The future use and protection of the Tukituki River catchment is up for discussion with the release of a document outlining a range of options for the future management of the river catchment.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has been working on a range of solutions for the Tukituki catchment since before 2008, to achieve positive environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes for the region, leading the region to a prosperous future.

The ‘Tukituki Choices’ discussion document offers four different scenarios for land and water management in the Tukituki catchment, two with water storage and two without.

HBRC Group Manager Strategic Development Helen Codlin says the document includes environmental outcomes and the economic benefits and costs of each scenario so that the effect of each choice can be clearly understood.

“Our decisions in this catchment will flow through to the rest of the region so it is important the whole community has an opportunity to comment on Tukituki Choices,” says Helen Codlin.

HBRC is seeking the public’s feedback to help it shape a land and water management framework for the Tukituki catchment and will consider this when making a decision on the next phase of the Ruataniwha Water Storage project.

The community is invited to attend a series of presentations and discussions on Tukituki Choices:

• Tukituki Choices public launch, Waipawa Municipal Theatre – Tues 11 Sept: 4-6pm
• Havelock North Function Centre – Wed 12 Sept: 5-7pm
• Waipawa Municipal Theatre – Thurs 13 Sept: 6-8pm

Additional presentations are proposed for business and grower, sector and agency member meetings. The public will also have an opportunity to discuss the choices with HBRC staff at the Hawke’s Bay Home & Garden Show – 14-16 September at McLean Park.

The Tukituki Choices document will soon be available to be downloaded from www.hbrc.govt.nz or printed copies will be available at public presentations, or Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s office in Napier. Reading copies will be available from public libraries throughout Hawke’s Bay.

Written submissions should be with HBRC by 5pm, Friday 5 October, 2012. Verbal presentations and pro-forma submissions will not be considered.

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