Editorial: Gutsy rates request from Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Regional council's push for ratepayers to bankroll environmental remedies is visionary, writes Mark Story.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council's proposed 19 per cent rates rise to remedy environmental issues is alarming.

Alarming not just in the hike itself, but alarming because it underscores generational negligence and apathy.

On Wednesday council asked ratepayers to "dig further into your pockets" to address some of our at-risk hot spots across land, water and biodiversity.

It's a gutsy move from council, if not unprecedented. So in that sense it's trailblazing.

As a newspaper we've seen the scores of water woes and antiquated land-use practices that make anyone of right mind wince. We're not alone in this, our issues have nonetheless become a regional embarrassment and a national headline magnet.

Not a good fit for a premium producing region.

Council's plan includes seven focus areas, and proposes a total rates rise of 19 per cent in the first year, with 13.8 per cent to focus on environmental priorities and 5.2 per cent for civil defence.

This equates to an average rates rise of about $1 a week per property.

Not a bad price to pay for our collective and intergenerational apathy. As regional council chairman Rex Graham said this week, it's a chance to "take ownership".

All up it's a bold and unique opportunity, if not a privilege to do something that will positively prevent our grandkids picking up the bill.