Another dam vote possible

It looked like the Waimea dam project was dead after a vote 8-6 against it. It turns out that council decisions can be changed.

Law expert and former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer said no decision was ‘‘really final’’.

‘‘You can always revisit them,’’ he said.

The dam project would have to stack up financially, Palmer said. Ratepayers financed the Tasman District Council, and councillors were accountable to the ratepayers, who could vote them out of office.

‘‘The ultimate safeguard here is the ballot.’’

Tasman councillors are likely to be asked on Thursday to revisit the 8-6 vote they made just nine days earlier.

After a long debate, councillors on Tuesday voted against a draft resolution to proceed with the $102 million project.

Several councillors cited concern over increased rates and possible delays for some other capital projects that had been indicated as the council tried to fill its $11.8m share of an estimated $23m funding gap for the dam project. The gap was identified after updated prices came in much higher than anticipated.

On Thursday, the councillors will be asked to reconsider the ‘‘no’’ vote for the dam project in light of the possibility of increased external funding, which would reduce the cost for ratepayers.

The council’s standing orders make that reconsideration possible, allowing for it to revoke or alter all or part of a resolution passed by a previous meeting.

Council acting chief executive Mike Drummond said the council had been asked to consider a revised funding proposal from supporters of the scheme that could allow the dam project to continue.

The council was scheduled to meet at 1.15pm on Thursday to discuss the proposal.

Inclusion of the matter on the agenda complied with the council’s standing order requirements for reconsidering decisions, Drummond said.

‘‘This will give the council the opportunity to consider new information and review the decision of 28 August.’’

The discussion was due to be held behind closed doors, because it included information on commercial negotiations, he said. However, the public would be able to speak to councillors in a public forum session at the start of the meeting.

Each speaker would be limited to three minutes, with a maximum of 15 minutes allocated for those who wished to speak in support of the dam and 15 minutes for those who wished to speak in opposition to the project. Anyone who wanted to speak had to register their intention in writing 24 hours prior to the meeting, Drummond said.

‘‘This will give the council the opportunity to consider new information and review the decision.’’

Mike Drummond, Tasman District Council acting chief executive