Jacki Thompson

The Whakatāne Marina project is shaping up to be less about progress and more about a reckless gamble with our environment and community.

Those championing this so-called “boon for business” seem blissfully ignorant – or conveniently dismissive – of the ticking environmental time bomb beneath the riverbed.

Dioxins, hazardous pollutants embedded in sediments due to historical industrial activity, pose catastrophic risks if disturbed.

Do supporters genuinely believe that saltwater intrusion into our drinking supply during dry summers wouldn’t bring these toxins along for the ride?

If these pollutants are released into the river, it’s not just marine life at risk – pipi beds, whitebait, and the recreational use of The Heads and bridge could all become relics of the past.

But don’t worry, right? They’ll monitor it. Because when it comes to hazardous materials, a clipboard and a checklist are all you need, just like our amazing top-notch roads.

The council’s so-called mitigations – careful excavation, containment, and bonds – are as reassuring as an umbrella in a hurricane.

Breaches aren’t hypothetical; they’re inevitable, especially during extreme weather.

Yet, instead of facing the issue with the seriousness it demands, the council and stakeholders are content rolling the dice with our community’s future.

If this fiasco moves forward, a referendum must be held to ensure public input. The stakes are too high for this to be decided behind closed doors.

And when the inevitable legal and environmental fallout occurs, remember who warned you: not the developers, not the investors, and certainly not the cheerleaders for this disaster-in-waiting.

Progress? Peril? Or just plain irresponsibility. You decide.