The Representation Review panel suggested Dunedin's six current community boards merge into five and have their number of representatives drop from six to four.
The proposed changes implied the boards would no longer exist in six years' time, removing a link between the public and the council.
Saddle Hill Community Board chairman Scott Weatherall said the changes were not fair on the community and had caused serious concerns for residents about the definition of true democracy and transparency.
The board has worked closely with the community and advocated for projects such as selling the Walton Park trees, with the $10,000 profit going straight back towards community projects, the upgrade and maintenance of parks and domains, and a large, ongoing battle with regard to the quarrying on Saddle Hill.
Mr Weatherall said he feared none of the projects would have happened without the board's lobbying.
''We want to fight for local representation at the council level and with a quorum of three, things just wouldn't happen,'' Mr Weatherall said.
Having asked for a greater representation of the Dunedin area in the review, Mr Weatherall said the board's ideas were not taken into consideration.
Strath-Taieri community board chairman Barry Williams said the board had a huge impact on the area and was the eyes and ears for the locals.
''We have been assisting with the resurfacing of the tennis courts and are continually helping with clubs that need extra funding,'' Mr Williams said.
As chairman for almost nine years, he was not happy the review proposed to cut elected representatives, as he said it was hard enough to meet the quorum at present.
''They want to cut the number of members and it's already a disastrous struggle to get maintenance here,'' Mr Williams said.
Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board chairman Bill Feather said members acted as a mouthpiece to the council advocating for such things as public safety, the wellbeing of the community and the community infrastructures.
He said he hoped the council had assessed its priorities to the Mosgiel/Taieri area and would maintain the progress the local boards had achieved.
''My belief is whatever issue the individuals in the community have, they will have to take it up directly with the council instead of lobbying for it,'' Mr Feather said.
The decision will be made by the Local Government Commission early next year.
- Erin Speedy & Charlotte Haselden
