On 1 July Hawke's Bay Airport will be Corporatised. The significance of this should not be underestimated. It basically allows the airport to function as a company, without many of the strings attached with the Government as a shareholder. This is the first significant change in the corporate model since 1967.
Next week a new Board will be named, which will include two new faces. These people will be charged with running a commercial venture like any other business. Getting to this point has taken years and has been full of frustration as the region has sought for the Government to release some control.
In my view, the airport is one of our most significant yet underutilised assets. It is at a stage just like the Port of Napier was before it moved into containerisation. These directors and the owner had a vision, and we now have one of the best Ports in the country.
Most community focus is on the runway extension, and when it is going to be completed. It is on target to be done by mid 2011. There are still hurdles to be crossed along the way surrounding the leasing of some Landcorp Land and the introduction of a passenger departure levy, but I am confident these can be resolved.
The 10 million dollar investment in the runway extension is like any other long term investment in the region. It should be seen just like our roads. It is a key piece of infrastructure, and we will be pleased to have it as the region grows in the next 50 years.
The current recession has meant that the airline industry is under pressure, and Air New Zealand has reduced the number flights in and out of the region to reflect this. However, our thinking must remain on the future. A 1950 metre runway is likely to be all we need to cater for domestic jets and possible short haul international flights.
Another significant factor than can now be realised relates to the commercial development of the airport land itself. Airports make most of their money out of associated activities, rather than what is on the runway. The development of the new Air Ambulance service on site is the first example of this.
So roll on 1 July. It marks a significant milestone in the development of the region and I look forward to the new board doing some exciting things at our airport.
I’m Lawrence Yule
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Air quality
Yesterday the Minister of the Environment, Nick Smith, visited the region to announce a major review of the Air Quality Standards which threaten the traditional use of fire places in Napier and Hastings.
I welcome this announcement as a pragmatic and realistic response to this region’s outcry about what such standards mean. The region’s leaders and local MP’s have asked the Government to have a look at this for us and they have.
I am also pleased to have been asked to be part of the five-member review panel to give a local community perspective. The review will be completed by the end of this year, including some sort of submission process.
Many will ask what all the fuss is about.
Simply, there are some world standards about fine particulate matter which gets into people’s lungs that affect life expectancy and health. In the last five years the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has measured these levels and, in Hastings and Napier for the past three years, these threshold levels have been breached. Last year, in particular, the levels in Hastings were significantly breached.
Most of the pollution is coming from household fires on cold winters nights. The current standards say that if these conditions are breached by 2013 the “no renewals” or “new industrial consents” can be issued. This will have a major impact on our regional economy.
The only option available to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, to reduce the levels of pollution, is to ban certain types of fires and encourage changes to more efficient burning types of heating by 2013 at a cost of 95 million dollars. For our community this is completely unacceptable and impractical. To its credit the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has put some real money into a programme that will help with the costs of making changes to peoples fireplaces.
It has always been my contention that there are far worse health outcomes from being cold in the winter than a small amount of air pollution. At night most people are inside keeping warm.
The Government’s recently announced 330 million dollar package to insulate 180,000 homes is to be applauded. In Hastings we are well on the way to being one of the first cities to be able to take up this offer.
Combine this with yesterday’s review of the Air Quality Standards and it would appear some common sense is being returned to the ways we heat and insulate our homes. For this, I thank the Government.
I welcome this announcement as a pragmatic and realistic response to this region’s outcry about what such standards mean. The region’s leaders and local MP’s have asked the Government to have a look at this for us and they have.
I am also pleased to have been asked to be part of the five-member review panel to give a local community perspective. The review will be completed by the end of this year, including some sort of submission process.
Many will ask what all the fuss is about.
Simply, there are some world standards about fine particulate matter which gets into people’s lungs that affect life expectancy and health. In the last five years the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has measured these levels and, in Hastings and Napier for the past three years, these threshold levels have been breached. Last year, in particular, the levels in Hastings were significantly breached.
Most of the pollution is coming from household fires on cold winters nights. The current standards say that if these conditions are breached by 2013 the “no renewals” or “new industrial consents” can be issued. This will have a major impact on our regional economy.
