Dunedin City Council principal urban designer Kathryn Ward answers a question from the audience as urban designer Crystal Filep looks on during a panel discussion in Dunedin this week. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON

The Octagon and much of George St should become pedestrian-only to make the city centre more "liveable" and encourage walking, a university academic says.

Associate Prof Ben Wooliscroft, of the University of Otago marketing department, said at a community panel discussion this week the city centre was car-dominated and hostile to pedestrians.

The need to encourage walking, including among children going to school, and concerns about threats posed by heavy trucks were also highlighted during the 90-minute meeting.

Prof Wooliscroft was one of four panellists who discussed "Creating a people-friendly city", and what the city should look like in 20 years, at the Dunedin City Library gathering.

"We haven't got time to wait 20 years," he told more than 80 people present.

The dominance of cars meant pedestrians trying to cross George St were "in a pool of sharks between islands of safety".

Audience members listen to answers to their questions.

In this context, Lime e-scooters also posed "piranha"-like threats.

Except for people with mobility challenges, walking should be given priority over other forms of transport.

People had a "human right" to walk, and "to move under our own steam".

New Zealand also faced major health challenges through rising obesity and diabetes, and quicker action was needed.

"We need to be brave. We need leadership," he said.

Fellow panellist and Dunedin city councillor Jim O'Malley said George St could not be closed to cars immediately, and there was a range of constraints, including legal requirements.

Fellow panellist and Dunedin City Council principal urban designer Kathryn Ward said she had "worked all over the world" and Dunedin's strong sense of community engagement in discussing its future was highly positive.

Otago Surveying School urban design lecturer and panellist Crystal Filep said Dunedin should consider a range of perspectives on e-scooters, and could learn from some overseas communities where attitudes had changed after the initial "shock" of introduction.

The meeting was organised by the Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa (NZ), and Victa trustee Lynley Hood, and was chaired by former environment minister Marion Hobbs.