Alas: Smith & Jones on Waimea dam decision
Councillors who voted no to the Waimea dam project deserve the wrath of the community if there is a dry summer with crop losses, job losses and disruptions to domestic and industrial water supplies, says Nelson MP Dr Nick Smith.
‘‘This decision puts us in the hands of the weather gods,’’ he said. ‘‘The tragedy for Nelson and Tasman on Tuesday’s decision is that the naysayers have won the day without putting forward a credible alternative. I fear for the future of the region when major infrastructure decisions, whether it be the Southern Link or the Waimea Community Dam, that the opponents get away without having to find an alternative answer.’’
Smith’s comments come after councillors on Tuesday voted 8-6 not to proceed with the $102 million project, which would have included increasing ratepayer capital contributions by about $11.8m to $38.6m.
Increased ratepayer contributions were required after updated pricing in July added about $26m to an estimated $75.9m in capital costs required to complete the project, a funding gap that council staff said could be reduced to $23m.
‘‘I appreciate the $38m cost to the Tasman council was a big ask,’’ Smith said. ‘‘I’m disappointed I wasn’t in Government to help fill that $23m gap.’’
The National MP, who has been a long-time supporter of the dam project said the ‘‘negative decision’’ by the council meant millions of dollars of investment from the Government and private investors had been ‘‘thrown away’’.
‘‘Every major infrastructure project, whether it was the Cobb or Maitai dams or the Ruby Bay or Stoke bypasses, seemed expensive at the time, but in hindsight were great value for money,’’ Smith said. ‘‘The worst outcome for the region is doing nothing while the problems over water shortages and traffic congestion just keeps deteriorating.’’
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, who advocated to keep the dam project as part of the coalition agreement, said the thinking of councillors who opposed it belonged to ‘‘economic midgets, not regional leaders’’.
‘‘I’m disappointed for the industry, for the jobs and quite frankly, I’m anxious for the future of the broader Tasman community because water shortages are a certainty and the cost of remedying these shortages is a further certainty,’’ he said.
In the absence of a dam there was ‘‘no Crown money, certainly no Provincial Growth [Fund] money’’.
Jones said the no decision by ‘‘political mannequins’’ reinforced the need for a reform of the three water services – drinking water, storm water and wastewater – including the potential aggregation of local government water functions.
The review was announced by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta last year, and is in its second phase, looking at the management, service delivery, funding, and regulatory arrangements for water. Options and recommendations are expected at the end of the year.