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The idea Dunedin buses are affordable is an ''absolute fantasy'', Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins says.
His comments come in reaction to remarks by Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead earlier this week.
Mr Woodhead said the cost of most of Dunedin's buses was already low and was not a deterrent to passengers using them, citing an 8% to 11% growth in passengers month on month.
In February last year the regional council confirmed it would examine how a ''Queenstown model'' of public transport would work in Dunedin.
Regional council corporate services director Nick Donnelly said this week fares would not be reviewed until at least later this year, partly because of other public transport priorities.
That is despite council chief executive Sarah Gardner saying in February last year staff would create a model of how a ''Queenstown'' bus system would work in Dunedin by mid-2018.
Cr Hawkins said it was disappointing the city council was never updated on the progress of a fare review, despite requesting information and having joint groups with the regional council.
''Most frustrating, though, is that when the public transport plan was last reviewed, we were told that lowering fares was off the table, and could be dealt with separately afterwards.
''Now we're told that has to wait until the plan gets reviewed again.''
This put the council back where it was five years ago, he said.
''As to the comments about how they're affordable enough for everyone already, that's an absolute fantasy.''