Wanganui District Council and its Rural Community Board want flood protection for the lower Whanganui River.
They said so last week, when Horizons councillors spent a day in Wanganui's council chamber listening to submissions on their 10-Year Plan.
Wanganui Mayor Annette Main told them the lower river needed bylaws to keep users safe. Horizons had chosen not to make the bylaws, which she said could be done on a least-cost basis.
She noted discussions about finding $115,000 to repair South Spit were ongoing between the councils.
She and chief executive Kevin Ross queried whether Wangnaui's Anzac Parade stopbanks would hold in a major flood. "We are really not sure how good they are and we're not sure you are either."
Putiki had nothing at all to protect it, Mr Ross said.
Discussions on whether to keep Wanganui's port open were taking longer than expected, but Ms Main said the council was feeling more hopeful about its prospects.
"The closure of the port isn't a foregone conclusion. There are opportunities ahead, and many things happening offshore."
Lower river flood protection was important to keep roads open, the Wanganui Rural Community Board's Mark Lowry said.
Horizons' Councillor Bob Walker reminded him that more than 60 per cent of ratepayer replies said no to further protection. He was not swayed.
"We wonder whether the right decision has been made by the people. We think it needs further consultation and with the right discussions a lot more people would agree with it."
Among the submitters, Hinau St resident Jim Neill said building higher stopbanks wasn't a good idea because the height of the riverbed was rising as it silted up.
"We will end up like United States rivers, where the riverbed is above the surrounding landscape. Something else needs to be done about the ongoing silting up."
Lisa Talbot's submission was about environmental education.
She said Horizons' environmental education tool, the Green RIG, had antagonised farmers by using phrases like "dirty little secrets".
But school children loved it, she said. It could also be a place where farmers bring soil and water for testing. And it could train teachers to teach children about the environment.
Environmental education was one of Horizons' responsibilities, she said. "We need to believe in people's ability to make good choices, if we present them with the information."
Rangitikei Environment Theme Group chairman Chris Shenton briefed councillors on the organisation which hoped to concentrate on improving catchments of the river. The New Zealand Landcare Trust was looking for funding and Horizons could help with information.
"We want to empower our landowners to value their environment and want to do something about it themselves, as opposed to being told."
Councillor John Barrow said the group was "buying a fight", because there was a trout fishery in the upper Rangitikei and trout damaged native freshwater ecosystems.
But Mr Shenton was unfazed: "We've spent 20 years settling a treaty claim. There's always going to be conflict. We can handle it, I'm sure."