Regional council’s attitude on port ‘is patronising’

Over the past few years we have heard of constant infighting and distrust within the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and its staff.

Recently we have had our regional rates increased by an unprecedented 19 per cent.

I sat in a public meeting as the council chairman proudly intimated that, despite the debacle of the proposed Ruataniwha Dam project and the attendant cost of $20 million going down the drain, there was still $60m of the original $80m left for other projects, never mind the inept legal bungling by the council members which caused the loss.

Now we are asked to “trust” this same council to raise development capital for the Port of Napier by selling off 49 per cent of a very successful enterprise on the basis of “we know what we are doing” and “it’s too complicated to be left to the average citizen to decide”.

What a patronising attitude. Only four options have been canvassed, with no mention of the amount needed. There must be other ways of finding capital without killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. What about a bonds issue, for instance?

If the port is as successful as our council would have us believe, there would be no shortage of subscribers.

My view of local body authorities has become very jaundiced over the years and I am becoming increasingly convinced that the existence of the regional council is becoming more and more irrelevant.

Its so-called public consultations have all the appearance of faits accomplis.

Let’s have a referendum, linked to the local body elections, and find out what the public really thinks. (Abridged)

Roy Holderness Napier

Share sale no option

Re port shares: I heard this idea being suggested years ago by persons considered to be on the ball businesspeople, when they must know that keeping the sold shares in local hands can easily break down. The proposal by the regional council is to be expected after the last elections and I hope enough alternative candidates will stand to ensure a clean out next time.

The sale of shares should never be an option as proposed by the council.

Left Hook articles by Bruce Bisset are not in line with my ideas, however, ther have been occasions when I have found myself in agreement with his views.

Which goes to prove, just because you come from different political sides of the spectrum you can’t agree sometimes.

His comment that Anna Lork’s suggestion of a power company becoming a buyer (providing they show interest) has merit. One wonders if the council thought of that one? E.P. Averill Hastings