Former Environment Canterbury councillor June Slee said yesterday she was delighted by the announcement ECan had been sacked.
"I feel I've been vindicated."
Dr Slee served one term as Waitaki councillor, between 2004 and 2007, but did not seek re-election because of her frustration with the way the council operated.
It was "dysfunctional", "bullying" and "inefficient", she said.
"There was a state of emergency because things were so bad and no other action could be taken [by the Government]."
During her term, she had an ongoing battle with former chairman Sir Kerry Burke, some councillors and senior management.
She reached the stage where she was "prepared to represent Waitaki but could not, with integrity, represent ECan".
Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns was disappointed yesterday the Environment Canterbury council had been sacked, "but not surprised".
He was pleased that, in appointing commissioners, the Government had kept ECan together in its totality, and not split water management away into a separate authority.
He praised the appointment of Dame Margaret Bazley as chair-designate of the commissioners, describing her as "a person who gets things done".
"It will now be interesting to see how it works and what comes out," he said.