The only option available to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, to reduce the levels of pollution, is to ban certain types of fires and encourage changes to more efficient burning types of heating by 2013 at a cost of 95 million dollars. For our community this is completely unacceptable and impractical. To its credit the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has put some real money into a programme that will help with the costs of making changes to peoples fireplaces.
It has always been my contention that there are far worse health outcomes from being cold in the winter than a small amount of air pollution. At night most people are inside keeping warm.
The Government’s recently announced 330 million dollar package to insulate 180,000 homes is to be applauded. In Hastings we are well on the way to being one of the first cities to be able to take up this offer.
Combine this with yesterday’s review of the Air Quality Standards and it would appear some common sense is being returned to the ways we heat and insulate our homes. For this, I thank the Government.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
No easy solutions for coastal erosion
Last evening about 200 people crammed into the Haumona Hall to hear a presentation on the Coastal erosion issues that are affecting Haumoana and Te Awanga.
It was a combined meeting between the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Hastings District. The Regional Council is responsible for what happens in the sea and controls any type of consent within the coastal environment. The Hastings District Council controls land use and residential development on the land.
As I went to the meeting I was acutely aware that the options being presented were very difficult for the community and the councils. There are no easy solutions and all options cost at least 10 million dollars for a relatively small number of houses.
We went there to share information prepared by three separate experts on Coastal erosion. The consensus from these experts boil down to two solutions. One involves protecting the coast with engineering protection using groynes at a cost of 18.5 million dollars. The other, in stark contrast, involves a managed retreat over time. This involves letting the sea do its thing and shifting dwellings further back, as required. This has a community cost of nearly 10 million dollars.
Both are very unpalatable. Naturally we got into the issue of who should pay for this, what is causing the erosion. The current policies of both councils generally say that the beneficiaries of such work should pay for most of the cost. This is not set in stone, but even with some modification the residents out there will pay the majority of the costs.
The properties, especially those directly next to the sea, would see capital requirements of nearly 300k per property towards groynes. In the managed retreat option, they would simply loose the value in their property as it is eroded away. Again, this is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Coupled with this is significant uncertainty about the effectiveness of groynes, the uncertainty about actually getting a Resource Consent for them and the upstream erosion effects they may cause.
Fighting Mother Nature is difficult. The lack of gravels and the erosion beside these two coastal communities has most likely been caused by Mother Nature. The 1931 earthquake saw the area drop and the rivers no longer send out as much gravel as they used to.
I was heartened by how reasoned the audience was last evening. Sure I understand the realities are stark, the costs high and the option unpalatable. However, we are not about to walk away from these communities. With them we hope to find a consensus on the way forward. I also expect that when we finalise the options all residents in Haumoana and Te Awanga will be able to vote on their preference.
Those are my thoughts for the week.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
It was a combined meeting between the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Hastings District. The Regional Council is responsible for what happens in the sea and controls any type of consent within the coastal environment. The Hastings District Council controls land use and residential development on the land.
As I went to the meeting I was acutely aware that the options being presented were very difficult for the community and the councils. There are no easy solutions and all options cost at least 10 million dollars for a relatively small number of houses.
We went there to share information prepared by three separate experts on Coastal erosion. The consensus from these experts boil down to two solutions. One involves protecting the coast with engineering protection using groynes at a cost of 18.5 million dollars. The other, in stark contrast, involves a managed retreat over time. This involves letting the sea do its thing and shifting dwellings further back, as required. This has a community cost of nearly 10 million dollars.
Both are very unpalatable. Naturally we got into the issue of who should pay for this, what is causing the erosion. The current policies of both councils generally say that the beneficiaries of such work should pay for most of the cost. This is not set in stone, but even with some modification the residents out there will pay the majority of the costs.
The properties, especially those directly next to the sea, would see capital requirements of nearly 300k per property towards groynes. In the managed retreat option, they would simply loose the value in their property as it is eroded away. Again, this is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Coupled with this is significant uncertainty about the effectiveness of groynes, the uncertainty about actually getting a Resource Consent for them and the upstream erosion effects they may cause.
Fighting Mother Nature is difficult. The lack of gravels and the erosion beside these two coastal communities has most likely been caused by Mother Nature. The 1931 earthquake saw the area drop and the rivers no longer send out as much gravel as they used to.
