Public Seeks Answers on Ruataniwha Dam Millions

Organisers of a public meeting say they remain hopeful a Council-owned company seeking an $80m ratepayer investment will take the opportunity to address the public about the project, despite its CEO currently refusing to attend.

Transparent Hawke’s Bay Chairperson Megan Rose says despite the high profile Ruataniwha Water Storage Project making regular headlines over several years, many in the region still struggle to understand the details behind the massive irrigation scheme.

“Thursday’s public information evening at EIT will focus on the Regional Council investment conditions because as topics they cover water quality, construction, financial security and how the scheme will work for farmers. They are good conditions to have in place but people don’t understand how they will work in practice. With decision-time edging closer now is the perfect time to stop and help people get a better understanding of them,” says Ms Rose.

Public questions submitted about the project show uncertainty about what determines a ‘workable’ consent and what happens to the project if independent investors or farmers are not convinced to support the scheme before the financial close deadline later this year.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council interim CEO Liz Lambert and its resource management manager Iain Maxwell are among those who will address questions on conditions that must be met before more ratepayer money is given to the council-owned company promoting the dam, HBRIC.

Also attending the public information evening will be Central Hawke’s Bay irrigation user Hugh Ritchie, Fish and Game environmental manager Corina Jordan, economist Peter Fraser, and Ngati Kahungunu environment and natural resources director Jonathan Dick.

RWSS Public Information Evening
Thursday 21 May
EIT Marae, Taradale
6pm – 8.30pm

ENDS

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