A newly-formed group of concerned residents, He Tangata, is calling on councillors to be clear about what they are deciding on after a degree of uncertainty in the public domain about what they are actually debating.
Many submissions during the hearings process extolled the virtues of fixing the district’s drinking water supply woes, supporters saying investment would lead to such improvements.
* Hurunui group lodges complaint about district council bias over water scheme * Council hears Hurunui Water Project submissions * Hurunui District Council agrees to buy shares in controversial water scheme In fact, the council will only be able to purchase wet shares if there are any available, and many dry shareholders will be farmers desperate for water on their properties.
He Tangata chair Nadia Maxwell wrote to councillors this week, highlighting this and other issues.
"He Tangata is very concerned that the CEO’s report once again stated one of the major benefits to the community from this investment would be the ability to utilise water for the district water schemes.
Dobbie is clearly in support of the council buying shares, and he and council’s CFO carried out the due diligence, signing non-disclosure agreements with HWP, meaning councillors have had to trust their judgment on whether the proposal is sound.
In it she emphasised that the council had to be clear due diligence had been carried out.
"Only we as Governance can judge whether this has been done.
The notice remains on the table after council agreed to look into how the investigations would be funded.
Harris said once deliberations had taken place and further clarification on matters arising had been conducted, she believed she would have the information needed to make a decision.