Editorial: Now is the time for water solutions

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

It seems like a day doesn't go by without more news reinforcing the dire state of our water.

With the Government inquiry into the Havelock North gastro crisis in full swing, we have heard it all, from theories of the cause of the contamination to the strained relationship between two of our councils - the Hastings District Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

The latest hit for beleaguered residents was the news yesterday that the Hawke's Bay District Health Board and Napier City Council had agreed chlorination of the Enfield Rd Reservoir that supplies much of Napier was necessary, as a precautionary measure, following a positive E.coli sample result from the reservoir.

For months we have been told that Napier water was safe and now this. Another test will be taken today and hopefully that will come back negative, but it is still a worry.

I suppose the one good thing to arise from last year's gastro crisis is that the bar has been set higher in terms of action being taken when there is suspected contamination. This is a good thing, but more is needed.

Our councils tell us that they are working together on the issue, but it is quite clear that this needs to be more co-ordinated and probably more transparent. The costly prosecution of the district council by the regional council, which was eventually dropped, is just one example of a lack of co-operation.

Another one is the airing of the dirty linen at the hearing this week, indicating tensions between the councils over a number of years.

In a Talking Point in this newspaper yesterday, Rex Graham, the chairman of the regional council, wrote about the need to work together to tackle water issues. He pointed to the work being done by Tank, a body made up of different stakeholders from across the region. He also spoke about a water summit planned for March-April.

It will be good if everyone can get on the same page, because we actually need less talking and more solutions.