Of the 116 submissions made to the council's annual plan, 27 individual submissions were on the Benhar proposal, and 24 on the Tokoiti proposal. Residents of both townships also made a group submission each.
Benhar resident Phil Barrett said he was unhappy with the process the council had used and said there were other options that should be considered.
"Using a sewage pond in Benhar would be a more affordable option for us."
Mr Barrett said that residents were in consultation with the Otago Regional Council and engineers to create an alternative proposal, using a pond option.
Several residents asked the council to reconsider township boundaries, particularly for Tokoiti. In their submissions, they said there had been some confusion as Tokoiti was often referred to as part of Milton, with both Milton and Tokoiti having the same post code.
Tokoiti resident Susan Giles said the council had yet to tell the community where the boundary for Tokoiti starts.
Roading was one of the major cuts from the long-term plan, as the council planned to put all unsubsidised seal extensions for 2011-12 on hold, and review whether to introduce them in the next long-term plan.
Road maintenance was another key issue, with verbal submissions made on several areas including Heriot and Waihola. In his submission, West Otago Community Board member John Herbert said Heriot's main street, Roxburgh St, had a large number of potholes and was now "quite dangerous".
Waihola resident Dorothy Clark asked for the installation of footpaths on Kilgour St and George St near Waihola District School.
Kilgour St was used by heavy trucks as their preferred route in the township, she said.
Mrs Clark also asked for the continuation of seal from Sandhead St to George St in Waihola.
A petition attached to her written submission was signed by 95 Waihola residents.
The draft rates rise in the Clutha district has been kept to an average 3.59%, down from a projected rise of 8.69% but Lawrence ratepayers could face a rise of about 10% because of big projects in the township.
The sewerage upgrade in Lawrence would mean a $100 rise for the average property, while the new recreation centre and recycling collection scheme would cost under $20 each.
The rates bill for the median Lawrence property could rise from $1733.90 to $1911.72. Owaka and Stirling face the next highest rises, of 7.91% and 7.47% respectively. Kaitangata would have the smallest rise of 0.04%, from $1789 to $1789.64.
Two major funding projects, the main street upgrade in Balclutha and the West Otago health grant, have been deferred in the annual plan until the 2011-12 financial year.
A special meeting will be held on May 26 to consider all submissions and make any changes to the draft annual plan, to be adopted on June 16, and the rates for 2011-12 struck.
