Editorial: Dam decision needs to be right one for Bay

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Years after it was first mooted as the saviour for our province, the fight over the Ruataniwha Dam is still making headlines, but it is looking unlikely it will go ahead unless something dramatic happens.

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed an appeal to allow a land exchange for the dam. The court was considering whether the Department of Conservation could swap 22ha of the Ruahine Forest Park for 170ha of private farm land. The protected conservation land needed to be flooded for the country's largest irrigation project to go ahead.

However, the Government has indicated that it could provide the dramatic thing needed to keep the dam alive - a law change.

Yes, both Prime Minister Bill English and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry indicated after the court decision that they were considering changing the law that would ensure projects like the dam would go ahead.

This has given hope to pro-dam supporters, but those who have opposed the project are confident that it won't go ahead.

Whatever happens, we have to be sure that it is in the best interest of Hawke's Bay. It has been a very divisive issue in our region, probably on a par with the recent amalgamation proposal.

While there is no doubt many people, particularly farmers, in Central Hawke's Bay are desperate for the dam to be built, the local government election results last year showed that there are many others, particularly ratepayers in Napier, who do not want it to go ahead.

There are tough decisions facing our new regional council and any Government move could be a game changer.

Whatever decisions are made need to be made with all the facts before us and for the good of Hawke's Bay.