He is still waiting. Prospective property owners in a new subdivision near Palmerston were being offered access to the Stoneburn rural water scheme, while he had waited 19 years in vain for connection to the Dunback scheme, Mr Wadsworth told the October meeting of the Waihemo Community Board at Palmerston.
He has applied each year for a connection to give him up to half a point (900 litres) of water a day since he bought his 7ha property in 1989. Dunback rural water scheme pipes run past his Blakie Rd property at Dunback.
A water tank has been built and deer-fencing erected but Mr Wadsworth has never been able to operate his planned deer farm due to a lack of water.
Dunback scheme chairman Peter Amyes said the rural water scheme was "closed", as it was over-allocated.
However, rights for water from the Shag River would be up for review next year. There was a possibility more water could become available if some water rights were relinquished.
Mr Wadsworth's plight highlighted the fragility of the rural water schemes around Palmerston, former community board chairman Ron Sloan said.
While the Dunback and Goodwood rural water schemes were both closed to new subscribers, the Stoneburn water scheme - the third rural water scheme in the Waihemo area - had plenty of water.
Waitaki District Council staff should rationalise water scheme boundaries to provide water for people who were missing out, he said.
