The Waitaki District Council's plan to sell the Otekaieke water race to a private company for just $1 has received overwhelming support.
Voting in the poll of people in the area served by the 102-year-old water race returned 40 votes for the sale, four against and two informal.
However, the poll is only one of the steps the council is following before it makes a final decision on selling the race, used for irrigation and stock water, to the farmer-owned Otekaieke Water Company Ltd.
While the result is emphatically for the sale, the poll itself had caused controversy among a group of its users who wanted it delayed.
The company approached the council earlier this year to buy the 10km water race, its intake in the Otekaieke River and reticulation.
It wanted improvements made to the race, but the council was not prepared to invest the money.
Developing the race also does not naturally accord with the council's usual business or priorities.
The council agreed to sell the water race, subject to a binding referendum paid for by the company and a number of other conditions.
Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said yesterday the company would now work with the council to form a transfer agreement which would ensure all of the mitigation agreed with those connected to the scheme would be carried out.
