Rather, the forthcoming evaluation of three shortlisted options will produce a vision for the year 2100 that balances infrastructure improvements, nature-based solutions and managed retreat, Otago Regional Council chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson says.
The regional council yesterday reviewed the results of consultation that found among seven multibillion-dollar long-term visions for the low-lying suburb, about 60% of respondents favoured an estimated $2.8 billion proposal to create a system of wetlands and waterways through the neighbourhood.
Councillors praised the work and the long-term vision of the joint regional council-Dunedin City Council working party, South Dunedin Future.
Deputy chairman Cr Lloyd McCall called the work nationally significant.
Still, some councillors said ensuring the suburb’s Three Waters system was up to scratch remained of critical importance.
"No-one likes uncertainty, especially when it's in regard to your own home and your own neighbourhood and your families and schools and all the services that you rely on.
"That's not easy, and I think this process takes a while but it needs to take a while," she said.
After reviewing the community engagement findings, work would shift to "further technical and economic assessments" and from there modelling would be done on three shortlisted futures "to test the efficacy of each and determine whether they work".
"There probably isn't going to be one winner of outcomes," she said.
Cr Elliot Weir said there was "always anxiety in the community around what the future holds".
"But I think that through the many, many conversations that have been happening over the last few years, the community is really ready to take the next steps and, I think, comforted by the process so far and that the future can even look brighter than it is today."
Cr Alan Somerville said it was important the work produced "an enduring solution — so we're not coming back in 10 or 20 or 30 or 40 years to ask the same questions".
The regional council needed to decide when to "draw the line" and identify when the work programme should no longer funded by a general rate, Cr Kevin Malcolm said
"And then we've got to look at this area as a specific case.
"My other [concern] would be whatever solution, and I'll go on record as saying this, is whatever solution we come to, it is going to be absolutely critical that the local authority that is in charge of that area at the time, that they do the work that they are supposed to be doing to ensure whatever solutions are there now and whatever solutions are put forward are maintained and kept to their specified design criteria."
Cr Andrew Noone said while South Dunedin's future has been the main area of focus, the now outdated stormwater system had been "the poor cousin during this time".
"One of the reasons why it's not working to capacity is the impermeable surfaces that have been developed over the last 50, 60 years since the stormwater system was originally designed and that's created a cumulative effect on the capacity of the stormwater system and there's suggestions it could be 50% less capacity than what it was originally when it was designed."
In a report to councillors South Dunedin Future programme manager Jonathan Rowe said an initial shortlisting process would be presented to councils next month.
The fully developed shortlist of potential adaptation futures for South Dunedin was expected to be completed late this year and presented to councils early next year, he said.
The city council will consider the consultation findings next week.
