Tepid interest in Hastings' safe water meeting

David Renouf (left), the only member of the public to attend the meeting, chats to Graeme Hansen, director of major capital projects. Photo / Paul Taylor

An "amazing" lack of public interest surrounding plans to prevent a repeat of the 2016 Havelock North drinking water crisis has stunned waster resources campaigner David Renouf.

Two public meetings called by the Hastings District Council to form a community focus group to "give direction to us on key water infrastructure decisions" attracted just two people - himself and one other on Tuesday night, and just himself last night.

"This is absolutely unbelievable," he said moments after last night's meeting at the council chambers was called off because of the lack of interest.

During the next four years the HDC will invest $48 million into drinking water supply infrastructure to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water.

"I find it difficult to see that out of the whole community in Hastings and Havelock North only two people turned up," said Renouf, who lives in the suburb of Frimley.

The meeting had been publicised on several occasions, and Renouf said: "I just can't believe it. I don't know where the general public comes from at times."

Renouf said he had seen a similar lack of public interest last year, during the government-led inquiry into the contamination of Havelock North's water supply in 2016.

"I got the same message this time from the general public, than I did to do with the inquiry. I also went to the water inquiry and I was the only member of the public there on some days, and that was the same thing.

"I was totally amazed, after what had happened in Havelock North to find there was in general no interest at all in the inquiry and how they were going about it."

The government inquiry was the result of a 2016 campylobacter outbreak in Havelock North that left 5000 people sick, and was blamed for four deaths.

Although only two people attended Tuesday's public meeting on how safe water would be delivered, earlier this year about 100 Havelock North residents turned out for a public meeting discussing the odour from a local mushroom farm.

"It's unbelievable. This is about water, a fundamental of life, the smell is not going to affect the fundamentals of life," Renouf said.

A council spokeswoman says: "The investment by the council into the drinking water supply is significant and we are inviting the community to participate in some of the key decision-making so it is entirely up to the community as to whether they wish to participate."