Dunedin city councillor Andrew Simms said a ‘‘baseline engineering solution’’ should be considered to ensure a benchmark and genuine choices would be put in front of the community.
The South Dunedin Future (SDF) programme jointly run by the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council has pitched three options about reducing flood risk for potential public consultation — they have been described as protect, restore and reshape.
Cr Simms suggested they risked being viewed as ‘‘three versions of the same option’’.
He wanted a report by consultants Opus in 2017 about stormwater modelling to form the basis of an alternative approach.
‘‘The ability to weigh up the solutions proposed by Opus, and others since, against the SDF options on a cost versus benefit is an essential missing piece in our ability to make a good decision.’’
Opus advocated for splitting the South Dunedin catchment in two to relieve capacity of the trunk mains.
The SDF programme includes infrastructure work, but is principally about setting up South Dunedin to adapt to natural hazards and climate change long term.
Cr Simms said he agreed with concerns expressed by Cr Lee Vandervis about the latest extensive update being on the agenda for Thursday’s city council meeting.
‘‘The sheer volume and complexity of the information attached to this agenda make it impossible to read, understand and cross-reference in the time available to councillors.’’
