A group of Taieri upper pond ratepayers claim their lives and livelihoods were put at "unnecessary risk" by the early dropping of flood gates without consultation during last month's floods.
They called for an explanation of why Otago Regional Council staff "refused" to meet them to talk about the incident and give them some "clarity" over procedure for dropping the gates, at the public forum of the full regional council meeting yesterday.
The floodgates were large metal plates, controlled by cables, which were designed to be dropped when water levels rose to a certain height, letting water into the upper ponding area.
About 12 of 21 upper pond farmers attended the forum with Simon Parks, Jacqui Craig and Noeleen Hildred speaking to councillors about the group's concerns.
Mr Parks said the lowering of the gates early during the flood without notification was an "unnecessary risk" for farmers in the upper pond area.
The council's flood procedures published in 2003 indicated it was only when the Taieri River reached 1360cumecs would it consider dropping the gate, yet they were dropped well below that level both times during May's event, he said.
It meant the water flow into the area was double what farmers expected and floodwaters had taken longer to retreat.
"More land flooded causing hundreds of thousands of dollars damage that need not have occurred."
Clear communication between the regional council and farmers was "paramount" in these events for stock movements and personal safety, he said.
If council procedures had changed, farmers needed to know for future events, which was why a meeting between the two was so important, Mr Parks said.
Mrs Craig said the situation meant they were left to move stock in the dark and as a result missed four who were then found up to their necks in water the next day.
Mrs Hildred said it had meant a lot of unnecessary stress for farmers as they tried to get stock out in rising flood waters.
The lack of communication was "negligent", she said.
Council chairman Stephen Cairns said after the meeting the council was waiting for the outcome of the police investigation into the unauthorised propping up of the gates after the council had lowered them during the flood event, before they spoke to the farmers.
The police officer who is in charge of the investigation is on leave.
