Can’t we expand port and protect environment?
I like Rick Barker’s article where he points out the dilemma in which the regional councillors are.
It looks like the region can only expand the port or can invest in environmental protection.
Why can it not be more transparent?
How much would the rates increase for a typical Hawke’s Bay home if the port is expended and how much would it be for the necessary environmental protection activities?
If we see the figures it may be possible to do both.
Otherwise with our short term thinking the port may win and with an unknown time delay a mini environmental programme may follow, which will not protect our region in 20 to 30 years against sea level rising, tsunami and other effects caused by climate change.
Walter Breustedt
Havelock North
Where’s the colour?
Where has all the colourful summer planting gone in the big central roundabout in Havelock?
Compared to Hastings, where they have beautiful coloured hanging baskets and Napier with their pretty planting.
What do we have, totally white! How bland is all that?
Is this yet another decision by the Havelock Business Association?
Bring back the colour, I say. Di McBain
Havelock North
Growth not debt
According to Rex Graham at the submissions meeting yesterday a submitter asked why the Provincial Growth Fund had not been applied for? Rex Graham said it had and that all that could be offered was a loan not a grant. This is because the grant will not fund DEBT — only growth.
So I would like to hear how the debt was allowed to accumulate and what is proposed to manage the port differently. Then we will know whether or not expansion is a viable option and whether the proposed management can cope as they clearly have not coped so far.
I believe the options from the council for the ratepayers to consider were the cart before the horse. More information needs to be shared before expansion is able to be considered. T. Allen
Napier