It wasn't exactly a vote, but 60 per cent of Wanganui ratepayers are saying they don't want Stage 2 of Horizons Regional Council's flood protection for the city.
The council sent out almost 15,000 feedback forms to urban ratepayers and got about 1500 back; for a 10 per cent return.
About 35 per cent wanted the next stage of flood protection at Anzac Parade and Putiki, while 5 per cent wanted alternatives such as river dredging or a change to the river mouth.
Of the people who answered the question about how the work should be funded, 27 per cent were happy with Horizons' formula making those directly affected pay twice as much as other ratepayers. The other 73 per cent wanted people directly affected to pay even more.
Horizons' catchment committee chairman Murray Guy said the Lower Whanganui River Scheme Working Party met in Wanganui on Monday.
The working party comprises Wanganui District and Horizons Regional councillors and council officers, representatives of iwi and Grey Power and Pacific Helmets owner David Bennett. The working party meeting was not open to the media.
Working party members heard the feedback percentages and talked about whether the $4.6million Stage 2 flood protection should go into Horizons' draft 10-year plan.
The decision was not arrived at by vote, but everyone had a say.
Mr Guy said they were "nearly unanimous" that the proposal should go forward into the plan "so that ratepayers have the opportunity to take it through the submission process".
Stage 2 flood protection will now go into the draft plan. It is left for Horizons to decide which of the next 10 years it should be started in.
The draft plan is due to be signed off by the full council tomorrow. People will then be able to give their opinions in detail through the submission process in April.
Mr Guy said he realised Wanganui ratepayers already had other expenses ahead, especially earthquake strengthening and debt repayment.
In the end, Horizons' decision about whether to go ahead with flood protection would be made on the strength of arguments.
It was just a matter of time before Wanganui was seriously flooded, Mr Guy said. Ratepayers could either think about the issue and what needed to be done, or put it aside and ignore it.