The Hawke’s Bay Horticulture Growers’ Taskforce is frustrated with the lack of response to a simple equation it put to the Government – give us $750 million and save the region $3.5 billion. The taskforce, which is made up of industry and iwi leaders and backed by the Hawke’s Bay Recovery Agency and Hastings District Council, has done detailed studies of the damage done to crops by Cyclone Gabrielle. Its figures align with those of the MPI and an international consulting firm engaged by Rockit Apples to be officially released this week. They sent a $750 million recovery package to the Government on April 4 and are yet to receive a response.
Taskforce member Gus Charteris says the Hawke’s Bay horticultural industry faces a $1.5 billion bill for silt removal and repairs alone. He says they don’t want the full amount, just a contribution to get back on their feet. Orchardist Bryden Nesbit says silt-removal ranges from $1000 per hectare to $130,000 or in one case it’s been $70,000 per hectare. Some growers are in the midst of silt removal, while others don’t know where to start or simply can’t afford to. He says that’s why the $750 million recovery package is so important. Without it, estimates are that the Hawke’s Bay economy could lose $3.5 billion between now and 2030.