Otago Regional Council (ORC) has launched a survey asking whether or not people feel they have fair and effective representation at the regional council table.

“The survey is the first step in a representation review which councils are required to do every six years under the Local Electoral Act,” ORC chairperson Gretchen Robertson said.

Population, communities of interest, the number of wards and ward boundaries, as well as the number and distribution of elected members, will all be considered before ORC decides on an initial proposal for wider consultation (and a call for submissions) by May this year. 

“The review will look at changes to population and any flow-on impact on representation,” Gretchen said. 

“This review will need to look at areas like the wider Dunstan area (Queenstown, Wānaka and Central Otago), where population growth means current representation may not be enough to meet legal requirements.”

A representation review looks at the structures in place, including the number of constituencies (electoral areas) and their boundaries, and the number of elected members (councillors) representing each constituency.

ORC is currently made up of 12 councillors, elected from four constituencies (Dunstan, Moeraki, Molyneux, and Dunedin). The review may increase the number of councillors up to a maximum of 14.

ORC’s last representation review was completed in 2018, with no changes made to the existing constituencies or number of councillors.

People can give their views via this simple online survey which will remain open until March 9.

PHOTO: Supplied