Otago Regional Council (ORC) is considering increasing the number of councillors in the Dunstan ward to reflect population growth in Wānaka and Queenstown.

The Dunstan ward covers Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago, and ORC (which is responsible for sustainably managing Otago's natural resources of land, air and water on behalf of the community) is considering shifting one seat from the Dunedin ward to Dunstan. 

ORC has 12 councillors, elected from four constituencies: Dunstan, Moeraki, Molyneux and Dunedin.

Dunedin has the highest number of councillors with six; followed by Dunstan (three); Molyneux (two); and Moeraki (one).

On Thursday (May 23) ORC councillors voted 10-2 to consult with the public on reducing Dunedin’s seats to five and boosting Dunstan’s to four.

“We’re keen to hear what communities have to say about this proposed change and we’re not making up our minds until we hear what they say,” ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said.

Should changes be made, they won’t come into effect until the next local government election in October 2025, ORC said.

The allocation of seats by ward is being considered as part of a representation review, which the council must undertake every six years.

In a representation review a council must review how communities are represented in the make-up of their council, considering things like the number of constituencies (electoral areas) and their boundaries and the number of elected members (councillors) representing each constituency.

ORC’s last representation review took place in 2018 and no changes were made to the existing constituencies or number of councillors.

ORC’s current Dunstan councillors are Alexa Forbes, Gary Kelliher and Michael Laws.

Consultation on the proposal will open on July 10.

PHOTO: Supplied