Fears of having unmarked graves in Central Otago disturbed were allayed by the Central Otago District Council yesterday.
In the meeting, councillors declined to make a Scientific Archaeological Authority application that would have allowed the University of Otago to carry out forensic analysis on hundreds of possible unmarked graves, starting with the Moa Creek (Ida Valley) cemetery.
A report by the council's parks team leader, Ian Mann, said the council should decline the proposal because the benefits of this project did not ''justify the associated risks of this highly sensitive proposal''.
Project proponents said they hoped to identify the remains and build up biographical accounts of those buried to add to the history of the area.
In the discussion, Cr Steve Battrick said he had already carried out his own personal consultation and found an ''overwhelming'' majority did not support it.
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper said he was ''not convinced the public want this''.
Cr Neil Gillespie said although he supported the resolution, he said it was the Moa Creek Cemetery Trust's decision to make.
He was not convinced the council had a right to make a decision when the trust was the ''only ones that can decide''.
Cr Stu Duncan disagreed and was adamant that if the council appointed the trustees, ''then we are responsible''.
The proposal was ''nonsense'' and the sites ''should be left alone''.
''A cemetery is a sacred place. Let's leave it at that. Simple.''
However, Cr Shirley Calvert said she would support the university's work but only if ''robust'' consultation that met the council's requirements was carried out beforehand.
The council needed to know the public's reaction before making a decision, she said.
Cr Nigel McKinlay said it was unfortunate to have a range of views in the absence of ''getting further report'' and therefore could not support it.
After the meeting, University of Otago anatomy department Associate Prof Hallie Buckley said she was disappointed with the decision and the ''fact that the university's process of consultation was not represented at the meeting''.
The university had approached the council about the project in March and had followed ''due process'' as to what the council required, she said.
It had also approached the Moa Creek Cemetery Trust, which was ''very enthusiastic'' about the idea, and was told it did not need to consult any further.
''The families feel they have not been consulted but that is not the university's fault,'' she said.
She said the university would ''rethink the situation'' but at this time ''there doesn't seem to be a future for this kind of project in the region''.
