Quite often a mayor's role involves influencing the public and acting as promoter of local government ideals and projects. The celebrity appeal of a mayor gives them a rock-star like aura which often provides god like powers of authority. According to Local Government NZ 2015, "Mayors often find that the range of issues they are asked to
respond to extends well beyond their council’s range of responsibilities, yet
even though they may not have a formal responsibility they can, by using their
“bully pulpit” role, achieve quite a lot".
The term “bully pulpit” has
become synonymous with positions of influence especially within political
spheres. Mayors have power to influence and can use this in various ways. For
example, in the Tasman region, Tasman District Council (TDC) Mayor Richard
Kempthorne conveys his opinion (where beneficial) in the local and national
media regarding the proposed Waimea dam project. The TDC Newsline is their monthly propaganda pamphlet which provides a regular platform for Mayor
Kempthorne to promote the idea that rate payers and residents alike should
accept the proposed scheme as ‘it’s within the region’s best interest’.
Regardless of this being a biased opinion, how does this promote democratic
governance?
When
investigating further into the proposed scheme, reasons for the mayors backing of
it becomes clearer. Wealthy land and business owners in the Waimea area have
influence within the council framework and wider community. This special
interest group has much to gain from increased irrigation to grow their
business yields. Hence, this message is now conveyed with a smile by Mayor
Kempthorne as being beneficial to the wider Tasman region, as it would
supposedly provide water security for businesses; create more jobs and a
stronger economy. Only positives of the proposed scheme can be noted in the
mayor’s rhetoric which amplifies his bias towards the scam.
Pictured
below, TDC conducted community hearings around the region for submissions on
the proposed Waimea dam project. Mayor Richard Kempthorne can be seen at the
far end of the table (not wearing a tie). This situation exemplifies where a
mayor can influence the public through their privileged position of the “bully
pulpit”.
Community submissions at the Takaka TDC service centre regarding
the proposed Waimea dam scheme. Sourced from Stuff NZ (2018).
On February 2, 2018 TDC committee
members voted on the proposed Waimea dam scheme to proceed. There were over
1513 submissions regarding the proposed scheme and more than 100 submissions
made in person. The TDC and allied Waimea Irrigators Limited are set to be
project partners and the project will be funded by rate payers, crown
finding and irrigators if the plan goes ahead. Although the proposed dam was voted through by the
majority of councillors, there were some against the idea. Councillor Peter
Canton said "Having considered all the submissions and evidence, I do not
support this funding model" . Mr Canton also stated he believed that to support
the resolution would be a "snub" in the face of democracy and added
"Would I die for water? Maybe. Would I die for democracy? Absolutely".
"So I can't support this because
overwhelmingly, our community has said to us that they do not support it”.
Latest figures for the proposed Waimea dam show the total cost could be $26m
more than the 2015 estimate of $82m. The forecasted cost includes $18 million
extra for contractors and another $8 million for other work-streams. This is a 37 percent increase and “unless a
solution can be found to close the gap the dam won’t go ahead,” says the Tasman
District Council.
Understandably Mayor Richard Kempthorn is “gutted” about this and fears for
Tasman’s secure future water supply. Proponents for the environment may
celebrate this outcome, especially when minimum river flow rates of 800 litres
per second come into effect in November 2018. This could mean that the Waimea
River won’t dry up as it did in the drought of 2001. Central Government are
calling for irrigation schemes to be economically viable on their own without
requiring significant public funding.
This was conveyed by Finance Minister Grant Robertson who also stated in
April 2018 “we must be mindful of the potential for large-scale irrigation to
lead to intensive farming practices which may contribute to adverse environmental
outcomes”.
Last week councillor Sue Brown attended the Local Government New Zealand
annual conference where potable water was discussed. Central Government could
be changing things such as standards, monitoring, auditing and compliance for drinking
water she says. Also, “in one way the dam could meet new water standards
Central Government are hoping to achieve”. She found the latest figures for the
planned dam “astounding” and says “this is a stop and think moment”.
Councillor
Paul Sangster says that the dam may not be needed right now, however, it would
likely be needed for future water needs in the Waimea area. Furthermore, he believes
that $26m on top of the $82m was an advance on the original estimate. Councillor
Sangster says that if there was provision within the project for generating
electricity, benefits from the scheme would be broader for the district. With
increased growth comes increased demands and this proposed scheme works to meet
such demands Cr Sangster inferred.
Funding for the project has been spent dealing with conflict to land acquisition
for the dam. In April 2018, Stuff NZ reported
that DOC, Ngāti Koata and JWJ Forestry had objected to land acquisition by the
council for the proposed dam. The ensuing mediation, court processes and
consultancy costs had apparently impacted adversely on finances. Lindsay
McKenzie chief executive of TDC at the time stated, “this is placing pressure
on the project budget."
The TDC suggests that irrigators, urban water users, the Waimea river
network and wildlife will benefit from the scheme; however, Water Information Network (WIN) says that this is not the case. WIN believes that TDC has skewed
the facts providing rate payers with false benefits and say that it’s
irrigators who’ll benefit mostly and rate payers from across the entire region would
be making contributions for years to come if the plan goes ahead.
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