Vote on future shape of ORC

TWO guaranteed Otago regional councillors for Queenstown Lakes is proposed for the next election, but some fear that ward’s gain would be Central Otago’s loss.

The council will vote today on whether to recommend changes to its boundaries before next year’s elections.

Options include whether to split its Dunstan Ward into Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes.

At present, the ward covers both and has three of Otago’s 12 councillors.

The council will also decide whether to recommend joining the MosgielTaieri and StrathTaieri community board areas with the Dunedin Ward.

At present, they are with the Clutha District in the Molyneux Ward.

The proposed split of the Dunstan Ward would require two councillors from Queenstown Lakes and one from Central Otago.

Two of the Dunstan Ward councillors are from Central Otago — Graeme Bell, of Alexandra, and Michael Laws, of Cromwell.

Regardless of the council vote, the options will go out for public consultation.

Council staff recommend boundaries be unchanged.

Cr Ella Lawton, from Queens town Lakes (Wanaka), said she had an ‘‘open mind’’ about the potential Dunstan Ward split.

‘‘I still believe it’s so important for Queenstown Lakes to have representation.’’

However, she was concerned about having one representative from Central Otago, where there were many environmental issues to solve.

She was also uneasy about Cromwell being part of a Central Otago ward as it ‘‘aligned far more with Queenstown Lakes’’.

Cr Bell said he was unsure which way he would vote, but was leaning towards leaving the boundaries unchanged.

The Queenstown Lakes area’s growth did mean more representation was required, he said.

‘‘I think they will need to be split eventually, but I don’t know whether the timing is right. That might change after the debate.’’

He did not think one councillor was enough for Central Otago and many issues crossed boundaries, especially into the Wanaka area, he said.

Cr Laws said splitting the Dunstan Ward would be a disaster which would ‘‘segment and politically emasculate the region’’.

Having three councillors from the larger Dunstan area meant they had combined ‘‘lobbying power’’, he said.

With the change there would be only one councillor in an area containing the Maniototo, which had ‘‘massive issues’’, he said.

If the previous election had such a split in electorate boundaries, Cr Laws would not have won his seat.

When asked whether this influenced his decision he said it was a ‘‘stupid question’’.

‘‘You’re going to have to improve your questioning technique, mate . . .

‘‘The issue is wholly irrelevant and it’s impossible to predict electoral outcomes three years after a prior event.’’

The potential Taieri split would see one of the two councillor positions taken from the Molyneux Ward and put into the Dunedin Ward.

Molyneux Ward councillor Carmen Hope said she wanted it ‘‘left the way it was’’.

The people of that area would worry they would be forgotten about if they were ‘‘lumped in’’ with Dunedin, she said.

The idea was investigated after Cr Laws said the people of the Taieri area identified more with Dunedin than South Otago.

Cr Hope said this was not the case.