Friday, November 11, 2016

The end of Ruataniwha?

October's local body elections saw a shift in power on the Hawkes' Bay Regional Council against the Ruataniwha dam. One of the first acts of the council was to put a moratorium on advancing the project. And now they've put it under review:
Applause sounded in a packed Hawke's Bay Regional Council chamber yesterday, when it was unanimously agreed a review would be conducted on the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.

While the atmosphere in the first ordinary council meeting grew tense at times - all councillors stated they welcomed the review.

Among other recommendations, they agreed to commission an independent review of key contractual, legal, financial, economic, and environmental elements of the RWSS, including the impacts and consequences of implementing plan change six with, and without it, as well as withdrawal from the scheme.

Returning Councillor Neil Kirton - who called a moratorium on action relating to the dam on election day - said this was an "important step for this incoming council".


The review will take up the five months. But when its done, hopefully we'll see this plan for environmental destruction killed off for good.