Vincent Community Board member Martin McPherson said it was like selling the family silver and only a short-term solution.
"With a $40million building at one end of the valley and divesting halls at the other end ... the council will tear us asunder."
At both Vincent and Teviot community board meetings last week, council asset management property team leader Janice Remnant and planning and infrastructure acting group manager Lee Webster presented reports on buildings they recommended the council dispose of to save money.
The reports say an assessment of each building has been done that takes into account ongoing maintenance, current and potential future use in the community and earthquake strengthening.
In the Vincent ward, the report recommended keeping the Alexandra Community Centre [Memorial Hall], Molyneux Stadium and the Central Stories building.
On the chopping block were the Ophir, Poolburn, Becks and Clyde halls, Vallance Cottage and the former Riding for the Disabled building among others.
In Teviot, the Roxburgh Service Centre and hall and the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre made the cut.
Recommended for sale were the Roxburgh Squash Courts, the Millers Flat Hall and the Millers Flat Bowling Club.
Teviot board member Mark Jessop asked if the report had been sent to the Millers Flat Hall committee, and Mr Webster said it could be.
The report says the one disadvantage of the plan was that the community might feel aggrieved.
However, people would have the chance to make submissions during the draft long-term plan consultation process.
High operational and capital expenditure costs were the reason for divesting it, the report said.
At the Vincent Community Board meeting, Mr McPherson said he was disappointed fairly tough recommendations had been put to the board without time to digest them and consult with the community.
Mr Webster said he appreciated that but the information was needed for the long-term plan discussion document.
The council would go to the various committees and see if they wanted to buy the building.
In the past they had sold the building for $1. The committee paid the insurance and maintenance.
"The down side is they come back to us for grants for those costs. Are we any better off?"
Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley reminded members the buildings being considered for divestment were not necessarily going to be disposed of.
She said the proposals could bring positive results.
A report in the Cromwell board agenda recommended retaining the only two buildings in the report — the Tarras Hall and the Cromwell Museum building.
Cromwell’s new hall, which includes an auditorium, cinema, museum, cafe and meeting spaces, was under construction with a $45.8m budget.
