Mr Geddes floated the idea in the wake of this week's receivership of the $1 billion Kawarau Falls Station development at Frankton, which employs about 500 workers.
Yesterday, he said there was no commitment by council to go ahead with projects - such as the proposed new council headquarters or the performing arts centre - but felt in light of questions about the completion of Kawarau Falls Station that the community might have changed its opinion on the value of such work being carried out.
"I'm not talking about inventing any new projects - I'm saying people have been calling me ... they may have a different attitude."
Last month, the QLDC announced a funding shortfall for all of the projects proposed for the next 10-year plan which would see debt soar to $413 million by 2019.
The plan and a list of projects were put to community submission with QLDC asking for comments on what was felt to be most important.
However, after the Kawarau Falls Station receivership announcement, Mr Geddes on Wednesday said the possibility of about 500 jobs ending with the completion of stage one "shed a different light" on those proposals.
He said although submissions on the 10-year plan had closed, there were still plenty of avenues for the community to make their views known to council.
He encouraged people who wanted to put forward their opinion on the council offices and staff accommodation to either email of call the councillors or himself.
"This is about the community having a different view [than last week]."
Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times canavassed several councillors for their views on the mayor's suggestion.
Deputy mayor John S. Wilson said the council should wait until receivers KordaMentha had decided what they were doing before speculating on protecting the construction industry.
The loss of the project's final two stages would have an impact on already stretched council budgets as the development's contributions tied to them would not be paid.
Cr Lyal Cocks said the mayor's comments had been "surprising" as the councillors were yet to deliberate over public submissions on what should and should not go ahead.
He, like all councillors spoken to, was sympathetic toward the 500 workers facing uncertain employment prospects, but said there needed to be a "balance" between the loss of work in the district and what the community had said.
Likewise, Cr Vanessa van Uden said while she had "huge sympathy" for the workers waiting to hear what was happening, council needed to be "fiscally responsible".
While against the building of council offices, she thought recent events and the need to support the construction industry should be considered when councillors met to discuss the 10-year plan next month.
Having always supported the new council offices and staff accommodation concept, Cr Gillian Macleod said the idea needed to be looked at further and all options considered - after submissions on the 10-year plan had been considered.
Comments from other councillors included: Cr Mel Gazzard : "I see [building the council headquarters as a way of helping the local construction industry] as a possibility ... but we would have to look very hard at it."
Cr Lex Perkins : "It hasn't been mentioned in council so I'd rather not comment."
Cr Leigh Overton : "I have no problem with what Clive has said but I personally won't speculate until the receiver decides [what happens at Kawarau Falls Station]. Then will be the time to talk."
The Otago Daily Times was unable to contact Cr Cath Gilmour, Cr John Mann, or Cr John R. Wilson.
