Andrew Fraser said the scheme's directors chose the most economic design for the 21,000ha scheme located between the Waitaki River and Timaru in South Canterbury.
''We don't see any reason why the people won't support it,'' he said.
In February, the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Company and the Rooney Group presented a new concept scheme alignment to Hunter Downs, and in May Hunter Downs made the decision to continue to investigate that option.
The design had a gravity-fed main-race system that had large storage ponds to augment irrigation needs and a focus on reducing power costs.
The total projected cost for the scheme was $195million, which equated to $9285 per hectare.
The scheme would be jointly funded by shareholders and ANZ Bank.
The shareholders would put up $2650 per ha and the rest would be raised by bank debt.
In March this year people would be asked to commit to the scheme and in April it would be known if there was enough support to go ahead with construction.
