Protect the environment or build a flash new headquarters - that's the choice facing Otago Regional Council, according to councillor Michael Laws.
Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
The outspoken and controversial figure said the council's plan to build a $25-30 million headquarters in Dunedin was a "ludicrous waste of money".
The Otago Regional Council has more than $50 million in reserves, no debt, and owns a massive asset base including Port Otago.
It said its headquarters were no longer fit for purpose and for the past decade they had been trying to address that.
"It's an incredibly intellectually bankrupt organisation. That's the irony tonnes of money, not much thought," Mr Laws said.
"It's difficult to justify spending $30 million when really the greatest need for that money is really in protecting, preserving and promoting some really huge environmental needs in our community in Otago."
But council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the alternatives offered by critics of a purpose-built HQ were neither feasible nor workable.
"The existing building is a mix of three buildings - they cannot be altered any further to accommodate any more staff.
"All our records are kept off site and staff operate out of what used to be the basement. Over time we've got more and more constrained for space."
Mr Laws said the money should be spent on issues such as wilding pines and lake quality in the Dunstan constituency - an area that covers Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago.
Guardians of Lake Dunstan chairman Glen Christiansen said the group asked the council to double its $25,000 contribution to fighting lagarosiphon in Cromwell's lake this year, but was told that would not happen.
"We haven't even looked at full eradication yet they are going to spend $30 million on a building - I'm lost for words."
He found the price-tag of a new HQ galling considering Mr Woodhead told him he was "proud" of the contribution the council made to tackling lagarosiphon in the lake.
Another who found the plan for a multimillion-dollar HQ foolhardy was former Otago Regional councillor Gerry Eckhoff.
The brunt of the council's work would lie well away from Dunedin in future, in Central Otago and Queenstown, he said.
"The future work is going to be with what I call the great lakes: Hāwea, Wanaka, Queenstown and indeed Lake Hayes.
"I can see an opportunity for the administrative arm to be based in Dunedin, but the people who are actually doing the work out in the field or out on the lake should be based up here."
Mr Woodhead hoped the new building would cost $20 million or less.
"It would be my hope and aim that we could build a new office block and have no impact on rates."
The ORC's most recent plan for a new building fell over earlier this year when the council's bid to buy a central Dunedin carpark off the city council collapsed.
Consultation will begin when a new plan is formulated.
