An agenda item for yesterday’s Central Otago District Council’s meeting, held in Ranfurly, did not go as anticipated.
Councillors were expecting to vote on admitting Timaru District Council into a commitment agreement with Central Otago, Clutha, Gore and Waitaki District Councils to investigate options and how they could work together to explore a joint delivery model for Three Waters.
However, when the item came up council chief executive Peter Kelly said Timaru had withdrawn its application.
It was disappointing, as the council had lost time and money, Mr Kelly said.
Timaru would be billed for the work involved in first adding them into the financial calculations for the long-term plan and then removing them.
However, the bigger concern was the delay of several weeks that had resulted.
Councillor Stu Duncan asked why Timaru had pulled out.
"Is there something we should know?"
Mr Kelly said he understood they were looking to other nearby councils.
Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley said there would be off-ramps for councils during the process if they decided to opt out of the group.
