A St Andrews man plans to seek compensation from Hunter Down's Water Ltd for stress.
The company was formerly known as Hunter Down's Irrigation Ltd, according to the New Zealand Companies Office.
Brent Rogers and his partner bought about 2ha of land at Makikihi about two years ago.
He said he had checked council documents and a land information memorandum (LIM) report and saw no sign of an irrigation scheme appearing on the land.
Had he thought there was any chance an irrigation project taking Waitaki River water further into South Canterbury would be constructed on his land, he says, he would never have bought it.
He said last year his partner gave permission for Hunter Downs to come on to their land, but then together they decided to revoke it.
However, three months on from that interaction a Hunter Downs controlled drone was allegedly seen surveying their property.
"There was a drone in the air shooting levels. I was gutted. If I had a gun I would have shot it. I started thinking `this is getting worse. They're not listening'.''
He found the company not forthcoming with information and people within it unwilling to listen.
The scheme was pitched at the start of the year as being 21,000ha and now it was reduced to 12,000ha after a share sale failed to get enough buy-in from land owners.
He was now worried that under the Public Works Act (PWA) the company could take his land for its scheme, even if it was against his will.
On June 12, the Government announced it had granted Hunter Downs Water Ltd (HDW) requiring authority status to develop and operate the Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme.
Minister for the Environment Dr Nick Smith said a requiring authority had the ability to set aside land for infrastructure, such as road, rail, energy or water.
Last week, Mr Rogers appealed to the Waimate District Council (WDC) to investigate the irrigation company.
"I want an investigation into the whole thing. I want to make sure it follows due protocol.
"If the water scheme has merit that's fine, but it's been hanging around for 15 years.''
Hunter Downs Water Ltd spokeswoman Stacey Scott said HDW did not engage on matters relating to individual members of the public through the media, but it was aware of recent comment made through the media.
"HDW continues to make good progress in developing its design for an irrigation scheme to create value for the wider South Canterbury community, and is working proactively with all stakeholders.
"While in September 2016 preliminary discussions were held with landowners on a possible main corridor alignment, no decision has been made at this time on the main corridor alignment.
"It is the intention of HDW to engage and work with any affected landowners and other parties, should the final scheme design impact on them.''
Council corporate services manager Andy Hilton said LIM reports provided only known and factual information.
Several council documents over the years had alluded to the proposed scheme, but until it was confirmed, the council had no way of knowing what land could be affected, Mr Hilton said.
"It would only be when this was known that council would be able to provide this information to any intending purchaser.
"It is my understanding that Hunter Downs Irrigation has still not publicly confirmed that the scheme will proceed or where the asset will be installed.''
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said the council would not investigate the company, but the two parties would meet to talk about Mr Roger's statements and also to find out the scheme's status.
The difficulty with Mr Roger's request was he was complaining about the company's ability to acquire land under the PWA, Mr Rowley said.
"It's difficult to know what's going to happen when we don't know where the Hunter Down Scheme is going at the moment. As a council, there is a process to be followed.''
Under the PWA, the irrigation company would have to meet various checks and balances before it could acquire people's land, Mr Rowley explained.
"It's not a case of them just walking in and taking their land. There's a whole lot of steps. I don't know when the PWA was last used for an irrigation scheme. We've been assured by Hunter Downs they will work with land owners to get permission to use their land.''
Mr Rowley said the council suggested land owners concerned about loss of property could approach their local MP, but the council was happy to supply information about the process the concerned land owners would have to follow.
