In a proposed submission, the council backed the government’s Infrastructure Funding and Finance Act Amendment Bill’s intentions, but was wary of its possible unforeseen effects. The Bill intends to improve infrastructure funding and financing tools to support urban development. It is part of the government’s omnibus strategy to enable and simplify urban growth where appropriate. "DCC supports the principle that growth should pay for growth, and the intent of the Infrastructure Funding and Financing framework to enable timely infrastructure delivery to support growth, independent of council funding constraints. The council submission also warned the Bill, by encouraging more growth, may inadvertently lead to networks that were "inefficient or poorly integrated".

Source: Otago Daily Times February 01, 2026 17:21 UTC