannies and other rooms allowing the large number of different community groups to use their spaces in a variety of ways.

While Level 2 has not allowed communal groups to get together, Robyn McLean (Network Manager) and administrator Grace Hannah have a lot on the go. A great initiative is that two of the carparks just outside the office which connect directly with the pavement have been commandeered and niftily fenced in so that at lunchtime members of SDCN can (safely) interact with local passersby, and also offer a chocolate for signing up to their newsletter.

COVID-safe community engagement taking place outside the SDCN offices - on this day Red Cross was sharing the space!

SDCN's hardworking kaimahi in front of a map of South Dunedin - from left to right: Patrick Davies (CNA), Eleanor Doig (Chair), Robyn McLean (Manager), Jule Barth (Deputy Chair) and Grace Hannah (Administrator).

One of SDCN's projects is The Lowdown, edited by Steve King, a monthly circular that's "a bit like a community noticeboard". It arose partly from the meetings of the South Dunedin Stakeholders group, which was a loose conglomeration of statutory agencies, NGOs, community groups and private individuals, and is now a thriving hub.

I got the chance to update Robyn, Grace, Eleanor and Jule on our Tick For Governance project as well as our upcoming mahi on Banking difficulties and the widening Digital Divide effecting community organisations.

Two top items of interest for SDCN are the redevelopment of Forbury Raceway, a large area which is being sold by the owners. Hopefully, with the intention of becoming social housing and a community hub, and the DCC’s reaction to the flooding that continues to happen in South Dunedin. This has led to the SDCN preparing to engage with the local stakeholders via a Citizens’ Assembly so that they can discuss the issues and look towards mandating a direction of action.

We look forward to seeing Robyn (and hopefully Grace) at our Conference here in Wellington next February.