Otago Regional Council (ORC) is asking community members to weigh in on a proposal to increase the number of councillors representing the Dunstan constituency to reflect population growth.

The Dunstan constituency covers Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago, two of the fastest-growing parts of the region.

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

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

Otago Regional Council councillors.

After launching an online survey earlier this year, the ORC is set to open submissions on its proposal to reduce Dunedin’s seats to five and boost Dunstan’s to four.

Go deeper: Extra councillor proposed for growing district

A statement from the ORC noted the “significant growth” in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, which now has a population of close to 79,000 people.

The allocation of councillor seats 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, considering the make-up of the council, looking at things like the number of constituencies (electoral areas) and their boundaries and the number of elected members (councillors) representing each constituency.

Submissions on the representation proposal will open on July 10, and the public are invited to submit on the proposal and make any other suggestions they have about councillor numbers or ward boundaries.

Find more information here.

PHOTOS: Supplied