Otekaieke Water Race Poll Result

Otekaieke Water Race Poll Result

Official Result (PDF)

What Is The Poll About?

Council resolved to hold a binding poll on the proposal that ownership of the Otekaieke Water Race be transferred from Waitaki District Council to the Otekaieke Water Company Limited.

This poll was advertised in the Oamaru Mail on Friday, 15 May and on Saturday, 15 May.  Council’s intentions in respect of each possible result are as follows:

• If a majority of votes supports the proposal, Council will transfer ownership of the Otekaieke Water Race to the Otekaieke Water Company Limited.
• If a majority of votes does not support the proposal, no further action will be taken.
• If the poll is tied, no further action will be taken.

The area for the poll covers those properties currently paying an Otekaieke Water Race District rate, class A and B.  All electors (not just the property owners) living at those properties are able to vote in the poll.

Who Is Eligible To Vote?

Anyone living in, or who owns a property in, the poll area is eligible to vote in the poll.

The electoral roll to be used for the Otekaieke Water Scheme Poll closes at 4pm on Friday, 12 June 2009 and can be inspected during normal business hours from Friday, 15 May 2009 to Friday, 12 June 2009 by phoning the council office or at the following locations:

1.         Office of the Waitaki District Council, 20 Thames Street, Oamaru

3.         Oamaru Public Library, Thames Street, Oamaru

4.         Post Shops and Postal Agencies

·      NZ Post Shop, Severn St, Oamaru

·      Lotto N Things, Thames Highway, Oamaru

·      Foodcentre, Kurow (Poll Electoral Roll only)

You can still enrol to vote after 12 June but will also need to contact the council office for a special vote.

Residental Electors

Enrolment for inclusion on the Residential Electoral Roll is conducted through the Electoral Enrolment Centre of New Zealand Post.  Applications for enrolment can be made through your local Post Shop or through the website www.elections.org.nz

Non-Resident Ratepayers

Property owners who live out of the poll area may also enrol to vote in the poll.  This is done by way of a ratepayer vote and property owners should contact the Council office in Oamaru for a ratepayer enrolment form.

Further Information

Information about the Otekaieke Water Race Poll is contained in the attached documents:

Information Mail Out - 8 June 2009 (PDF 6Mb)

• council report and resolution regarding the proposal to transfer ownership (discussed at Assets Committee meeting on 24 March 2009).  This report includes:
  - letter from the Medical Officer of Health
  - draft management plan from Otekaieke Water Company Ltd (dated March 2008)
  - council’s budget for the Otekaieke Water Race – actual and proposed
  - list of assets for the Otekaieke Water Race
  - Otekaieke Water Company Ltd’s proposed 12 month budget
  
• council report regarding the binding poll (discussed at council meeting on 7 April 2009)
  
• extract of council recommendations and resolutions
  
• a summary of some advantages and disadvantages of the proposal
  
• management plan from Otekaieke Water Company Ltd (dated 29 May 2009)
  
• legal opinion on the proposed structure

Information Mail Out – 6 July 2009 (PDF 812Kb)

• the response from J & P Emslie to the survey undertaken by the Otekaieke Water Company Ltd in 2008 - this was omitted from the responses that went to the Assets Committee of Council in March 2009

• notes from a meeting about the Otekaieke Water Race Poll held in the Otekaieke Hall on 17 June 2009

• a letter from Wynn Williams & Co and council’s response

• an email from G & P Jarvis/Otekaieke Downs Trust and council’s response

If you have any questions about the poll, please contact Joanne Firman (Electoral Officer) or David Blair (Deputy Electoral Officer), phone 0800 108 081 within the district or (03) 433 0300.