Rallying Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for Ruataniwha
Key Ruataniwha meeting takes place at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tomorrow 9am
24 June 2014
Supporters of Ruataniwha are being asked to attend Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s key meeting on it tomorrow (Wednesday,
25 June at 9am), to reinforce the massive support water storage received last Friday from Waipukurau’s ‘don’t damn our
dam’ rally.
“Last Friday’s event showed the huge community backing we’ve got for Ruataniwha and water storage,” says Will Foley,
Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay provincial president.
“The people did more than speak last Friday and we’re asking them to again join us, this time at Hawke’s Bay Regional
Council tomorrow (Wednesday, 25 June at 9am) for the critical vote that’ll lock in the Regional Council’s cornerstone
investment.
“The reality with Ruataniwha is that the bulk of the cost, upwards of $400 million, will fall on the shoulders of us
farmers. Who will pay? We will by putting in place irrigation infrastructure and buying the water.
“Who will win from that? Hawke’s Bay’s environment, economy and jobseekers, that’s who.
“When you get more than 600 people parading through Waipukurau and over 400 vehicles and three aircraft you know this
important. When about 1,000 people watch in a town of just 4,000 then it’s overwhelming.
“With a changing climate our region needs Ruataniwha but it needs to be viable and that’s now in the lap of the Board of
Inquiry.
“That’s why we’re asking the troops to see if they can make the meeting at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tomorrow at
9am,” Mr Foley concluded.
ENDS