"The No 1 thing they don’t want is the status quo," he said.
"The infrastructure we have got simply cannot cope with the amount of inundation that we are prone to getting — so we have to install more."
Large-scale retreat because of climate change and flooding threats was also unpopular and another version of managed retreat — letting water in and relocating to raised land — was not well supported either.
People wished to continue to live in South Dunedin, he said.
If the least popular options were discounted, a mix of what remained — making space for water while keeping the "liveable, workable" land dry — was what they favoured.
Immediate action to enhance drainage infrastructure was key, which was why the council approved an additional "pipes and pumps" package in its 2025-34 long-term plan, Mr Radich said.
The mayor’s comments came after a report from the South Dunedin Future programme about community engagement results relating to a hazard risk assessment and seven approaches for adaptation.
The programme is run jointly with the Otago Regional Council and it is principally aimed at establishing a comprehensive long-term plan for adapting to climate change.
Feedback about the potential approaches was received from more than 1200 people and organisations.
An option described as "space for water" was the most preferred overall.
There was "mixed support" for several other options.
"This suggests an openness from community and stakeholders to different approaches for managing risk and adapting to the impacts of climate change," the report for councillors said.
An initial shortlist of three approaches is expected to be available this month.
The regional council discussed the South Dunedin Future report last week.
City councillors had a wide-ranging discussion on Wednesday about the feedback, the property market, insurance, risk and climate adaptation.
Cr Christine Garey said there was a strong public mandate for change.
Cr Brent Weatherall said the full options for adaptation were "mainly cost-prohibitive" unless central government came on board, but this was "clearly not yet on the horizon".
Cr Carmen Houlahan said hazard information appearing on Lim reports was causing significant concern for some property owners.
Cr Lee Vandervis — the only city councillor who voted against noting the report — criticised "planning for its own sake".