I was heartened by how reasoned the audience was last evening. Sure I understand the realities are stark, the costs high and the option unpalatable. However, we are not about to walk away from these communities. With them we hope to find a consensus on the way forward. I also expect that when we finalise the options all residents in Haumoana and Te Awanga will be able to vote on their preference.
Those are my thoughts for the week.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sports Park On Track
During the past three weeks much of my time has been dominated by issues surrounding the Regional Sports Park. Today I want to give an absolute commitment that, despite obstacles and changes, the project is on track and very much alive.
I liken the recent hurdles to those faced when the Sydney Opera House was built. It was a large controversial project which faced many challenges. Nobody would today argue its merits, let alone remember the battles that were faced.
The Regional Sports Park is a visionary project for the people of Hawke's Bay. Its 56-million-dollar budget is daunting, but its potential is limitless.
Despite what you may have heard, the project is being put together in a very methodical, reasonable and structured way. The construction, funding and operation will all be put together by some very talented people working for the Trust.
There are two hurdles currently before the trustees. One relates to money and one relates to court action by a small group who are concerned about the quality of the land being used up by the Park.
On the funding issue, we acknowledge that the current economic conditions make this more challenging. Many of the funding sources, including trusts and corporates, have significant cash shortfalls at the moment. Despite this we have been heartened by the widespread support received for the project.
More significantly in the short-term are the two court processes in the way of the Park and, immediately, the grandstand. A small group of orchardists are challenging the Council planning decisions.
While I accept that such challenges can be part of any consenting process, I do not believe that a grandstand that was asked for by the people in a binding referendum should be held up by five people. It flies in the face of democracy and more importantly puts at risk potential funding, construction jobs and major events planned for 2010.
The Trust and the Council are currently looking at options for resolving these matters, but delays are likely.
All this being said, I am committed to this project and simply see this as another test along the way. The building of the Pettigrew.Green Arena took two attempts. Everybody today regards this as a runaway success. I am convinced the same will apply to the Regional Sports Park. Our children and future generations will thank us.
I liken the recent hurdles to those faced when the Sydney Opera House was built. It was a large controversial project which faced many challenges. Nobody would today argue its merits, let alone remember the battles that were faced.
The Regional Sports Park is a visionary project for the people of Hawke's Bay. Its 56-million-dollar budget is daunting, but its potential is limitless.
Despite what you may have heard, the project is being put together in a very methodical, reasonable and structured way. The construction, funding and operation will all be put together by some very talented people working for the Trust.
There are two hurdles currently before the trustees. One relates to money and one relates to court action by a small group who are concerned about the quality of the land being used up by the Park.
On the funding issue, we acknowledge that the current economic conditions make this more challenging. Many of the funding sources, including trusts and corporates, have significant cash shortfalls at the moment. Despite this we have been heartened by the widespread support received for the project.
More significantly in the short-term are the two court processes in the way of the Park and, immediately, the grandstand. A small group of orchardists are challenging the Council planning decisions.
While I accept that such challenges can be part of any consenting process, I do not believe that a grandstand that was asked for by the people in a binding referendum should be held up by five people. It flies in the face of democracy and more importantly puts at risk potential funding, construction jobs and major events planned for 2010.
The Trust and the Council are currently looking at options for resolving these matters, but delays are likely.
All this being said, I am committed to this project and simply see this as another test along the way. The building of the Pettigrew.Green Arena took two attempts. Everybody today regards this as a runaway success. I am convinced the same will apply to the Regional Sports Park. Our children and future generations will thank us.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sports Park challenge 'scandalous and pathetic'
This week I have witnessed what I would consider one the worst challenges to democracy that I have seen since I have been in local body politics. The lodging of a High Court Judicial Review on the new Athletics Track and the soon to be built Grandstand at the Regional Sports Park is a scandalous and pathetic attempt to stand in the way of the progress.
Not only are they standing in the way of progress, but they are thumbing their noses at the completely democratic binding referendum that was held on the relocation of the Nelson Park facilities to this site. In an overwhelming result, nearly 2 to 1 voted in favour of this relocation.
The Hastings District Council and, more recently, the Sports Park Trust has simply been putting this wish into action. In the last few days I have been inundated with outraged people wanting to know who these 5 people are and why don’t they publicly front up.
