Yesterday's Otago Regional Council meeting may have only lasted for about 40 minutes, but travelling to Alexandra to hold it was not a waste of time, senior staff said.
The meeting, which involved a full complement of councillors and executive, was part of a broader trip to the region.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead said it was a part of a two-day itinerary beginning on Wednesday and which included visiting a council water quality monitoring site, a wilding pine infestation, meeting an irrigation group and Central Otago District Council staff.
Councillors and executive travelling to events in the region together was an occasion which happened less than once a year, he said.
Chief executive Peter Bodeker said all council meetings were reasonably short.
''Which is why we have another activity. After the meeting we had a workshop on our long-term plan.
''My councillors ultimately make very important decisions about minimum flows and water quality ...
''To have them out there yesterday [visiting farms, monitoring sites and Falls Dam], they are the things which give them a bit of a feel for it.
Mr Bodeker said while people might be critical of the council staying in the Central Otago, the council did not cover just Dunedin, and it needed to get out into the region.
A similar trip had been conducted in the Waitaki, and while not planned yet, another would be held in the Clutha area.
Council stakeholder engagement director Jane Leahy said the time and money spent on such a trip were well spent.
There were benefits from meeting and working with other councils, and seeing places they discussed first hand.
Meeting people such as those from irrigation groups while developing the council's long-term plan made discussions about issues such as water quality and biodiversity ''a bit more real'', she said.
