Development good use of non-productive land

The Hastings District Council needs to be applauded for allowing the development of the land in Havelock North for housing. This land is of low productivity and is suitable for housing development compared to the fertile plains it overlooks.

As top class productive land continues to be swallowed up by speculators and out of town developers it is pleasing the cries of many forward thinking locals appear to have been heeded. Hopefully the proposed retirement development on the edge of Havelock

North will not be able to proceed as it’s on that very special productive land.

There are many who, for what must be a shortsighted mindset, appear to think there is a golden opportunity in raping and pillaging our very special gift of some of the most fertile and productive land in the world. Hawke’s Bay businessman John Thompson and councillor Simon Nixon seem to be singing from the same songsheet when they promote the theory that orcharding is not a viable way forward for the district and only a very few benefit from the industry. May I say they are seriously out of touch with reality.

All they need to do is drive around and see the hundreds of hectares that have been planted and are continuing to be planted in fruit trees.

The infrastructure required, in manpower and equipment for this development is huge and it does not all come from out of the region or, as is quoted, from overseas at a cheap labour cost.

Those supporting the views of the two gentlemen also need to take a further drive through Whakatu, Tomoana down Omahu Rd, and turn off many of the side roads and see the large number of industries that rely on this expansion and the ongoing wellbeing of these horticultural industries.

Many thousands of local workers make up these industries and contribute to the viability of this wonderful productive region, The Fruit Bowl of New Zealand. R S Sage Hastings

We need fresh water

We would like to comment and also to disagree with chlorine added into our precious water.

We are having to go to great lengths to simply get “fresh” water from a friend’s artesian well in Hawke’s Bay. This should not be happening as we believe that our water is pure enough, here in Napier/ Taradale. We have people presumably testing our water each week? That’s part of what we pay rates for isn’t it? If the water is pure from our friend’s well, it should be pure to our household.

If the water is being tested and found to be okay then surely we don’t need chemicals in our beautiful water? Simple testing!

With chlorine added, we have found the water smelly and it is drying out our skin. So . . . we have had to do extra to get good water, pay for moisturisers and on occasion buy water.

We are thinking that we should send the NCC/regional councils the bill for that.

Don’t give our beautiful water away overseas. This must bring the aquifer level down and therefore pick up germs anyway. We are appalled that we are literally giving away our precious resource overseas. We need it ourselves. Jan and Maru Gray Hawke’s Bay