hawkesbaycouncilwatch

The RC Hearings Committee seems to have caused major ructions within the Council over its decision to overallocate water from the Tuki tuki river.
At a time when water is becoming a hot issue it is surprising that they went against staff reccommendations and granted these consents.

It will be interesting watching the council extricate itself from this one.

The decision on the Regional(not) Sports Park has immediately given rise to questions about the surrounding land and why is speculation taking place with land that has no mention at all in the Hastings District Plan.

Rumours are flying that more big box developments are planned in the area and a prominent local has eyes on the adjoining block facing Evenden Rd.
Meerkat has also been advised that the Hastings Council has tried to buy more land in close proximity to the Sports Park.
Just what is going on and who is making the rules?

HDC is running amok and it is unfortunate that the new CEO seems to have succumbed to the shocking way this council operates and he has hardly warmed his seat.

Hawkes Bay is to be infiltrated by an Aussie Editor.

The newly appointed editor for HB Today is an Australian hailing from Ipswich.
We look forward to a new editor with a fresh look at HB issues.It will be a big job to turn around the fall in paper sales but many will be cheering the fact that the last editor is moving on.
Mr Pierard never really came to grips with what Hawkes Bay was all about and did not lead the paper in providing indepth and investigative reporting.
Lets hope we have a positive and constructive editor.

The Commissioners decision on the Percival Rd Sports Park has been delivered to the HDC.
They have been given the green light and some of the council must be ecstatic.
Meerkat will read the decision before commenting further as there are conditions.
There is also the chance this could go to the environment court.

The Regional Council hearings committee recently granted a water take consent that has  Fish and Game up in arms.

The take for a dairy farm in Central Hawkes Bay, is in an area that is already overallocated and the reasoning behind the go ahead is being questioned by a number of submitters.

The Central Hawkes Bay area has water systems that are not fully understood and even though many thousands of dollars have been spent on research in the area there is still more to be discovered.
This will be an interesting case to follow as it looks like F&G are prepared to go to the Environment Court on this one.   

The Havelock North Retirement  Village decision raises some interesting points about the councils move on Percival Rd.

The decision should reflect a similar stance on development in  Percival Rd .It is possible to think that the council can make one decision for themselves and another for others. As the decision on Percival Rd plan change is in the hands of commissioners there can only be one decision .

Hastings council are not a law unto themselves. 

The Hastings District Council hearings committee has declined the plan change application that would have seen development jump across Brookvale Rd.

The newspaper report was poor as usual as the decision  was based on more than the fact that plains soils were going to be lost.
The hearings committee upheld the integrity of the district plan and pointed out the facts. It was stated that it was not proven that there was a need for more retirement space in the area and that the District Plan did not see this area in Brookvale Rd as being necessary for any expansion of this sector.

The committee should be commended on overturning the officers changed reccommendation as there appeared to be some dubious moves made over some issues.

No doubt the decision  will be appealed . 

The Hastings District Council must be releaved to have a big cheque to bank to cover the purchase of Nelson Park.

It is sad to see the remains of the park lying waiting for concrete and steel to be placed over this  site that has been part of Hastings history.

There will now be two shopping centres and a great fight to claim the shopping public. If we do have an economic downturn there just will not be the money to go around.

Predictions are there will be more to the story of Nelson Park before it disappears into retail chains.

The latest move by the Government suggesting that legislation will be introduced  to limit stores selling liquor to 150m2 is a silly step.
Placing a figure on a rule means that stores will be built or modified to be compliant by making them 151m2.
Also it is a move that will delight supermarkets and consolidate their monopoly position. What is needed is a change in the drinking age and a stronger bigger police force.

The government is hell bent on knee jerk reactions to issues and the impact will be felt by……..ratepayers.