The exchange between Mr Woodhead and Cr Gerry Eckhoff followed confirmation the ORC and Dunedin City Council had begun preliminary talks to progress harbourside development.
Mr Woodhead and Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, speaking last week, confirmed discussions had begun to identify a way forward for development in the area south of the Steamer Basin.
The talks had so far focused on the merits of a joint approach, but more formal talks were expected to follow before Christmas, including discussion of how best to drive development.
The initiative was welcomed by most regional councillors yesterday, but Cr Eckhoff contacted the Otago Daily Times to criticise the ORC's approach and accuse Mr Woodhead of overstepping his authority.
Cr Eckhoff said it was ''probably a little harsh'' to say the ORC was standing in the way of harbourside development, but ''they're not being particularly proactive about getting out of the way''.
''Sometimes, you've got to be a little proactive to ensure things happened,'' he said.
Cr Eckhoff, of Alexandra, wanted to see more development ''if it stacks up'', but claimed Mr Woodhead had no mandate to initiate talks without first seeking the endorsement of regional councillors.
''Stephen Woodhead is the chairman of the Otago Regional Council. He's not the president.''
''All we are talking about talking about is ... [trying] to sit down and work out if there are any opportunities, and if there is, what could be achieved by working together.
''In my view, I don't need a mandate from council for those discussions ... I have a mandate in that I'm elected chairman.''
Any decisions to be made would be brought back to the council for consideration, as normal, he said.
Mr Woodhead would also ''absolutely disagree'' with criticism of the ORC and Chalmers Properties' attitude to development, and was concerned he was hearing of Cr Eckhoff's concerns only through the media.
''I don't find it particularly professional or enjoyable normal practice to have conversations with my fellow councillors through the media.''
Other regional councillors contacted yesterday were happy with Mr Woodhead's handling of the talks, and the majority also backed a fresh push to encourage harbourside development.
ORC deputy chairwoman Gretchen Robertson, of Dunedin, said the city had ''turned our backs'' on the area for too long, and it was ''time to make the most of our harbourside''.
Cr Gary Kelliher, of Springvale, supported the initial talks and said he was ''open to all sorts of options'' for the harbourside.
Cr Bryan Scott, of Dunedin, said ''communication on any matter is a good thing'', and supported efforts to come up with a vision for the area.
However, the city needed to be careful to protect areas such as George and Princes Sts, while developing the harbourside.
Cr Michael Deaker, of Dunedin, also supported the ''preliminary chat'', but disagreed with any suggestion the ORC or Chalmers Properties was an obstacle to development.
