The Dunedin City Council could tap into a well of environmental fears and economic optimism when it asks the public about the oil and gas industry.
The council has called for public submissions by November 1 to help shape its own response to consultation on the petroleum block offer process being run by New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals.
However, it has also questioned the decision of the department - part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - to run its consultation process during local body elections.
Council sustainability adviser Maria Ioannou, in a statement yesterday, said the decision was ''unexpected'' and made public consultation more difficult.
The Dunedin City Council and other councils had ''pointed out this makes it difficult for councils to make a democratic submission on an issue of significance'', she said.
The department had launched consultation on the 2014 block offer, which sought to allocate petroleum exploration permits, but brought forward its own deadline for submissions from councils, iwi and hapu to November 14.
Consultation during an earlier block offer in 2012 ran from November to January this year, and council staff had expected a similar time frame this time around, she said.
Instead, they had been informed on September 18, the day before consultation started, that it would be conducted during local body elections and conclude on November 14.
Ms Ioannou said the council would make a submission outlining its views on the process, but first wanted to hear the public's views to help shape its own.
The department was consulting iwi, hapu and local authorities around New Zealand with an interest in the exploration offers proposed, which included the Great South and Canterbury basins.
Companies will be invited to tender for petroleum exploration permits, which were expected to be awarded in December next year.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the issue had generated ''significant community discussion''.
''There a wide range of views, from how many jobs might be created to the impact of fossil fuels on climate change.
''We are keen to hear from our community and invite residents to tell us what they think.''
Public submissions could shape the council's views, and each of those received would also be attached to the council's own submission as an appendix, he said.
Members of the public had until November 1 to make their submission to the council, allowing the council two weeks to complete its own ahead of NZP&M's November 14 deadline.
Public submissions to the council could be sent by email, post, or dropped in to the council, or completed on the council website.
