'Procedural error' impacts ORC representation review

An oversight on a feedback form has forced the Otago Regional Council to extend the time for submissions on a representation review.

The council is proposing the Dunstan constituency, which includes Queenstown, Wānaka and Cromwell, have one more seat around the regional decision making table, with the Dunedin constituency giving up on of its seats to keep the total number of councillors at 12.

However consultation on the proposal will now stretch for an extra month after the revelation a supplied feedback form omitted to ask for submitters' contact details.

The council's chief executive Richard Saunders is now apologising to the 120 submitters who have used the incorrect form.

While the anonymous submissions are valid and will be counted, the council has no way of contacting their authors to advise of the opportunity to appear at future hearings.

Mr Saunders is encouraging anyone affected by what he is calling a "procedural error" to resubmit.

“Under the Local Electoral Act we need to have asked for those details,” he says.

“Hopefully in extending the consultation period we can build further on the number of submissions."

Mr Saunders says the time extension will not add any cost to the process nor, in his view, will it "hinder" the overall timetable and considerations that will be made by the council.

He says the mistake arose from the different rules governing public participation in local government decisions, including requirements over privacy disclosures.

The month-long submission period was scheduled to close on Sunday, August 11, but will now be extended to Sunday, September 8.

People can make a submission at: www.orc.govt.nz/RepReview24 or by email to [email protected].

Those who do not wish to resubmit but would like the opportunity to speak to their submission have also been advised to email [email protected].

ORC proposing extra councillor at Dunedin's expense