The panel was in Alexandra to hear the views of eight submitters who wanted to present their views in person. Mr Dicey is one of 98 submitters on the annual plan, and almost half are ratepayers objecting to the council investing $3.5 million in Tarras Water Ltd's irrigation scheme.
''There's two points you need to remember: democracy and the public good,'' Mr Dicey said.
Democracy was in danger of being ''shunted aside'' in this instance, he believed. The council had a clear indication from ratepayers of their views on the Tarras scheme investment, after 68 submissions were received on the topic earlier this year, 80% of them against the scheme.
Despite that, the council, in a ''inexplicable and extraordinary'' decision, overturned the recommendation from its own hearings panel and included the proposal in the annual plan.
Mr Dicey said democracy had taken a blow and urged the council not to ''drop the democratic ball again''. Most people believed the council role did not include contributing to a private scheme at the expense of ratepayers, he said.
Gerald Somerville, of Dunedin, also opposed investing in the Tarras scheme and said the council itself mentioned ''high risk'' in association with the project. He believed the scheme would only benefit a ''handful'' of farmers with very large properties.
The council will make a final decision next month on its involvement in the scheme.
