In what the mayor says is a win for democracy and better representation for the area, the district council will go from 14 councillors and a mayor to nine councillors and a mayor in the next local body triennium.
Feedback on the changes began more than six months ago and formal hearings took place in September.
It was agreed by the council in October and there was an appeal period which finished late last week with no appeals lodged.
The proposed changes will have two less councillors, from four, for the Balclutha ward. The Bruce ward will have a reduction of councillors from three to one, the Clutha Valley ward will disappear and the West Otago ward will go from two to one councillor. There will be a new Milton ward which would have one councillor. The Milton ward will encompass the urban area of Milton.
In accordance with the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population each councillor represents must be within the range of 2098 plus or minus 10% (1888-2308). All of the proposed wards comply with this range.
Clutha District mayor Bryan Cadogan, who had backed the proposal to reduce the number of councillors by a third, was thrilled with the result and it would bring about change in the district.
"This is a huge transitional change for the district. The new structure will hopefully bring about a more diverse council and encourage a whole new group of people to stand," he said.
With remuneration a set figure, the drop in the number of councillors will mean the money could be shared across less councillors.
He said at the moment workloads were averaging about three days a week for councillors and the average councillor was only earning about $23,000 a year. People could not afford to be a councillor.
"So all you are getting is a whole lot of old white men. It is not good enough. Democracy is not being served."
He said all the workshops and the work carried out in the first six months of becoming a councillor was just too bigger ask for people coming in.
He has talked to people who were considering running for council but they had backed off because of financial pressures.
"I know councillors who have chewed through all their leave, and won’t now be going on holiday, are paying other people to do their job because they have these obligations to council."
Under the new structure councillors would receive a minimum of $30,000 annually, he said.
He was confident there were people out there who would be keen on the job.
Though being a councillor was a good job it was a lot of different than when he first started with plenty of criticism and councillors had to have a thick skin.
Mr Cadogan confirmed he will not be seeing re-election next year.
