The council is due to consult on its 10-year plan, focusing on large-scale environmental funding, public transport in Dunedin and Queenstown, and a change to how council work is funded and who pays for it.
Crs Michael Laws, Bryan Scott and Tim Mepham each said they were concerned proposed rates rises were not highlighted until near the end of the council’s consultation document.
Cr Laws further said he was stunned residents of Wānaka and Hawea were not more clearly told they were to begin paying for Queenstown public transport.
Further, the rates increase was "the last question" the council was set to ask ratepayers during consultation.
His attempt to amend the consultation document to spell out for Wānaka and Hawea residents the plan to use their rates for Queenstown public transport, and give greater prominence to rates increases, failed 9-3.
The proposed plan includes an average rates increase of 18.8% next year, 15.7% the following year and 14.8% in the third year of the plan.
Cr Andrew Noone said on reflection the long-term plan process had been "far more challenging than we anticipated three years ago".
"We made a major step up to bring the organisation to [be] more fit for purpose in terms of our roles and responsibilities with a significant, eye-watering rate rise three years ago.
"I was expecting this time around for the [long-term plan] we would be in single-digit rate increases.
"However, one thing that became clear through the build up to today ... was clearly we are still not complete in terms of bringing the organisation up to a fit-for-purpose state.
"When it comes to the environment, I believe we are still chasing our tail a little bit."
In a statement released after yesterday’s council meeting, chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson urged people to have their say.
She said the changes proposed include how the council rated properties, including those with targeted rates, public transport in Dunedin and Queenstown, trials of regional public transport, flood protection and drainage schemes, river and catchment management, harbour safety, freshwater farm plans, wilding pine control, and environmental projects.
Consultation begins on March 28.