These are very good questions. The group is led by former Regional Councillor Allan Baldock. He is supported by about 3 other orchardists and a couple of supporters. There principle concern relates to the use of the horticultural land for the Sports Park. While people may be understanding of this argument, how does this group line up the significant areas of their own properties in packhouses and buildings with the public argument they are mounting.
In my role as Mayor I have to be accountable and transparent. This group who are opposing this park cannot expect to stand in the way of a democratic process and not have their own actions considered.
What we are trying to build at Percival Road is a Regional Sports Park for the people of Hawke's Bay. The project is large and ambitious and naturally involves some controversy. My fellow Trustees, Rex Graham, Colin Stone and Murray McCaw and I are passionate and committed to delivering a 50-million-dollar facility which meets the needs of our community for the next 20 – 50 years. We are heartened by the tremendous support we have received in the past 3 days. Maybe this small group that is opposing the wish of the people should take some time out to reflect on democracy. It’s important and you go against it at your peril.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
Not only are they standing in the way of progress, but they are thumbing their noses at the completely democratic binding referendum that was held on the relocation of the Nelson Park facilities to this site. In an overwhelming result, nearly 2 to 1 voted in favour of this relocation.
The Hastings District Council and, more recently, the Sports Park Trust has simply been putting this wish into action. In the last few days I have been inundated with outraged people wanting to know who these 5 people are and why don’t they publicly front up.
These are very good questions. The group is led by former Regional Councillor Allan Baldock. He is supported by about 3 other orchardists and a couple of supporters. There principle concern relates to the use of the horticultural land for the Sports Park. While people may be understanding of this argument, how does this group line up the significant areas of their own properties in packhouses and buildings with the public argument they are mounting.
In my role as Mayor I have to be accountable and transparent. This group who are opposing this park cannot expect to stand in the way of a democratic process and not have their own actions considered.
What we are trying to build at Percival Road is a Regional Sports Park for the people of Hawke's Bay. The project is large and ambitious and naturally involves some controversy. My fellow Trustees, Rex Graham, Colin Stone and Murray McCaw and I are passionate and committed to delivering a 50-million-dollar facility which meets the needs of our community for the next 20 – 50 years. We are heartened by the tremendous support we have received in the past 3 days. Maybe this small group that is opposing the wish of the people should take some time out to reflect on democracy. It’s important and you go against it at your peril.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Funding the Hawks
The collapse of the Hawks Franchise is a major blow to basketball, sport and the region.
How could a team that has been at the very top of the field for the past five years be left wallowing in debt and an uncertain future? The team has wonderful players, a great coach and has been enjoyed by thousands of people.
It is simple really. It hasn’t been able to raise enough money to keep the business together. There are, no doubt, significant questions around this aspect, but this is not the first time this has happened to the Hawks.
Former Hawks Boss, Jeremy Bayliss, once before rescued the ashes while some businesses paid off former debt. Jeremy was once again called in this time, but is unable to put a deal together unless somebody can put together $100k to fund previous debt. The people who are owed this money are local businesses who have provided services, including travel.
The difficulty in operating businesses in the sports arena should not be underestimated. It involves a complex mix of sponsorship, ticket sales and usually gaming trust support. The success of this mix always involves the success of the team on the court or the field.
Hawke's Bay Rugby struggled for years until a few people had a vision to transform the game to the next level, and look at the result. We have a highly successful team with very popular public support and, I am sure, a very solid balance sheet.
This is what makes the Hawks demise such a tragedy. It had all the other ingredients yet those responsible for it s financial management could not address the ongoing costs. Worse, as I understand it, nobody in the know actually informed the key sponsors and supporters of the looming problems until it was too late.
In my discussions in the past few days it appears there is a viable way for the franchise to continue, but dealing with the former debts is a problem. As the Chairman of the Pettigrew.Green Arena, I am bitterly disappointed that one of our flagship users has fallen over. The success of the team has put the Arena and the region on the map.
We must do better in the region. When we have success, we must look after it. If there are problems they must be shared so a solution can be found.
Those are my thoughts for the week.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
How could a team that has been at the very top of the field for the past five years be left wallowing in debt and an uncertain future? The team has wonderful players, a great coach and has been enjoyed by thousands of people.
It is simple really. It hasn’t been able to raise enough money to keep the business together. There are, no doubt, significant questions around this aspect, but this is not the first time this has happened to the Hawks.
