All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Jerry Greer: Dam has building consent and should proceed

By Jerry Greer
Hawkes Bay Today·
28 Nov, 2016 10:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Jerry Greer.
Jerry Greer.

Jerry Greer.

With the changing of the guard in the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, there has been a lot of rhetoric and noise about the future of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme (RWSS).

Is all the noise designed to mask the awareness of the facts?

Seven of the current nine regional councillors have been through the RWSS process to date. Does the entire regional council, not simply the RWSS project, come to a standstill because two councillors are yet to get up to speed?

If not, then why single out for an independent review on arguably the best opportunity for growth, inclusive of environmental, social and economic implications, tabled in the region for decades? And then put it on hold to consider which superior alternatives could be used. None of which have been put forward.

HBRC undertook an extensive feasibility study regarding the best water use practices in the Ruataniwha basin following growing concerns about the health of the Tukituki River.

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The feasibility study explored many avenues in depth. Ultimately it recommended that water storage; on the scale and in the location as proposed, was the best option to meet the environmental (deliberately listed first), economic and social needs of a project like this in Hawke's Bay.

To ensure that the various points of view were considered, there then followed another extensive and very public process - a board of inquiry over two years. There was also the formation of a distinct entity, HBRIC, to take the ownership of HBRC's assets, one of which is the RWSS project.

During the feasibility study and board of inquiry processes, all the various supporting and opposing views were considered. Opponents had their opportunity to state their case, as did those who support the project. Proper process was followed.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The decision was reached to push forward to see if the RWSS could become a reality. The risks were weighed up by those charged with doing so.

The decision was made to go ahead. Not everyone agrees with the decision - that's life.

At the meeting of HBRC on July 8, the council voted 7 - 2 in favour of the motion that 3 out of the 4 conditions precedent have been satisfied. There is consent for the construction and operation of the RWSS.

This consent was issued by HBRC. How could some of the councillors, having granted this consent, then vote that it wasn't there? Having taken the oath when sworn in as a councillor, that they "act impartially", can they vote against the existence of a consent they approved?

HBRC vision statement proclaims that it is their intention for Hawke's Bay to be, "A region with a vibrant community, a prosperous economy, a clean and healthy environment, now and for future generations". Please let us remember that Central Hawke's Bay is part of the big picture.

- Jerry Greer is a Central Hawke's Bay farmer who supports the building of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme and has signed a contract to take water from the dam.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

The Country: Todd McClay on carbon farming

26 Jun 01:51 AM
Opinion

Opinion: Are rising butter prices bad news?

25 Jun 11:18 PM
The Country

NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

25 Jun 10:36 PM

Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
'A fabulous venue': SailGP confirms return to Auckland
SailGP

'A fabulous venue': SailGP confirms return to Auckland

26 Jun 02:00 PM
Khamenei says Iran will 'never surrender' to US
World

Khamenei says Iran will 'never surrender' to US

26 Jun 10:40 AM
Takutai Tarsh Kemp fought for Māori ‘until the final hours’ - John Tamihere
Politics

Takutai Tarsh Kemp fought for Māori ‘until the final hours’ - John Tamihere

26 Jun 10:23 AM
The search for Ella Davenport: Police renew calls for public help
New Zealand

The search for Ella Davenport: Police renew calls for public help

26 Jun 08:18 AM
Lawyers for woman accused of murdering her mother suggest police had tunnel vision in investigation
Crime

Lawyers for woman accused of murdering her mother suggest police had tunnel vision in investigation

26 Jun 08:00 AM

Latest from The Country

The Country: Todd McClay on carbon farming

The Country: Todd McClay on carbon farming

26 Jun 01:51 AM

Todd McClay, Wayne Langford, Hamish Marr, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, and Chris Russell.

Opinion: Are rising butter prices bad news?

Opinion: Are rising butter prices bad news?

25 Jun 11:18 PM
NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

25 Jun 10:36 PM
Strengthening the Eastern Bay farming community

Strengthening the Eastern Bay farming community

25 Jun 10:04 PM
Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style
sponsored

Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search