Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says it is too early to make a formal approach to the Government for help with the problems facing South Dunedin.
Mr Cull made the comments while outlining the council’s response to its vote last month to "immediately engage" the Government over the threat groundwater and sea-level changes pose to the low-lying area.
Mr Cull said that in recent weeks he and chief executive Sue Bidrose briefed local MPs on the situation in South Dunedin and in the past he had spoken to ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett about the possibility of "collaboration" between local and central government in addressing South Dunedin’s issues.
"What we want to do is have discussions with Government — and all MPs for that matter — so we all understand and are on the same page about what the issues are."
It was too early to make a formal approach, but one might be made once the situation became clearer.
If, for example, the solutions involved "massive urban renewal or massive pumps" then Government help could be sought.
"If the solution had a big number next to it, then we would sit down and say how we are going to resource it?"
It would also need to go to the Government if after conversations with the South Dunedin community it was decided large-scale urban renewal was needed, for example lifting the ground level in an area and building homes.
Such urban renewal could require the power to amalgamate titles or compulsorily buy land.
"That would be something we would definitely need to talk to central government about, because we don’t have those powers and they can only come through legislation."
When councillors voted on the issue last month, Cr David Benson-Pope’s original proposal was softened and references to government funding were removed.
Some councillors felt more detail was needed about the challenge facing South Dunedin before any requests for funding were made.
