Final approval has been given by the Local Government
Commission for the Otago Regional Council to increase the
number of its councillors in time for this year's local body
elections.
The 11-member council had resolved to increase its Dunstan
constituency's two councillors by one to ensure fair
representation throughout the district based on the
population model required by the Local Electoral Act.
Population rises in Dunstan, which covers Central Otago and
Queenstown Lakes districts and is represented by Crs Duncan
Butcher (based in Cromwell) and Gerry Eckhoff (based in
Alexandra), meant it fell outside the ratio required by the
Act.
Adding the extra councillor brought the area close to meeting
the ratio.
The commission's recent decision determined Otago should
continue to be divided into four constituencies and be
represented by 12 councillors - three in Dunstan, one in
Moeraki, two in Molyneux and six in Dunedin.
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