Editorial: Time to solve our water issues

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

With the year drawing to a close, there is much to look forward to in the Bay in 2017.

This year has had its dramas and problems, but we are ending the year with our local economy in good health.

Confidence is high and the latest retail figures and property price reports reflect this.

One of the biggest issues facing the Bay is water.

There are many people who believe we have a major problem, even a crisis, surrounding the management of this precious resource.

Our different councils need to work together to formulate a comprehensive plan for water, from availability and supply to quality and consumption.

We certainly need clarity on who we are giving our water to and why we cannot charge them for it.

It was good to see that Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham, and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana announcing, earlier this month, that they would jointly convene a hui on water issues in March.

This is a step in the right direction, but it needs to be more than just talk. Action is required.

We want boldness from all our political leaders, not patch protection and finger-pointing.

The sooner we start tackling our water situation as one issue rather than different councils focusing on their own back yards, the better.

The new year will also be the time to finally work out what is going to happen with the Ruataniwha Dam project.

Currently there is a moratorium on dam activity in place until the completion of an independent review of different elements of the scheme.

After that we will require our regional councillors to step up and make a decision that could have ramifications for our region.

Do we proceed or do we withdraw? That is the multi-million dollar question.