Unlike their Roxburgh and Vincent counterparts, Cromwell Community Board members are not so ready to give up their delegated power and hand decision-making on water services back to the Central Otago District Council.
A report by council chief executive Phil Melhopt which is being considered by community boards this month recommends the boards relinquish their delegations for water infrastructure and agree to a change in how that infrastructure is funded.
That change would see the costs of council-run water and wastewater schemes in the district averaged out and spread equally across all scheme users. Deputy mayor and Cromwell Community Board chairman Neil Gillespie said he did not feel comfortable making a decision about relinquishing power without consulting the community.
Deputy board chairwoman Helen Hucklebridge said it would be ''taking another slice away'' from the board. Roading had already been relinquished.
Mr Melhopt said the ''heart of the matter'' was differences in annual water rates across the district. For example, the rate for water connections in Clyde was $52 but $729 in Omakau.
After debate, the board agreed to leave the report on the table and consult the public.
