Extending the geographic boundaries councillors must cover will "dilute local knowledge" and lead to a council disconnected from its communities, a Central Otago district councillor has warned.
A government ultimatum to restructure local government issued by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop last week gives councils three months to put forward voluntary reorganisation proposals, or face having a structure imposed on them by central government.
Cr Bob Scott said amalgamations risked alienating councils from the people they served.
"Extending the geographic boundaries each elected member must cover would dilute local knowledge and lead to a council that is disconnected from its communities."
He welcomed closer co-operation with Gore, Clutha and Waitaki, but drew a firm line at Queenstown Lakes, which he believed was in a weaker financial position.
He also argued central government was seriously underestimating the volume of work local councils had already undertaken, noting the Central Otago District Council had worked hard to "establish itself as one of the most financially stable local councils".
Teviot Valley Community Board member Curtis Parnett said residents could be left worse off if the structure of any amalgamation was not right.
While CODC recently signed off on a 6.4% rates increase, he noted some neighbouring councils were consulting on double-digit rates increases, flagging this as a major concern.
"Local representation is certainly something he would have concerns with, as it could become more diminished and decision-making more centralised," Mr Parnett said.
Vincent ward councillor Martin McPherson argued the government was placing blame for the cost-of-living crisis on local government when many cost increases stemmed from decisions made in Wellington.
He favoured closer ties with Waitaki and Mackenzie over Queenstown — noting the district was still predominantly a rural economy, and warning amalgamation would "deaden" rather than amplify community voices.
Cromwell ward councillor and community board member Sarah Browne took a more open stance, pointing to the Southern Waters model as proof inter-council co-operation could work. She said she would advocate strongly to ensure local representation was not lost in any new structure.
Deputy mayor Tracy Paterson stressed the importance of community consultation before any decisions were made, noting residents were forming views without knowing the full picture.
She said councils retained the option of refusing to engage with a government-mandated approach if communities did not support it.
Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley has indicated the region could be restructured as a whole, individually, or in smaller groupings, with a unitary council among the options.
