VOTE DONALD HAYES FOR HORIZONS REGIONAL COUNCIL

COMMONSENSE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OPEN INCLUSIVE

Having been a resident in Levin all my life I have made the decision to stand for Horizons Regional Council based on concerns I have had surrounding the management of our infrastructure namely the drainage and sewerage systems.

I believe that Horizons Regional Council while focusing on the freshwater debate needs to acknowledge the risks posed to certain areas with regards to flooding. I refer to the current Horowhenua Wetlands Development. While the intentions behind this development have been well-meaning, I believe that HRC ratepayers have been disadvantaged and in order for this development to proceed an independent engineer’s report should be requested and presented to ratepayers. Ratepayers deserve to be fully informed on the impact this development will have on the present drainage system which in my view is already overloaded. In my view Horizons inability to maintain the drainage system has only exacerbated this.

The main aim of the Horowhenua Wetlands Development was to improve Lake Horowhenua and improve its environment, however, I am worried land between the lake and the beach will definitely be adversely affected. At present as I see it the current established silt trap has been a failure and as a result dirt is still being filtered into Lake Horowhenua. In my view this has been largely due to a lack of foresight and poor design. I feel there needs to be accountability.

I would also like to see the current problems Foxton Beach residents are experiencing with their drainage infrastructure addressed. In my view it appears due to the inability to maintain and regularly clean drains in this area, the water table has risen resulting in unnecessary flooding. This has been confirmed by residents I have spoken to.

Horizon Regional Council ratepayers should not have to face an increase in rates due to what I believe to be a regional council’s continued failure to meet obligations.

I am committed to ensuring ratepayers get the services they are paying for.

Our region needs to have the ability to be able to withstand climatic events but I believe without an assurance that current drainage systems will now be maintained this will be unachievable.

As far as local knowledge of the Kapiti Island fault goes, our farm is half-on and half-off. We are the easternmost point of the fault and I’ve been there all my life.

Vote for climate resilience.