Community board members are defending their boards' existence following news Clutha district councillors are split on whether to retain them.
The Clutha district is split into eight wards - Balclutha, Bruce, Catlins, Clinton, Clutha Valley, Kaitangata-Matau, Lawrence-Tuapeka and West Otago - with the latter two having their own community boards.
West Otago Community Board chairwoman Barbara Hanna has been a member of the board for nine years, and is in her first term as chairwoman.
She said while she was not completely sure of how a community company would compare with a community board, she felt the two organisations fulfilled different roles.
"We have the Tapanui West Otago Promotions group which does a fantastic job in our community, but I feel we [the community board] are here as spokespeople for the area, as a voice for our community," Mrs Hanna said.
Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board chairman Geoff Davidson has been a board member since 1989, and agreed boards were a voice for their communities.
"I do think the community gets its money's worth from the board. Residents come to us with concerns and to discuss issues."
Many residents in the two communities gravitated to Dunedin or Gore as main centres instead of Balclutha, he said.
"Until the majority of residents in our wards say they don't want community boards, I think they should stay."
At the Clutha District Council's meeting on Wednesday, Clinton ward councillor John Cochrane said community companies could achieve just as much as community boards, referring to the work done in the Clinton area by the district's community company.
In 2009, Clinton created a community company in response to the closure of the township's BP petrol station.
The company, made up of five directors, was created to administer a community-owned and run petrol station business to return services to the town.
The two-stage petrol station project was completed in December, with the Clinton Express stocking "food to go", limited groceries and seasonal farm supplies. It is a depot for Clutha Vets and an agent for a courier service, building on the self-service petrol station which opened in 2010.
The group was also involved with other projects within the township including the upgrade of its community centre.
Clinton Community Company chairman and ward councillor John Cochrane was unable to be contacted by the Otago Daily Times.
Mr Davidson said Lawrence also had a community company which complemented the existing community board.
"We, as a community board, have done quite a lot of projects from tidying the cemeteries to the Lawrence swimming pool."
The board also initiated organisation concerning the 150th gold rush celebrations, with the creation of a committee to oversee preparations for the events held last year.
At the council's meeting on Wednesday, a motion that the Lawrence-Tuapeka and West Otago community boards be disestablished and that no community boards be established in the district sparked a lengthy debate among councillors.
The motion was lost with a seven-seven split, and another motion to retain the status quo was passed when Mayor Cadogan used his casting vote to break the deadlock.
The council will release the Representation Review Statement of Proposal for public consultation next Wednesday, launching a month-long submission period, which would close on May 11.
Submission forms will be available on the council's website www.cluthadc.govt.nz and from its service centres.
The council will make its decision later in the year.
