The fertile soils on the Heretaunga Plains have spoken!

The outcome of the Future Development Strategy from the Hastings District Council:

The fertile soils on the Heretaunga Plains have spoken!

They are free to breathe again.

The Hastings District Council met 22nd July to finally decide on the Future Development Strategy (FDS) for the Hastings District’s plan for growth for the next 30 years.

Councilor Alwyn Corban put forward a motion to exclude the 54ha Middle Rd site and the 11 ha Wall Rd site from the recommendations put forward by five independent commissioners.

His motion was passed with a 7 – 6 majority vote on the 26th June.

The council then decided to vote on his motion again 22nd July; just to make sure, and it passed again, this time 8 – 5.

Actually, the Middle Rd area has been voted on three times by HDC councilors. The first time was in November 2024. This vote as unanimous to exclude Middle Rd.

Just how many times does this issue need to be voted on, for those wanting to develop the area, to get the message that the people don’t want this area of fertile soil to be destroyed forever.

So Middle Rd and Wall Rd have been removed from the FDS due to their LUC Class 2 soils status.

This is a win for the soils and a win for the Save the Plains Group who have been working so hard to put a stop to the relentless urban sprawl over our highly fertile food producing soils.

This win is very significant; it is not just about preventing residential development over these two areas, but it also sends a strong message that this type of vandalistic behaviour over our LUC 1, 2 and 3 soils won’t be tolerated anymore.

HDC planners, developers and landowners on LUC 1, 2 & 3 soils; think again!

The people of Hawke’s Bay have spoken and they don’t want any more houses, concrete and asphalt planted on our precious whenua.

We have so much unproductive land we can build our houses on which is the only sustainable option, not only for our regional economy but for our future generations to come.

Well done Alwyn..!!

So here is how the HDC voted:

Those that voted for the motion were:

Alwyn of course.

Malcolm Dixon who was Alwyn's seconder.

Damon Harvey.

Kevin Watkins.

Ana Apatu.

Kellie Jessip.

Henry Heke.

Heather Te Au-Skipworth.

Against:

Sandra Hazlehurst.

Wendy Schollum.

Marcus Buddo.

Simon Nixon.

Michael Fowler.

Those that didn’t vote:

Tania Kerr was overseas.

Hana Montaperto-Hendry declared a conflict of interest.

Richard Gaddum holding one of the large awareness billboards across the Heretaunga Plains.

A win for the soils!