Former Hawks Boss, Jeremy Bayliss, once before rescued the ashes while some businesses paid off former debt. Jeremy was once again called in this time, but is unable to put a deal together unless somebody can put together $100k to fund previous debt. The people who are owed this money are local businesses who have provided services, including travel.
The difficulty in operating businesses in the sports arena should not be underestimated. It involves a complex mix of sponsorship, ticket sales and usually gaming trust support. The success of this mix always involves the success of the team on the court or the field.
Hawke's Bay Rugby struggled for years until a few people had a vision to transform the game to the next level, and look at the result. We have a highly successful team with very popular public support and, I am sure, a very solid balance sheet.
This is what makes the Hawks demise such a tragedy. It had all the other ingredients yet those responsible for it s financial management could not address the ongoing costs. Worse, as I understand it, nobody in the know actually informed the key sponsors and supporters of the looming problems until it was too late.
In my discussions in the past few days it appears there is a viable way for the franchise to continue, but dealing with the former debts is a problem. As the Chairman of the Pettigrew.Green Arena, I am bitterly disappointed that one of our flagship users has fallen over. The success of the team has put the Arena and the region on the map.
We must do better in the region. When we have success, we must look after it. If there are problems they must be shared so a solution can be found.
Those are my thoughts for the week.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
High interest in Hawke's Bay
Last weekend Mayor Barbara Arnott and I spent the weekend in London at the New Zealand Opportunities Expo. This is an expo which seeks to attract UK people to relocate to New Zealand. The expo has nearly 50 stands with employers, bankers, recruitment agencies and some regions.
This is the fifth year we have done this and from a Hawke’s Bay perspective it is a very cost-effective way of filling some critical skilled roles within the region. Every year we have attracted around 60 families to live in Hawke’s Bay from this one weekend. It involves detailed follow-up work after the expo, but the people who have moved here love it.
This year the response was even greater than normal. Our region’s stand was swamped with people eager to find out more. This follows a similar experience the previous weekend in Leeds. Quite clearly we were one of the most popular stands at both expos. Mayor Barbara and I presented seminars to packed audiences of over 300 people where we shared lots of information about how we live and what we have to offer.
We are well-known in the UK market for three things. Our lifestyle, our wine and Art Deco. It is a pleasure to speak to so many people who have already done detailed homework on the region. Many have even gone as far as to check out individual schools.
I was amazed at the number of highly qualified and skilled couples who simply wanted to bring their children up in a better environment. They understand their incomes will drop, but are staggered at our reasonable cost of living. They believe they can have a far better quality of life in our region. And they can.
It is a courageous decision to up sticks and travel to the other side of the world to live, complete with children, furniture and pets. I respect that courage and if they have the skills we need then we welcome them with open arms. Over the two weekends we had over 600 expressions of interest in relocating. Not all will come, but I am proud to live in a region which is so attractive to others.
Those are my thoughts for the week.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
This is the fifth year we have done this and from a Hawke’s Bay perspective it is a very cost-effective way of filling some critical skilled roles within the region. Every year we have attracted around 60 families to live in Hawke’s Bay from this one weekend. It involves detailed follow-up work after the expo, but the people who have moved here love it.
This year the response was even greater than normal. Our region’s stand was swamped with people eager to find out more. This follows a similar experience the previous weekend in Leeds. Quite clearly we were one of the most popular stands at both expos. Mayor Barbara and I presented seminars to packed audiences of over 300 people where we shared lots of information about how we live and what we have to offer.
We are well-known in the UK market for three things. Our lifestyle, our wine and Art Deco. It is a pleasure to speak to so many people who have already done detailed homework on the region. Many have even gone as far as to check out individual schools.
I was amazed at the number of highly qualified and skilled couples who simply wanted to bring their children up in a better environment. They understand their incomes will drop, but are staggered at our reasonable cost of living. They believe they can have a far better quality of life in our region. And they can.
It is a courageous decision to up sticks and travel to the other side of the world to live, complete with children, furniture and pets. I respect that courage and if they have the skills we need then we welcome them with open arms. Over the two weekends we had over 600 expressions of interest in relocating. Not all will come, but I am proud to live in a region which is so attractive to others.
Those are my thoughts for the week.
I’m Lawrence Yule.
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