"We need to remain in control of our own destiny wherever possible," Mr Hawkins said.
"There is clearly a role for central government in this work, including as a funder and legislator, but when it comes to putting the plan together it needs to be built on the values of our own community."
The Dunedin City Council’s planning and environment committee this week backed a draft programme designed to enable South Dunedin to adapt to climate change in a way that is "robust, transparent and inclusive".
The programme features a flexible approach to planning and it could result in some retreat from hazard-prone areas over time and a gradual reshaping of land use in South Dunedin.
It was developed jointly with the Otago Regional Council and is to be discussed by regional councillors next week.
Taieri MP Ingrid Leary last month promoted the idea of "co-designing an ambitious, comprehensive plan as a geographical pilot in its own right that would inspire Government to get on board".
She described the draft programme this week as pragmatic and "a good start, as long as it has tangible and measurable action as an outcome, is evidence-based and community-led".
Mr Hawkins, at the city council’s planning and environment committee meeting on Wednesday, noted questions had been raised about where central government fitted in.
"I would just suggest we should be careful what we wish for in terms of inviting Government to be an active participant and an active decision-maker in these fields," he said.
"These are decisions for us to make with our community."
There was a role for central government to play, ultimately, in helping fund projects that would arise, he said.
"We need projects to meet both the aspirations of our own community and of the current Government, in order to give them a chance of getting off the ground," he said yesterday.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said it was important to work with the area’s MPs and the Government to get funding for South Dunedin.
It could be used as a pilot, showing how damage from climate change could be mitigated, she said.
Cr Lee Vandervis said the kind of work proposed "doesn’t actually do anything for South Dunedin, other than create yet another plan".
Mr Hawkins highlighted a series of risks to the programme, including uncertainty arising from government reform of land-use planning and Three Waters.
The programme provided a path for navigating complexity, he said.
"We do have time to do the work that needs to be done, so long as we do the planning work now."
