Farmers urged to attend Ruataniwha public meetings

With Federated Farmers’ Hawke’s Bay annual general meeting taking place next Wednesday, the Federation is urging its members to find out all they can from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.

“It is true members are now putting Ruataniwha under a microscope, especially following the recent Board of Inquiry draft decision,” says Will Foley, Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay provincial president.

“I genuinely imagine Ruataniwha will be a talking point at our provincial annual general meeting, next Wednesday at Vidal's Restaurant in Hastings.

“As we are meeting between 3-7pm there is plenty of scope to discuss Ruataniwha because we are the guys who’ll have to make big investment decisions. Decisions that will determine if the scheme is doable or not.

“We also need to ask all Hawke’s Bay farmers to lay their hands on the Regional Council’s Statement of Proposal.

“We are also urging farmers to get to one of the 17 public meetings that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are organising. That seems like a good way to get questions answered.

“Ruataniwha could become vital economic and environmental infrastructure for our region, so long as it stacks up financially.

“While the Regional Council is looking at a $80 million investment to build the scheme, that’s dwarfed by the need for farmers to invest almost half a billon dollars on-farm to put in irrigation infrastructure.

“It is not small beer which is why we need to get all the economic nitty gritty right.

“The key Regional Council documents are available at all public libraries, or online from either the Council’s website or www.bettertoknow.co.nz. Physical copies can be obtained from the Regional Council’s offices in Napier or posted out by phoning 0800 108 838 or by emailing info@hbrc.govt.nz.

“It is vital farmers read and understand the scheme and attend one of the Council’s public meetings detailed below. In the meantime, Federated Farmers is working on its own submission so we are keen to get member feedback and more may come at our AGM on May 7,” Mr Foley concluded.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Ruataniwha public meetings:
Date
Time
Venue
13/05/2014
5.30 pm
Putorino Waikare Hotel
14/05/2014
12.30 pm
Waipawa CHB Municipal Theatre Chambers
14/05/2014
5.15 pm
Ongaonga Town Hall
14/05/2014
5.30 pm
Wairoa Community Centre
15/05/2014
12.30 pm
Waipukurau Civic Theatre
15/05/2014
5.15 pm
Takapau Town Hall
15/05/2014
12.30 pm & 5.15 pm
Hastings Baptist Church Auditorium, Lyndon Road
15/05/2014
12.30 pm & 5.15 pm
Napier War Memorial Centre, Room 2, Marine Parade
15/05/2014
12.30 pm & 5.15 pm
Taradale Town Hall
15/05/2014
5.30 pm
Nuhaka Morere Hall, Nuhaka School
20/05/2014
5.30 pm
Rakautatahi Marae State Highway 2, Takapau
20/05/2014
12.30 pm & 5.15 pm
Havelock North Community Centre Lantern Gallery
22/05/2014
5.30 pm
Porangahau Duke of Edinburgh Hotel

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