Will Foley: Whole region can benefit from dam

Will Foley.

Rex Graham hasn't been in the Hawke's Bay Regional Council chair for long but I have already seen him twice visit Central Hawke's Bay in his new role to discuss the Ruataniwha dam with concerned farmers and the wider community.

Those CHB people who favour the dam have been anxious about statements made leading up to local elections and soon after the new council was announced.

So Rex's assurances he is very much for water storage and economic growth are music to their ears.

Rex is immersed in the horticultural industry which around Hastings is experiencing a boom, with local research and developed technology paying dividends.

We all agree that to replicate that growth in areas such as the CHB and Wairoa will be a win-win for the whole of Hawke's Bay.

The Ruataniwha dam has been continually quoted as being a benefit for just the 200-odd farmers who sign up for the water but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Three meat plants in Hastings and Napier procure livestock from CHB.

Processing plants in Hastings buy process crops from CHB producers, and they also employ Hastings and Napier people. Transport firms in Hastings cart the produce.

The Napier port employs staff to lift the freight from trucks and rail onto ships for export.

All of this demand for processing and jobs will rise as increased produce exits the farms.

Councils, industry bodies and others will need to work together to ensure the infrastructure can cope.

In CHB the increased jobs bring demand for more infrastructure, including schools.

That requires more teachers, and so on. That is the kind of benefit that comes to farmers who may not be able to access the water.

Their country school continues to thrive or a particular shop or service in Waipukurau remains open and the locals don't need to travel further afield to support their country living lifestyle and businesses.

Rex has concerns around getting the project right and no one disagrees; the project has to work on so many levels.

He has now experienced the passion and commitment of the people of CHB.

I think it has been beneficial on both sides to hear the debate. Both sides have learnt from each other in a way that hopefully leads to constructive progress for the region.

- Will Foley is Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president.