A Department of Internal Affairs document revealed the Dunedin City, Waitaki District, Clutha District and Otago Regional councils have jointly submitted a proposal for the Coastal Otago region to the government.
Details on the proposal, titled "Building economic development and provision of affordable housing opportunities in the Otago region", are scant and when asked by the Otago Daily Times, none of the councils involved provided further details.
In November, the government invited all councils to apply for regional deals — a collaboration between local authorities and central government, intended to unlock funds and boost infrastructure.
Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan and Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher have questioned the merits of a Coastal Otago deal, while Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich was more supportive.
"I am very keen to have a regional deal for coastal Otago and I believe we have lodged a high-level, light-touch proposal," Mr Radich said.
It was too early to provide more details and the government had signalled regional deals should remain confidential until a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the parties, he said.
"We are not there yet."
Mr Cadogan said the regional deal was an "unnecessary distraction" from crucial council work.
"If the public genuinely knew the timeframes and what was happening with the Three Waters, which is driving rates well into double digits right throughout New Zealand, they’d question why any resources would be put on [regional deals]," he said.
The Clutha District Council knew a regional deal was not suited for it but had made the joint submission as an appeasement, Mr Cadogan said.
"Now we’ll get on with something that’s actually going to affect our ratepayers, which is Three Waters."
He questioned why councils were being asked to spend time and resources on a proposal, when it was apparent Coastal Otago’s would not be adopted in the near future.
"Can you see how frustrated I am with the battle we’ve got at the moment? It’s exhausting," he said.
"I am not willing, at this present juncture, to give the process any more than it deserves. It doesn’t deserve much."
Mr Kircher said the proposal was based on the councils’ broad goals and informal discussions.
"Those broad topics are at least the start of the conversation and we’ll deal with the detail as we get closer to actually needing to provide that."
He said the government had strongly encouraged councils to make a proposal and while it had felt like a "box ticking exercise" and not the best use of resources, he was pleased the Waitaki District Council had put its name forward.
"There’s definitely some things the government can do to make it easier for us to grow our districts and that’s really the priority for us.
"But at the moment there are a lot more questions than there are answers."
Mr Kircher said coastal councils could benefit from changes suggested in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago district councils’ proposed deal, which he expected to be one of the government’s preferred options.
"As far as when our actual names will come up for the specific things that we want, I’m certainly not holding my breath."
In a statement, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said joint long-term plans would encourage regions to deliver critical infrastructure needed for growth.
"Driving economic growth is a core focus for our government with our regions playing a key role in delivering that plan," Mr Bishop said.
"City and regional deals will be relentlessly focused on driving our growth agenda."
The first regional deal is expected to be finalised by the end of this year.
