Brendan Horan

It is deeply concerning that our councillors chose not to second Mayor Victor Luca’s Mayoral Task Force report, effectively preventing it from being tabled for public information.

This manoeuvre is clearly an attempt to silence an evidence-based report prepared by a task force whose members boast more degrees than a Fahrenheit thermometer.

The residents of the Whakatāne district deserve the full facts. Shutting down discussion and stifling alternative viewpoints is straight out of the American-style playbook, where only one narrative is allowed to dominate. That approach does not serve democracy, and it certainly does not serve the people of our district.

The Matatā Wastewater report which is being relied upon is easy to misinterpret. Take, for example, the costings per household. The review calculates operational costs based on an assumed 400 households. The reality? Approximately 260 households exist. To suggest that 140 new homes will be constructed within three years to fill the gap is wishful thinking of the highest order.

Let’s be frank: if councillors truly believe that such a development is on the horizon, they must be sniffing pixie dust. At a modest estimate of $600,000 to build a new home and section, we are talking about a, $84 million development. That kind of project has not been seen in Whakatāne for decades – so why should anyone accept such unrealistic growth projections now?

The council’s naivety (and that’s being kind) is double edged as Matatā ratepayers may wake up to find its operational costs and rates overwhelming – just like Rotoiti residents who have a severe case of buyers’ remorse.

Costs for their similar system is $900 targeted sewerage rates per household, as well as approximately $3000 a year as their contribution to the scheme. On top of that they pay their normal rates and increased electricity costs to operate the system.

Are Matatā residents aware of the true costs to their household?

Elected representatives must ground their decisions in fact, not fantasy. Ratepayers are being asked to shoulder costs based on inaccurate figures, and that is unacceptable. We must insist on transparency, accountability, and realism – not political tricks to bury inconvenient reports. These types of actions waste ratepayers’ money.

I stand for a council that listens to evidence-based data and values professional expertise, and above all, respects the right of our community to know the full picture. Whakatāne deserves nothing less.