Not most HBRC councillors — current or future — according to our BayBuzz survey.

Apart from finding hundreds of millions of dollars to fund measures to protect the region from future flooding (as much as $600 million is the ‘do everything’ estimate), two other expensive ‘water security’ projects loom on the Hawke’s Bay horizon.

Two dams.

One is a rehash of the failed Ruataniwha Dam 1 scheme to service CHB, which had a 2015 cost of $600 million all in. The other is a proposed dam on a tributary of the Ngaruroro River to service the Heretaunga Plains, at a presently estimated cost of $225 million and upwards.

If both were to survive currently underway feasibility and business case examination, by the time of actual construction probably $1 billion plus for dams.

Setting aside all the other engineering, environmental and cultural issues involved, after briefly describing the state of play, BayBuzz asked each Regional Council candidate the straightforward question: 

Would you support putting ratepayer funds into the construction or future operation of either dam?

Virtually every HBRC candidate – 15 out of 20 – is opposed to ratepayer funding (although not in every case necessarily opposed to investigating the prospects), calling instead for a strict ‘user pays’ approach if either were to proceed.

So let’s start by reporting first on the outliers and hedgers.

Conrad Waitoa – made some overall cautionary comments, but gave no position on funding.

Jock Macintosh – Heretaunga Dam: he refers to Hastings and Napier Councils, mana whenua and commercial users as the main beneficiaries who should “also be the main funders of the project”. “Regarding HBRC ratepayer investment – I see this as being a small amount, if any. The majority of the funding needs to come from the users.”

Ruataniwha Dam: “We haven’t seen the financial model for the scheme but it’s hard to see more being invested by HBRC. Again, it needs to be driven and funded by the beneficiaries of the project.”

Louise Parsons – “I support both dams being fully explored and developed.” BayBuzz interprets that as a Yes.

Tim Aitken – “I would support Council funding where the benefits outweigh the costs.”

Marcus Ormond – “Investing in water storage for the Ruataniwha plains before the Heretaunga plains doesn’t make sense to me. Ensuring adequate water supply for Napier, Hastings and the horticulture surrounding is a priority and I would support ratepayer funds being spent on the construction and operation of such a dam.

Opposed to ratepayer funding

Bruce Mackay – “I support both initiatives and support HBRC engagement in the feasibility and development of both projects … I do not consider HBRC should put ratepayer funds into the construction of either dam…”

Sophie Siers – “I do not support ratepayer money being relied upon to make any business case viable.”

Neil Kirton – Heretaunga Dam: Exploring options and developing the business case for water storage can be justifiable public expenditure, only if there is clearly demonstrated public good, benefitting most ratepayers. But water users must fund and run any such water storage project.”

Ruataniwha Dam: “It is derisory to spend more public money pursuing this project for the benefit of a very few.”

Hinewai Ormsby – “I support feasibility studies — as long as they’re transparent and robust … But I do not support using ratepayer money to construct large-scale dams…”

Hayley Browne – “…there should be no HBRC ratepayer funds put into the construction or operation of a dam.”

Paul Bailey – “I remain opposed to Ruataniwha dam V2. It is unnecessary. I also would not support any proposal to pour any more ratepayers money into the scheme. Whilst I support the Whanawhana dam in principle it should not come at any further expense to the ratepayers than that which has already been committed.”

Syed Khurram Icbal – “Neither”.

Tony Kuklinski – “I support the need for water storage in a summer dry region like Hawke’s Bay and both dams will need a user pays model to be successful … Many rate payers have made it clear that they do not want rate payers’ money spent on the construction of dam projects.”

Keri Ropiha – “I do not support ratepayer funding for dam construction or operational costs.”

Jerf Van Beek – “I do not support allocating HBRC council ratepayer funds toward the construction or future operation of either dam.”

Di Roadley – “When it comes to large-scale water infrastructure like the proposed Whanawhana and Ruataniwha dams, I believe HBRC’s role is to support robust investigation and enable good decisions—not to fund construction or operation.”

Kiri Rangirangi-Hamlin – “Awesome song by John Hanlon comes to mind…. ‘Damn the Dam’. While indigenous nations in the northern hemisphere celebrate demolishing dams and returning ecology to lands and waterways not seen in generations, we in our wisdom, are contemplating condemning our waterways to ‘dam-nation’” BayBuzz interprets that as a No.

Michelle McIlroy – “Given the $600 million already needed for flood control, we need to ask what voters believe is the real priority – safety, warning systems and flood protection, or more money into water storage …” BayBuzz interprets that as a No.

Shelton White – “No. Too much controversy.”

Thompson Hokianga – “I do not support further public investment in the revived Ruataniwha Dam. Any proposal for water storage must answer hard questions:

• What’s the cost-benefit comparison between dams and distributed, nature-based solutions?

• How reliable is surface storage in a future of unpredictable rainfall?

• Will the dam worsen ecological stress during droughts if used for irrigation?

Takeaways

Any likely majority of HBRC councillors post-election will be firmly in the ‘user pays’ mind-set. HBRC won’t be dinging its ratepayers for dam construction or operations.

But that doesn’t mean HB ratepayers won’t pay, for two reasons.

First, the ratepayers of the CHB, Hastings and Napier Councils are indeed water users. Those councils will be expected to pay for their municipal water – one way or the other (e.g., through the new regional water entity those three are creating). And that charge will be passed on to you, the ratepayer.

Second, even if dam advocates concede no public funding of construction and operational costs, they will argue that enhanced flows made available during dry spells to support the health of waterways is a public good, and therefore the public should pay for that benefit. In other words, by storing water behind concrete walls, our dams might screw up waterway ecology, but, bless us, we’ll happily charge the public for released water to mitigate that effect.

And then there’s the prospect of central government (taxpayer) funding.

So, ratepayers, hold on to your wallets.