The idea got a mixed reaction from other Dunstan regional and district councillors, who said the concept was worth considering but were uncertain whether such a group was necessary.
Mr Laws said there was still inequity and a lack of understanding from the ORC for Dunstan issues and a ``a solid political lobbying group,'' would provide ``considerable communications and political advantages'' and could ``collectively push for Central/Lakes solutions for Central/Lakes problems''.
He also said he had ``long supported'' a relocation of ORC staff into the Central Lakes districts.
``I've opined many times that the ORC doesn't understand Central or the Lakes regions because it is so Dunedin-centric and its headquarters and policy staff so far away.''
Mr Laws said the recent disagreement between the ORC and Central Otago District Council (CODC) councillors about where to put an effluent disposal site in Central Otago was an example of why a Dunstan lobby was needed.
Regional and district councillors contacted by the Otago Daily Times were uncertain whether such a group was needed.
Cr Graeme Bell said the idea ``could be good to discuss'' and an exchange of ideas would be good, but he was more in favour of informal discussions between councillors, and said he regularly touched base with CODC representatives.
Cr Ella Lawton said ORC councillors needed to represent all Otago, not just their wards, and there should already be ``strong systems'' in place to ensure that occurred. If those systems were not working, she was more in favour of addressing that, rather than creating a Dunstan lobby. However, there ``may be value'' in a lobby group if Dunstan issues were not being addressed, she said.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said he thought communication between the ORC and CODC was ``working well'' at this stage and things were ``tracking in the right direction''. However, if that changed, there may be ``space for a Dunstan lobby''.
ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead did not comment directly on the lobby idea when contacted by the Otago Daily Times, but said the ORC ``works across all areas in the region and we value the time we spend with and feedback we receive from our community. We also ensure issues are equally represented by having elected officials who live and work in multiple communities across the region''.
He believed it made ``good business sense'' to keep the ORC's head office in Dunedin, and said some staff and councillors were based throughout the rest of the region.
The ORC had recognised the Wakatipu Basin was experiencing significant growth, and a Frankton ORC office would be established ``in coming months to service this growing population''.
