From philanthropist Les Cleveland to musician David Kilgour, and with media identity Dougal Stevenson and artist Marilynn Webb thrown in for good measure, the list of people opposed to the Dunedin Centre extension covered the legal, tertiary, arts and media sectors, among others.
Hands off Harrop spokeswoman Judith Medlicott said the list of names had been taken from those who had signed petitions or written letters to the newspaper.
"They're people of some influence or status in the city; people who have got a bit of clout," she said, when asked why the list had been assembled. Mrs Medlicott, who has led opposition to the project, told the annual plan hearings committee her organisation and thousands of people were "implacably opposed" to the extension.
She said 5000 people at the Last Night of the Proms had clearly told Mayor Peter Chin they did not want the extension.
"All this is evidence the project is widely unpopular."
She was disappointed the group had not been able to discuss and debate a peer review of the project released on Monday.
The review suggested the extension on to Harrop St and Moray Pl should be smaller.
But Hands off Harrop had not changed its stance on the issue.
"We repeat: Any extension whatever beyond the building's current envelope is unacceptable," Mrs Medlicott said.
"We will never agree with building across Harrop St, or mucking around with the Town Hall."
Hands off Harrop's submission said its concern was to uphold the provisions and statutory requirements of the council's district plan.
It reminded councillors of the 2522 signatures against the project, and the community's pride in its heritage buildings.
Mrs Medlicott questioned the council's public consultation process.
"Are these hearings no more than a charade?" Former New Zealand Historic Places Trust Otago branch chairwoman Elizabeth Kerr told the committee there were 97 submissions on the extension, and only five in support, one of those with a pecuniary interest.
Lawyer Len Andersen said while the designation for the Town Hall extended to the opposite side of Harrop St, that may have lapsed, and would be one of the first issues to be decided by the Environment Court.
Retired Dunedin architect Ted McCoy said in his submission there was "far too much of a them and us attitude," and he hoped everyone would work together to do what was best for the city.
"From the beginning, building on Harrop St should not have been an option."
Mr McCoy suggested the council use the ground floor of the Municipal Chambers to extend space, including the areas inhabited by the Hungry Frenchman restaurant and the Dunedin Visitor Centre.
While it was not one continuous space, and was on different levels, there was plenty of space already owned by the city.
Asked if the idea was possible when there were load-bearing walls to deal with, Mr McCoy said modern techniques meant architects "can do a lot now we could not do in the past".
