hawkesbaycouncilwatch

The most disappointing move of the week was the Regional Councils approval in principle of the Percival Rd development.
This whole move has been a chapter of misleading and shallow moves to fool the majority of ratepayers.The confusion created by the referendum ,then claiming the vote supported the development was a big con.
The Regional Council should be looking at their responsibilities and taking a a back seat on this one.They lack the ability to stand up for the loss of resources and now make a decision with little knowledge of the facts.
A really poor show.
The other question that pops up is one that has emerged from the DHB debacle.Conflict of interest.While their is no pecuniary interest is it healthy that decisions made by some around the council table could be influenced by personal connnections.If Cr von Dadelson backed off the Tukituki visit then two Crs should have considered expressing concern on this one.
  

Last Mondays column in the HB Today was one of the best columns Bruce has written.He had followed up on the issue of plains soils and has hit the nail on the head with the solution.The Hastings District Plan needs to be changed and changed fast if the plunder of the regions greatest asset is to be halted.
The column so moved the Mayor that he pre-empted the Saturday sustainbility show by claiming the high ground over the faulty sports park proposal. It is a monument he wants.
Bruce was right ,the Mayor is wrong.

Napier City Council are about to discuss the possibility of a funding contribution towards  Hastings proposed sports park.
Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott has commented that Napier has many projects it wants to fund and this development is no where near the top of the list.They would also put any possible amount in the plan for discussion in 2008/09. 
If the Regional Council has a similar approach the whole project should be seriously questioned as to its progress.
Ratepayers don’t need to be hit with this either as the economy tightens. 

There was an interesting letter to the editor of the HB Today on Saturday.This person is obviuosly well informed and balanced in their thinking. 
During the Regional Council hearing in to the foreshore gravel extraction at Awatoto it was explained that the 1931 earthquake shifted the Heretaunga Plains to an extent that changed gradients or falls across the plains to the sea.Thinking on a broad scale,  one would be able to envisage such a large shift of the plains even though the consequences would not be apparent for years.
As the Tuki tuki was used years ago to barge goods to Porangahau, it may go some way to explaining why the river is not so deep and does not move gravel in the same manner. Just a thought but maybe this needs further investigation?

Again we see a report in the local rag stating that the Mayor says that the whole area from Evenden Rd through to Lyndhurst will become housing.
Honestly what is the point of having District Plans,consultation, planners, genuine people who care about planning etc ,when the Mayor makes the decisions.
Why did HDC not disclose this move at the recent Percival Rd hearing? It may well have been crucial information.
There is also the planned group that will discuss future planning in HB.Do they have a say? Not a good situation. 

The rent-a-mob followers of a local group managed to drag the Regional Council out to a please explain meeting on the state of the Tukituki River.It is a very complex matter and I guess in a dry year like this it’s a good time to kick up a stink.
What intrigues Meerkat is that the CHBDC which has discharges that have a major impact on this river,  had the ability to deal with this matter more effectively when one of the current regional councillors was Mayor.Another councillor was opn the hearings committee that made the discharge decisions. Also where were all the protesters at the time of the consent renewal?
The problem of small communities and wastewater discharges may need Government funding in some form.
More to come on this one.  

The Commissioner hearing for the Proposed Percival Rd Sports Park was held recently. One thing that became apparent was the lack of strength ,or lack of anything in the Regional Plan that may help the protection of some of the most fertile soils in New Zealand .The Regional Council submitted in a supportive manner ,where they should have been fighting against the loss of a large chunk of productive soil and thus against the siting of this project. It is an area the Regional Council need to address and quickly.    

The Hastings DC is looking at a budget blowout of $20 million in the next financial year.
Ho hum its only ratepayers money that will have to come to the party. 

The Hastings DC is looking at a budget blowout of $20 million in the next financial year.
Ho hum its onlt ratepayers money that will have to come to the party. 

Viewing the recent work carried out to provide a walkway along the top of the Tutaekuri stopbank is enough to bring tears to the eyes.The millions that was spent to construct these vital impediments to flood inundation have been compromised by the digging of a channel along the stop ,filled with lovely lime, to soften the steps of the thousands who will use these stopbanks for a Sunday stroll. 
Councillors have lost sight of the purpose of these structures and have wilted under pressure to well meaning people who fail to comprehend future consequences.