The comment was made during hearings for the Otago Regional Council’s draft regional public transport plan this week.
The city council once again asserted its desire to take over management of public bus services in its submission to the regional council’s draft plan.
Union member Peter Dowden urged the regional council to consider how the city council was performing in maintaining the small part of the service it already controlled.
He said the city council was making “complete cobblers” of its part, including bus stops.
“I would really hate to see what they would do if you put them in charge of the timetables," Mr Dowden said.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins asked for a discussion with the regional council over a possible transfer of bus management.
"We need to be mature enough to have that conversation of where it best sits in terms of benefits for our communities."
He said that regardless of who was in charge of the bus network, the two councils needed to double their efforts in working close together on public transport.
One city councillor took the opportunity to express his vision for the bus service during yesterday’s hearing, and it seemed to be welcomed by regional councillors.
Cr Andrew Whiley said that travel should be free for school pupils and a daily fare cap of $5 should be brought in.
He also wanted to see a bulk payment system implemented for the university and polytechnic, whereby students paid a fee of $100, as an example, to have free access to buses.
"That would bring in excess of $2.8million and more, if including staff.
"This money would be included in the student fees paid to these institutions and paid in a lump sum to the ORC bus fund."
That system could also be offered to major employers in the city, including the Dunedin Hospital, ACC, and Government offices, he said.
"I believe offering this bulk arrangement would increase bus patronage, encourage modal shift and assist in funding a more efficient and effective bus service."
Cr Whiley also suggested adding a free ride bus service around the centre city.
Regional councillor Alexa Forbes said she liked some of his ideas "a lot".
“Your submission, to me, is completely customer-focused."
When Cr Whiley was asked what he thought about the city council taking over the buses, he said "if anything, it should be jointly managed".
Regional councillor Michael Deaker agreed, saying there should be joint council meetings to discuss the bus service from an operational perspective.
The final day of hearings will be held in Queenstown today.
