The Southland Economic Project is a joint initiative between Environment Southland, DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), Te Ao Marama, the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Department of Conservation and the Southland Chamber of Commerce.
It will develop the tools for understanding how future policy options to manage water quality in catchments could affect the economy and communities.
Environment Southland chairwoman Ali Timms said the project is about agreeing on how to get the right economic picture for Southland to use in decision-making.
“This project is not about deciding outcomes but working out how we get there.
“We are investing in the tools now for use in future decision-making around the setting of catchment limits.
“It’s critical that we do this the right way for the community,” she said.
B+LNZ southern South Island director Andrew Morrison said the sheep-and-beef sector made a significant economic contribution to the region and it was working to ensure its impact was environmentally sustainable.
“B+LNZ is committed to working alongside Environment Southland and others to make sure Southlanders continue to enjoy the economic benefits sheep-and-beef farming brings while preserving the region’s special environment.”
DairyNZ senior economist Matthew Newman said: “We welcome the initiative of a joint and collaborative approach on such a complex issue as water quality.
“Everyone agrees that water quality is essential – the question is what impact different policies have on the Southland economy and the well-being of our communities.
'This project is not about deciding outcomes but working out how we get there. We are investing in the tools now for use in future decision-making around the setting of catchment limits.'
“Our experience is that working on a joint venture and taking the time to do the analysis properly leads to much better outcomes for everyone involved.
“It is an opportunity to ensure the analysis is robust, backed by the expertise of industry groups,” he said.
Timms said recent Government studies indicated the direct economic costs of managing land use for water quality in Southland could have considerable impact on the regional economy over the short-to-medium term.
However, as the economy met environmental constraints the longer term picture was less clear.
“There will be challenges for the region and we need to turn them into opportunities.
“This project is a major investment in Southland’s future,” Timms said.
