South Dunedin Action Group spokesman Ray Macleod says many of the group's questions remain unanswered and concern remains that a "strategic withdrawal'' of the area is planned.
The group met Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull in May and Dunedin City Council staff on Wednesday to seek answers about the cause of the floods, assurances measures were in place to prevent similar events in future, and an assurance about the future of the area.
"We could draw no conclusions from the meeting that the council is prepared to provide any assurances around the long-term future of the area,'' Mr Macleod said.
"We were made aware that there are plans in place to prepare a long-term strategy, at least from an engineering and infrastructure perspective, but it will be in the latter half of next year before these plans emerge.
"Worryingly, there was no commitment by the mayor and the councillors to the long-term future of the area which comprises 10,000 or more of its citizens and billions of dollars of its assets, including many key businesses, educational assets and industries.''
The group would be adamantly opposed to any suggestion of abandoning the area, he said.
In an emailed response, Mr Cull described the claims as an "irresponsible fabrication and scaremongering''.
"Neither council, the mayor nor councillors have discussed a ‘strategic withdrawal policy' for South Dunedin, let alone developed one,'' he said.
"Some of the group are demanding cast-iron guarantees against the risks facing South Dunedin, but despite our staff's best efforts to answer all their questions, they still seem confused about what those risks are and what can be done to address them.
"Turning guesses into accusations about what I or council plan is dishonest and unhelpful when we have engaged with them and answered questions in good faith.''
He conceded some of the infrastructure was not functioning as it should, which contributed to the floods, but the council had taken steps to address those shortcomings.
Council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose said $650,000 was committed to address the problems.
"All of South Dunedin's mud-tanks have been thoroughly cleaned and a new screen, which is easier to clean in high flows, will soon be installed at the pumping station.
"Additional alarms are also being installed to give earlier warning if pump screens are becoming blocked.''
Mr Cull said the moves should provide assurance to the area's residents and the council, as well as the Otago Regional Council, were assessing the options to deal with the area's groundwater issues.
"Neither I, nor the DCC, currently have a preferred option for the long-term options facing South Dunedin. However, the South Dunedin community can be assured that council's main concern is to look after their best interests in the long term.''
