The council's 6A water plan change has been six years in the making and is still in Environment Court mediation.
The plan aims to maintain or improve water quality, through control of contaminants such as sediment, E. coli, nitrogen and phosphorus discharging from rural land to water.
Hearings were held in late 2012, with the hearing panel presenting their recommendations to the council in March. They were supported and notified by the council in April.
Those decisions had since been appealed to the Environment Court by 22 organisations and individuals.
The council had been holding court-directed mediation during the past few months with the aim of settling the concerns before it went to court in January.
Council corporate finance director Wayne Scott said although the council had made other plan changes, such as 1C regarding water quantity and the air quality plan, none compared in scale with 6A.
About 90% of the costs related to staff time, especially in the policy and science areas, he said.
''And there was huge consultation involved with it and that comes with a cost.''
It was funded through the general rates.
Council policy director Fraser McRae said the process began with community forums held in 2008 where the ''bones'' of the 6A plan change were discussed.
The council then went back to community groups as more details of the plan change were developed before finally undertaking official consultation before the hearing.
''This was really up there. It was like doing a plan in its own right.''
Yesterday was the deadline for the council and all the appellants to report to the Environment Court on their final position and any outstanding matters.
A judge would now determine whether the case should be decided in court.
The council was happy about the way mediation had gone, with many major and significant matters settled, Mr McRae said.
''There was a good spirit and positive attitude by all parties.''
The numbers
Costs of 6A plan change project to date. -
• 2008-09: $34,447
• 2009-10: $37,011
• 2010-11: $260,334
• 2011-12: $861,472
• 2012-13: $953,321
• 2013-14 to date: $305,654
Total to date: $2,452,239
