Many BayBuzz readers have sent letters to Mayor Yule and Hastings Councillors opposing the proposed regional sports park.

Councillors Robert Burnside and Anne Wilson have shared their responses with us.

We’ve published Robert’s as our Guest Buzzmaker column for this week, while Anne’s can be read here. Robert has pretty serious reservations about the proposed complex; Anne indicates her “LIMITED support” depends upon whether the required non-ratepayer funding is in fact secured to build the park and if she is satisfied that ratepayers will not need to subsidise ongoing operation of the park. Both await more input from citizens.

A ton of ratepayer money is at stake here … to say nothing of the fate of many hectares of Heretaunga farmland.

If you haven’t done so, you can easily send your message here. BayBuzz provides a draft letter that you can send “as is” or edit. We will include all letters sent as part of a formal BayBuzz submission on the park.

Let Councillors know what you think.

And meantime, let’s all take heart in this week’s victory for the Seascape Environmental Society, whose years of perseverance has secured restoration and beautification of the Breakwater Road sandy beaches in Napier, adjacent to the port. Well done, guys … and inspiring! And good on the Port of Napier for seeing the light.

Tom

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1 Comment

  1. Hi Tom

    I appreciate that you are a 'greenie' at heart and that the land use issue is significant to you.

    As a businessman I take a slightly different view as follows:

    Horticulture and agriculture are fairly doubtful (unprofitable) businesses these days with scientific evidence now saying that dairy farming is actually worst environmentally than other potential uses.

    Investments that add costs to rates without offsetting economic benefits make no sense and kill investment.

    Rates in the Hastings District is relatively high already (compare Manawatu, Taranaki, Wairarapa) and significantly higher than like properties in Auckland + Wellington. Why start a business here?

    Employment is a key factor in peoples lives, and sustainable cities – I see little that actually encourages that here.

    The land use debate has historically been used against businesspeople (sometime rightly and wrongly in my opinion), so that sector is unlikely to give credence to your arguements

    If you want to be taken seriously by the commercial sector, it would seem more advantageous to approach issues like the sports park with a muliti pronged approach. Not only would this widen your potential supporters, but I think it adds more weight to your case (which incidentally I agree with).

    cheers

    Shaun

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