PHOTO
Leaders of organisations that deal with the Otago Regional Council say they want councillors to get on with the job of governing.
A meeting to determine whether Marian Hobbs should stay on as chairwoman will not be held until July 8.
Nine councillors want her removed from the role.
Ms Hobbs has said she will not stand aside before the meeting.
Representatives from a range of organisations say their focus is on getting results and the council needs to be effective and move forward.
Wise Response secretary Dugald MacTavish said yesterday the council had big issues it needed to grapple with and time was pressing.
"Water quality in Otago is far from satisfactory," he said.
"We want sustainable outcomes for our rivers.
"It seemed as if the council was getting on and trying to address those."
Federated Farmers Otago president Simon Davies said governance at the council was lacking.
He was not greatly interested in who chaired the council but said it should be Otago-led and the leader should "follow the views of the majority".
Mr Davies said accusations from Ms Hobbs against Federated Farmers were unhelpful when the organisation had showed it wanted to be part of practical solutions.
Otago Fish & Game chief executive Ian Hadland said it was crucial the council maintained its focus on sorting out water permits.
Ms Hobbs’ efforts in working with the wider Otago community had been noticed.
"Under her leadership, the council had finally started to address systemic policy failings that had been ignored for years," he said.
A spokesman for Environment Minister David Parker said he was sufficiently concerned about the Otago Regional Council last year to appoint Judge Peter Skelton to look into whether it was adequately carrying out its duties concerning freshwater management and allocation of resources.
However, Ms Hobbs’ suggestion this year that Mr Parker might bring in a commissioner for Otago was a major factor leading to the call for her to be removed as chairwoman.
She has been criticised for being too allied to the Government’s agenda.
Former deputy chairwoman Gretchen Robertson issued a statement yesterday, arguing councillors were not at war.
"We must pull together and get on with implementing key work for the good of our environment and people," the statement read.
"Sustained change doesn’t happen unless people want to change and see the value in doing so.
"We all care about Marian but it’s not about us individually or about taking sides."