hawkesbaycouncilwatch

The sacking of the newly elected DHB by the Health Minister is a shocking move.
At this stage the public need to know so much more about what is really going on so that they can get to the bottom of this story.
A few more days may allow for some more informed comment

For the first time in years the Regional Council has been forced to front up on an issue publicly whereas in the past a quiet approach through minor submissions has been the norm.
It is good to see the HBRC confront this issue but those who wish to ban development at Ocean Beach shouldn,t get too excited.
The RC is only dealing with those matters that are its responsibility,and rightly so, but they cannot stop development which is allowed under the District Plan.

This brings me to another point.

Now that the RC has chosen to be more vocal then ratepayers should look forwrd to a stronger advocacy role and a meaningful check on other Hastings District Council moves.

If the RC is really doing its job it should have major concerns about the Percival Rd project which has major environmental implications and sustainability issues and it should not be providing funding support to this project as that puts the Council in a precarious position.
Watching with interest
  

Scinde Island Council is celebrating the success of Napiers coffers being bloated by art deco activities.
Oh and there is a blog available with some good comment from new councillor Bill Dalton.

The public notice regarding the plan change that aims to create a gated village on the outskirts of Havelock North or as it is referred to as a retirement village, has appeared in the paper.
Hundreds should be concerned about this development -more so than Ocean Beach-as it is another attempt to change the district plan in a major way by the back door.
The HDC needs a hurry up.

Once again it is hard not to comment on developments regarding the DHB.
The Minister , in threatening to sack the elected Board is making a grave mistake .Good on Craig Foss saying that if elected National would reinstate these democratically elected members.
What is this country coming to when a Minister uses these tactics to cover up for other issues. 

One could be forgiven for thinking that houses are going to be built right on the beach at Ocean Beach and the waves will be lapping around the foundations.
Hastings District Councillors have succumbed to pressure from a lobby group and show they are more concerned about their bums than logical thinking.
Any development at Ocean Beach ,however many houses, will be subject to all the rules and regulations and RMA requirements and will go ahead in some form at some stage.
Councillors seem to think they can stop development on private land or are they taking the current stand because they know they will not be making the real decisions . 
Hastings needs development options and it is better to develop areas that are less useful for other purposes rather than see further urban sprawl.
If Waimarama was to be developed now ie if there were no houses there ,would this be allowed to occur?
Meerkat sees Ocean Beach  as an area  that can be developed and with todays understanding of environmental issues it can take place in a well planned and harmonised approach.
   

The Tukituki is being made out to be a monster but those commenting don,t really have a good grasp of the facts.
One thing I agree is an issue, is the question of the sewerage ponds and the lack of action by the last council in confronting this problem during the consent process.
Meerkat had an interesting conversation this week with a person who has great knowledge about wastewater tyreatment and believes there is some new technology which could mean that CHB could rectify thier wastewater issue for around $4 million in about three years time.
I think this is really worth investigating and is a long way from the $12 million bandied about in the past few years .
Watch this space. 

Talking of Napier City Council,  I think a great name for them would be Scinde Island Council.Napier acts like an island and is oblivious to those living around the island.
How about a name change.?

Some things are just totally out of the hands of Local councillors, especially those pieces of legislation that eminate from Wellington ,puff city.
Every time the question of councillor pay comes up the local rags love to put the boot in and create a picture of undeserved compensation for what can be a full on job. Of course there are those who are only there for the money but the ratepayers fail to observe who these clever people are and keep re-electing them.
I digress.
The formula for working out remuneration was thought out by the wallahs in Wellington.For the Napier Mayor to then criticise the size of the Regional Council pie is out of order.
Let all councillors remember that the port ,which is now an asset that reflects in councillor remuneration,was $5 million in debt when the Regional Council inherited it.
It was like a hot potatoe and no-one wanted it. Napier members still do not seem to grasp this fact and should grow up and get on with looking after their Island.
 

It is pleasing to note the newly elected Hastings Councillors along with Kieriana Poulain,are willing to meet with groups and individuals to find out what people really think.
This Council has been dictated to for too long and the division is not surprising.

There are so many issues that have been hidden and so many questions to be answered with truthful answers that  ratepayers may be able to look forward to some frankness.