​Early feedback sought in the Clutha District Representation Review

Council wants to hear your thoughts on the way that local government representation works in the Clutha District.

Every six years councils are required to review their representation arrangements. Clutha District Council needs to do this before the 2025 local body elections, and the first stage of our review process has opened today.

Clutha District Council Chief Executive Steve Hill says, “We are carrying out a preliminary consultation, asking for feedback on whether the current structure of Council and Community Boards is working effectively for all of our communities, or if there is a way that we can improve on our representation.”

Currently, we have 14 elected Councillors representing 8 different wards across the Clutha District, made up as follows:

Balclutha Ward (four councillors)

Bruce Ward (three councillors)

Catlins Ward (one councillor)

Clinton Ward (one councillor)

Clutha Valley Ward (one councillor)

Kaitangata-Matau Ward (one councillor)

Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward (one councillor)

West Otago Ward (two councillors).

There are two community boards within the district, the West Otago Community Board and the Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board, both with 6 elected members.

Community feedback is sought on a on a few key topics, to gauge whether the structure is still providing effective representation to residents and ratepayers across our large district.

Topics for this initial consultation include:

• Is the number of councillors we have in our district effectively representing our communities, and is the way they are elected providing sufficient and fair representation?
• Do the boundaries of our wards need to change?
• Are our two community boards fairly representing our communities, and should we have more, or less, community boards?

“We want to ensure that there is effective representation to all residents and ratepayers in our district,” Mr Hill said.

Following this round of consultation, Council will review the feedback received and put together a proposal for the representation review, which will be formally consulted on in August.

Information about the representation review is available on Council’s website, where you can also have your say via our online submission form. Please visit www.cluthadc.govt.nz/representation-review to find out more, and submit your feedback before consultation closes on Sunday, 2 June 2024.

Hard copies are available at Council offices, Clutha isite, or your local Community Library.

Submissions close 5pm on Sunday, 2 June 2024.