Cr Russell Lund. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The Dunedin City Council’s reputation as ‘‘divided and dysfunctional’’ is scaring off potential amalgamation partners, a councillor says. Ong discussed in Wellington Yesterday, many councillors were critical of the pace and scale of ongoing local government reform ahead of an extraordinary meeting on August 3 to establish a position on amalgamation. The government gave councils an August 9 deadline to submit plans for new unitary authorities, to take up regional council functions, made up of at least two councils. However, Dunedin’s neighbours have shown little interest in amalgamating with the city. Councillors offered a range of reasons when the Otago Daily Times asked why no councils had jumped to join Dunedin. Cr Russell Lund said smaller councils feared being forced into ‘‘ideological projects’’ they could not afford. ‘‘We are seen as a divided and dysfunctional council that has demonstrated no ability for financial discipline or prudent decisions,’’ he said. ‘‘Dunedin is a left-leaning council with a majority that puts ideology first while the other Otago councils are more conservative and pragmatic.’’ Cr Christine Garey. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Cr Christine Garey said each council wanted to retain its own local voice. Cr Brent Weatherall agreed and said ‘‘playing the numbers game, anyone joining up with Dunedin would have the feeling of being Dunedin’s poor cousin’’. An Otago-wide unitary authority was backed by Cr Andrew Simms, who said smaller centres ‘‘might be rightfully suspicious of Dunedin, but this proposal is an amalgamation, not a takeover’’. ‘‘Otago as a unitary region would have assets that many regions would die for,’’ he said. Cr Benedict Ong said the ‘‘reality’’ of the city council’s future was combining with the Otago Regional Council. Several councillors felt the decision-making period was far too short. ‘‘There has simply not been time for any meaningful consultation given the timeframe imposed on us by the coalition government,’’ Cr Garey said. While the sector agreed reform was necessary, she said the process was ‘‘flawed’’ and hampered by mixed-messages from the government — ‘‘[it’s] too much, too soon’’. Cr Steve Walker said the timelines were ‘‘ridiculous’’ and he questioned the benefit of large-scale reform for bigger councils. Cr Doug Hall said the decision was not one to be rushed — the outcome should be based on ‘‘robust information and meaningful public input, not an arbitrary deadline’’. However, Cr Jo Galer said she was concerned the deadline was looming with no proposal for Dunedin apparent — ‘‘just conjecture and vague plans so far’’ — and a councillor working-group was ‘‘desperately required’’. ‘‘Other councils have the jump on us as a result.’’ Cr Lund said a last-minute decision was ‘‘completely illogical’’ and provided no time to consider alternatives. Cr Simms said it was difficult to understand why the council had not formed a public position on the ‘‘big topic’’ of amalgamation. Any position decided at the August 3 meeting would not receive meaningful community consultation before the government’s deadline, he said. ‘‘This might represent a lost opportunity for Dunedin and Otago to determine its own future.’’ Councils with an unsuccessful proposal, or no proposal at all, would have structures imposed by the government, dubbed the ‘‘backstop’’. Cr Mickey Treadwell said the government had provided ‘‘almost no information’’ about the backstop and its implications for Dunedin were unknown. Cr Weatherall said he expected the backstop would apply to Dunedin, ‘‘requiring the government to do their own dirty work’’. ‘‘We shouldn’t forget Dunedin has an economy of scale that may qualify for us to go it alone.’’ Cr John Chambers said Dunedin was well placed to form its own unitary council, ‘‘in an improved financial situation’’ and take on the regional council’s Dunedin assets, including a ‘‘proportion’’ of Port Otago. ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
