The Dunedin City Council says it is making the hard call - but the right one - by refusing a resident's request for a new water connection.
Quentin Blair presented his case to the council in August, arguing his family home at 309 Portobello Rd needed a connection to the council's water network because rainfall and tank storage were not sufficient.
The house is ''out of zone'' and not connected to the city's reticulated water supply, but Mr Blair had argued his neighbours had all managed to connect to the network.
A council staff report had recommended the request be declined, because allowing it would not meet the council's strategic direction, risked setting a precedent and was not technically feasible or commercially beneficial.
An answer had been delayed in August, after councillors requested more information, but a follow-up staff report yesterday maintained the opposition.
Councillors voted unanimously to reject the request.
