In yesterday’s Otago Daily Times, three Dunedin city councillors — Crs Lee Vandervis, Andrew Simms and Russell Lund — outlined a proposed approach to oncoming local government reform, including a Dunedin-Waitaki unitary authority with control of the port.
However, when asked, Otago Regional Council chairwoman Hilary Calvert and Cr Michael Laws maintained the port was a regional asset.
On social media yesterday, Cr Vandervis said the two should ‘‘butt out’’, as regional councils were to have no input on the government’s proposals.
‘‘Regional councils have been terminated for many good reasons,’’ Cr Vandervis said.
‘‘As the leading representative of the Dunstan ward — and the almost 80,000 people who reside here — I won’t be butting out of any discussion, debate or decision relating to the future ownership of the regional asset known as the Port of Otago.’’
The government has given councils three months put forward proposals to simplify and strengthen local government in their regions.
Councils not ready by the deadline will have a structure imposed on them.
