Otago Regional Council

Dunedin Constituency
The Otago Regional Council makes decisions about managing resources in the region, such as air, water, soil and the coastline. It also carries out plant and pest control, helps prepare for natural disasters, and is involved in regional transport. The council is made up of 11 councillors. Councillors are elected to represent constituencies (areas in the region). Six councillors will be elected from the Dunedin constituency. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Otago Regional Council election.

Utilities and services

Councils are responsible for a wide range of utilities and services that we all rely on, from rubbish and recycling to street cleaning. Councils are currently also responsible for managing waste water, storm water and drinking water infrastructure – the ‘Three Waters’. But that may be about to change, with central government seeking to shift the delivery of Three Waters services to four new larger entities, which could borrow enough to upgrade the country’s water infrastructure.

Utilities and services

Councils are responsible for a wide range of utilities and services that we all rely on, from rubbish and recycling to street cleaning. Councils are currently also responsible for managing waste water, storm water and drinking water infrastructure – the ‘Three Waters’. But that may be about to change, with central government seeking to shift the delivery of Three Waters services to four new larger entities, which could borrow enough to upgrade the country’s water infrastructure.

  • Promote practices to reduce future waste in industry and agriculture as per the waste management hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle).

  • Stop humans from learning the extent of slimy algal blooms in their lakes and rivers by decreasing environmental monitoring and reporting.

    Deny improvements to pollution standards for freshwater, used for drinking water and recreation, in favour of Slime the Nitrate Monster.

    Continue a lack of enforcement and accountability on existing breaches of water quality, so there is no way to remove slime from the rivers.

  • Ensure Three Water policies are adequately explained to the public.

  • Reject central government Three Waters proposal.

    Continue investment in stormwater capacity increase to allow for future rain events.

  • Increase and support science work to support monitoring programs for land and water, habitat restoration and endangered species protection.

    Improve stormwater discharges into our waterways.

  • Support healthy river flows that ensure water ways are safe for swimming, food gathering and recreation.

    Introduce a program that connects water users with contact information to book access to waterways through private property.

  • Support, promote and regulate improved wastewater systems.

    Support and promote an effective pollution hotline system.

    Support and promote waste to land not rivers.

  • Support the improvement of water quality via Three Waters.

    Investigate alternatives to large scale infrastructure where possible.

    Implement and enforce water quality regulation.

  • Ensure environmental monitoring and alerts, eg flood alerts are easily accessible for public use. Ask community for improvements.

    Ensure Otago Regional Council is nimble and skilled to meet the needs of our communities in evolving urban development, Three Waters and infrastructure roles.

    Work closely with city and district councils as a local government team. Sharing our skills and identifying gaps not doubling up.

  • Promote practices to reduce future waste in industry and agriculture as per the waste management hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle).

  • Stop humans from learning the extent of slimy algal blooms in their lakes and rivers by decreasing environmental monitoring and reporting.

    Deny improvements to pollution standards for freshwater, used for drinking water and recreation, in favour of Slime the Nitrate Monster.

    Continue a lack of enforcement and accountability on existing breaches of water quality, so there is no way to remove slime from the rivers.

  • Ensure Three Water policies are adequately explained to the public.

  • Reject central government Three Waters proposal.

    Continue investment in stormwater capacity increase to allow for future rain events.

  • Increase and support science work to support monitoring programs for land and water, habitat restoration and endangered species protection.

    Improve stormwater discharges into our waterways.

  • Support healthy river flows that ensure water ways are safe for swimming, food gathering and recreation.

    Introduce a program that connects water users with contact information to book access to waterways through private property.

  • Support, promote and regulate improved wastewater systems.

    Support and promote an effective pollution hotline system.

    Support and promote waste to land not rivers.

  • Support the improvement of water quality via Three Waters.

    Investigate alternatives to large scale infrastructure where possible.

    Implement and enforce water quality regulation.

  • Ensure environmental monitoring and alerts, eg flood alerts are easily accessible for public use. Ask community for improvements.

    Ensure Otago Regional Council is nimble and skilled to meet the needs of our communities in evolving urban development, Three Waters and infrastructure roles.

    Work closely with city and district councils as a local government team. Sharing our skills and identifying gaps not doubling up.