Otago Regional Council (ORC) has heard community input on the council’s representation review at a hearing yesterday (Thursday October 3).

A representation review is required to be undertaken every six years: ORC currently has 12 councillors, elected from four constituencies: Dunstan (3), Moeraki (1), Molyneux (1) and Dunedin (6). 

At present, Dunedin’s six councillors represent just over 115,000 people compared with Dunstan’s three councillors covering a population of almost 79,000. 

The Dunstan constituency covers both Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.

While the ORC has proposed to reduce Dunedin’s seats to five and boost Dunstan’s to four, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says this doesn’t go far enough.

QLDC has submitted that a fifth constituency - encompassing Queenstown, Frankton, Wānaka, and Cromwell - be created, with the working title ‘Upper Lakes’. 

“Including Cromwell would recognise the close relationship between these areas reflected in the Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan and Cromwell’s increasing growth with challenges emerging similar to those of the Queenstown Lakes District,” QLDC’s submission said.

The new constituency “should elect a number of members to fairly, effectively, and proportionately represent the growing population now and into the mid-term future (assuming no further review of representation for another six years) and the overall population trends in the wider Otago region”. 

Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board chair Simon Telfer also submitted that ORC’s current proposal “does not go far enough in recognising the community of interest centering around Queenstown, Wānaka and, possibly, Cromwell”. He also pushed for a fifth ORC constituency represented by three elected members.

ORC’s initial proposal was available for public consultation from July 10 to September 8 and attracted 165 submissions, six of which spoke at this week’s hearing.

Read more: Fifth constituency recommended to ORC

The ORC report said submitters supported the initial proposal “overall”.

Other comments from submitters included that smaller populations in places like Tarras need local government support to ensure local values are reflected in decision-making; and proposed upcoming large developments in the Dunstan Rohe (such as the Bendigo Goldmine) require additional representation for Dunstan. 

Deliberations will follow yesterday’s hearings before council makes a final decision at the October 23 meeting – after which there will be a one-month appeals/objections period.

The Local Government Commission will determine the arrangements by April 2025, and they will take effect for the local government elections in October 2025.

PHOTO: Wānaka App