Letter to the editor: Uneconomic Growth?

I noted with interest that the SoRDS group has identified 5 potential aquaculture sites (http://snip.ly/v9miy). The sites listed are: Preservation and Chalky inlets in Fiordland and Paterson Inlet, Port Adventure and Port Pegasus on Stewart Island. There are 2 reasons why the choice of sites is interesting.

First, four proposed locations (exc Port Adventure) are Marine Reserves. The Regional Coastal Plan (Policy 15.1.3 - http://snip.ly/8s797) states that marine farming of any type is not appropriate or permitted within Marine Reserves. "It is considered that the effects from marine farming activities are incompatible with maintaining these water bodies in their present state and therefore this activity should be avoided."

Second, none of the locations are anywhere near mainland Southland, which is strange, as servicing mainland locations would surely be more cost effective..? I can only draw the conclusion here that the water quality isn't good enough?

I hear people repeatedly expressing the fear that environment-friendly government would ruin the economy and destroy jobs. The opposite is true - the only thing that will maintain a stable society and economy and create lasting fulfilling jobs is environment-friendly government policies. This is a point made recently by the Chief Economist at the New Zealand Treasury, as reported by Wise Response: http://bit.ly/2b4U2vW.

Nathan Surendran - 2016 candidate Environment Southland. Learn more about my perspective at http://snip.ly/kangg

4th Sept 2016

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