Already facing a rates increase well above the level of inflation, a $1 million "environmental kick-start fund" to fix six of the region's waterways could cost CHB ratepayers an extra $16.80 in regional rates in 2017/18.
Hawke's Bay regional councillors voted last week to include the one-off 9.88 per cent rates increase in its 2017-2018 draft annual plan to establish the fund.
The money would go towards addressing the problems at six environment hot spots, including Lake Tutira, Ahuriri Estuary, Whakaki Lake and Wairoa River, Lake Whatuma and the Tukituki catchment, and Karamu Stream.
CHB regional councillor Debbie Hewitt was one of two councillors who voted against the increase. While she said the idea was 'commendable', she was concerned about the impact on CHB residents already facing additional costs for Plan Change 6.
Councillor Fenton Wilson said when he floated the idea to his constituents in Wairoa, they did not want a bar of it. The other option was to approve a smaller 4.88 per cent business-as-usual rate rise, but according to a council-approved consultation document, "the bottom line is that many of our rivers, lakes, and streams are a disgrace and, in some cases, getting worse".