Otago residents now get to have their say on whether another councillor should be added to the regional council to represent its Dunstan constituency.
The regional council yesterday agreed to put out for public consultation a proposal suggesting the Dunstan constituencies' two councillors be increased three to ensure fair representation throughout the district.
Under the Local Electoral Act, the 11-member council is required to review its representation before next year's election.
Population increases in Dunstan, which covers Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes districts and is represented by Crs Duncan Butcher and Gerry Eckhoff, meant it fell outside the population ratio required by the Act.
Adding another councillor brought the area close to meeting the ratio but it still needed to be signed off by the Local Government Commission.
Cr Michael Deaker said he strongly supported the option as he had for a long time been "mildly discomfited" that urban-based councillors dominated the council table when the "majority of work recently" was rural-based.
Dunstan was clearly an area with high population growth and it was appropriate an extra representative was added to the area, he said.
"It should reflect where the pressure points are, where there is growth and development."
Cr Bryan Scott said it was not about urban versus rural but fair representation.
"In good likelihood the extra councillor could come from an urban position in Queenstown."
Cr Sam Neill said it was important the public realised that another councillor would not cost the council anything more than some travel costs.
The Remuneration Authority provided a pool of funds from which councillors were paid, he said.
Submissions close on July 20th and a hearing would be held the following week.
