You cannot be SERIOUS!

Not nice to read an interesting article in stuff.co.nz on a potential disaster about to befall the wine industry in Marlborough if the ratepayers don't cough up some reddies to loan to the local vineyards.

Snapshot:

The massive harvest last year almost caused parts of the industrial effluent treatment system to fail.

A fix must be fast tracked through the Council or the grape growers stand to lose $18 million next year.

The fix will also include a loan to the primary producers of the effluent concerned from the Riverlands and Cloudy bay areas. That will be $8 million thank you.

Upshot:

The Council (read, you the ratepayer) will loan the wine industry $8 million to ensure that they make $18 million more than they did from last years MASSIVE harvest.

We loan them money so that we can treat their effluent. What a deal.

"The Council's assets and services committee is expected on Thursday to back plans for a special council meeting to be held a week later to sign off upgrade recommendations".

That comittee would consist of;

• Clr Francis Maher (Chairperson)
  
• Clr Nigel Weetman (Deputy)
  
• Clr Warwick Brice
  
• Clr Gerald Hope
  
• Clr Pat O'Sullivan
  
• Mayor - ex officio
  
• Iwi representative (R Hunter)
  

Crikey, let's hope that any recomendation to the Council will include any refrences to potential conflicts of interests that could be percieved. If I review my previous list that would include;

• holding another public office;
  
• being an employee, advisor, director, or partner of another business or organisation;
  
• pursuing a business opportunity;
  
• being a member of a club, society, or association;
  
• having a professional or legal obligation to someone else (such as being a trustee);
  
• owning a beneficial interest in a trust;
  
• owning or occupying a piece of land;
  
• owning shares or some other investment or asset;
  
• having received a gift, hospitality, or other benefit from someone; owing a debt to someone;
  
• holding or expressing strong political or personal views that may indicate prejudice or predetermination for or against a person or issue;
  
• or being a relative or close friend of someone who has one of these interests (or who could otherwise be personally affected by a decision of the public entity).
  

Anyone willing to put their hand up or cast the first stone?