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Public Works Act 1981

Irrigation

203: Poll for proposed irrigation scheme

You could also call this:

“Asking people if they want a new water system for farms”

When the government wants to start a new irrigation scheme, they need to ask people if they agree with it. Here’s how they do it:

The Minister will usually organise a vote (called a poll) to see if people want the irrigation scheme. This happens after they tell everyone about the costs and what the scheme will involve.

Sometimes, instead of a vote, the Minister might decide to send letters to all the people who pay rates in the area where the irrigation scheme is planned. This letter will explain the costs and details of the scheme.

If the Minister sends letters instead of having a vote, you’ll get at least 10 working days to write back and say if you agree with the scheme or not.

The Minister will only send letters instead of having a vote if they think it’s a fair way to find out what people think about the irrigation scheme.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM48173.

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202: Notification of proposed irrigation scheme, or

"Telling everyone about a plan to water farmland"

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204: Preparation of rolls, or

"Creating a list of people who can vote on new irrigation plans"

Part 19 Irrigation

203Poll for proposed irrigation scheme

  1. Subject to section 207 and subsection (2), at the time of the public notification under section 202 of charges and of a description of the proposed scheme, or at any time thereafter, the Minister shall arrange for a poll to be taken on the question whether the proposed irrigation scheme should be undertaken.

  2. If the Minister is of the opinion that the acceptability of any proposed irrigation scheme could be fairly ascertained by an inquiry in writing of all the persons who are ratepayers in respect of land in the proposed irrigation district, the Minister may dispense with a poll and arrange to notify by post the said ratepayers of the charges and the description of the proposed scheme as notified under section 202.

  3. Each of the ratepayers notified under subsection (2) shall be entitled to such time as the Minister may stipulate, being not less than 10 working days, to advise the Minister in writing whether or not he agrees to the proposed irrigation scheme and the charges and the other matters relating to the proposed scheme as so notified to him.

Compare
  • 1975 No 138 s 7
Notes
  • Section 203(2): substituted, on , by section 57 of the Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).