An attempt by Dunstan ward regional councillors to shave $2 million off the Annual Plan by deferring its environmental fund, effectively halving the rate increases, has failed to cross the line.

During yesterday’s Otago Regional Council meeting, a motion by Gary Kelliher and Michael Laws to move the $ million environmental fund out for 12 months to allow for a more detailed plan, only gained support by one other Otago Regional councillor - Kevin Malcolm.

Cr Kelliher said while he supported the fund, after three workshops he felt the council was not yet properly prepared for the work.

While Cr Kate Wilson agreed the timing wasn’t right and they should wait to hear from submitters out in the communities, she and others still supported leaving it in the consultation document.

Central Otago ratepayers were facing an 8 per cent rate increase by the Otago Regional Council this year.

Cr Michael Laws felt there had been a misunderstanding, and the recommendation was not to remove it from the Annual Plan, but just defer it until they were better organised.

“It’s because we haven’t got a clue what we’re doing.”

He said there was still no defined idea of how to spend the fund, “we don’t know who's doing what, we just have a fund.”

“I’m stunned it’s taken three workshops to get here. Magnificent governance, well done.”

Cr Michael Laws. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Cr Kelliher said $2 million had quite a substantial impact on ratepayers and those costs should not be taken lightly.

A second motion that the regional council reduce staff numbers over two years to a baseline of 325, also failed to gain support (7-4).

Staff numbers had more than doubled at the ORC from 174 in 2028-19 to now 359 with proposed increases under the Annual Plan.

An emotional Cr Laws led an interesting discussion questioning whether the increase had led to any discernible improvement in the health of the region, such as lake quality.

“Ironically all the stats are going the other way.”

He also noted the regional council had spent $10.4million on consultants in the past year, compared to $ million in previous years.

“Local government is broke and the staff increases over the past six years… we are contributing to that.”

Cr Kelliher said the council had grown so quickly and believed they had now overstepped the mark to what was now beyond value for money.

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