A single Southland council, to replace the district's existing three, is worthy of debate under proposed local government changes, Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt says.
He raised the possibility following a meeting in Dunedin with former local government minister Nick Smith yesterday.
Mr Shadbolt said the proposed changes made it easier for councils to merge and he supported public debate of the initiative.
In 1993, there was a strong "one Southland" movement advocating a single council, but policy at the time made it almost impossible for such change to garner enough support, he said.
Proposed new changes, lowering the required support threshold, made it a viable option.
Mr Shadbolt said personally, he was happy either way.
"But it's likely to invigorate that old one Southland movement once again and I think it's worthy of debate," he said.
Southland Mayor Frana Cardno said any change had to be considered in the best interests of ratepayers and would not be rushed.
Bigger was not necessarily better, she said.
"I haven't got any definite views on it, except we specialise in rural issues and often it's very difficult to mix a large rural area with a city, and then you've got Gore," Mrs Cardno said.
Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said the council structure status quo dated to 1989 and perhaps it was time to consider what was best for "today and tomorrow".
"I'm not suggesting changes but the door is open for discussion," he said.
