That was one of the curly questions faced by Central Otago's two mayoral candidates, incumbent Tony Lepper and his challenger Lynley Claridge, yesterday at a meeting arranged by Grey Power Central Otago.
Other topics canvassed at the meeting, attended by more than 40 people, included the candidates' views on council-funded retirement villages to roading policy, water quality, development contributions and the role played by community boards.
Carolyn McArthur, of Alexandra, said cat owners should have to be registered, like dog owners. Her former neighbours had 15 pet cats and they were a nuisance as they roamed on to her property.
''We tried everywhere we could think of, to see what could be done about limiting the numbers, but had no success and were just about losing our sanity. '' Mr Lepper said it was an issue that could possibly be addressed in new council bylaws. Mrs Claridge said it seemed a ''one-off''' situation that was quite desperate and if the council had been contacted ''they should've had some answers''.
The candidates clashed over development contributions. Mrs Claridge said one of her priorities after being elected as mayor would be to offer incentives to developers.
''Past and current developers have been desperate to get rest homes under way [in Central Otago] but were broadsided by bureaucracy,'' she said.
Mr Lepper said the council had ''courted'' all the big firms when land became available for a retirement village but none of them wanted to invest.
''We're not saying we'll fund such a venture ourselves, but saying, let's see what happens in Oamaru, where their council is considering it. I've already been approached by elderly ratepayers here saying not to spend their rates on it.''
Development contributions were imposed to make sure developers covered the extra stress placed on infrastructure by their venture, otherwise those costs would burden ratepayers, he said.
