The Broad Bay couple were among only three members of the public to show up for the Dunedin City Council's first annual plan roadshow in Portobello, on Otago Peninsula, last night.
Making matters worse, the third member of the public was actually a council employee - albeit there to ask questions as a private citizen.
Arrayed before the trio were eight council representatives, led by Mayor Dave Cull and including Cr John Bezett, acting chief executive Athol Stephens, city environment general manager Tony Avery and Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman John Bellamy.
The high-powered delegation was there to answer any question the public might have about the draft 2011-12 annual plan, due to come into force on July 1. The trouble was, there were not many.
"It's very amicable so far," Mr Cull grinned, as staff surrounded by information displays chatted among themselves.
"It's a bit of a shame that there's not more people here . . . it does point out the challenges of consultation, because we try lots of different ways."
Mrs Dyer only learned of the meeting this week, but went along to discuss council plans for Harbour Cone and the peninsula's development.
Asked if she felt she had enough access to decision-makers, Mrs Dyer glanced around and laughed.
"I should say so."
Last night's meeting - advertised in advance in print, on radio and with posters in Portobello - was the first of six to be held around Dunedin over the next two weeks.
Next week's meeting in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery was likely to attract the biggest crowd, and would follow a more traditional meeting format, Cr Bezett said.
Public submissions on the draft plan close on April 12, followed by public hearings from May 4-6 and then deliberations from May 11-12. The council would then consider recommendations on June 7 and adopt the plan on June 27.
Where and when.
• Pak'n Save supermarket, South Dunedin, tomorrow, 4.30pm-6.30pm.
• Dunedin Public Art Gallery, March 29, 5.30pm.
• Mosgiel New World supermarket, March 31, 2.30pm-4.30pm.
• Blueskin Bay A and P showgrounds, Bland Park, Waitati, April 2, 10.30am-2.30pm.
• Edgar Centre, Dunedin, April 6, 3.30pm-7.30pm.
