The Otago Regional Council hopes it will never have to appear in the Environment Court over its appeal to the harbourside plan, but believes the plan could hamper development of its Steamer Basin site if it was not needed for its own proposed new office block.
It is one of seven companies and organisations making appeals to the Dunedin City Council's harbourside development, which was approved through a district plan change in February.
Regional council chief executive Graeme Martin said under the harbourside plan change, the proposed office block site on the corner of Kitchener and Birch Sts fell into multiple planning zones.
It was in the harbourside and port 2 zones.
One of the key reasons for the regional council lodging the appeal was that if it did not develop the site, then it was more "logical" for the site to be in a single zone, he said.
"It would be difficult for any comprehensive development of any shape or form [under multiple zones]."
Under plan requirements, changes to plans could only be made through the appeal process, so the regional council had no choice but to appeal if it wanted the rules amended so its entire site was in one zone.
"The city can't make any changes without taking that legal step."
Having made the appeal, the regional council and city council could now choose to go into mediation and settle the issue without going to court, he said.
"I hope it never appears in court."
