“It’s disappointing considering the hype and what was in the regional plan which was published on the 28th of June. As a councillor I’ve had no explanations.”
I am extremely disappointed to read that two Mayors in our Province are ok with the fact that Canterbury rather than Southland is going to benefit from all the hard work of the Great South team in trying to secure up to 80 new jobs in the deep South. Nowhere has anyone criticised the Great South Board. However what needs to be criticised is that the Great South Board Chairman is part of a 3 person NZFF board that made the decision to build in Canterbury rather than Makarewa and he voted in support. The reason he was on the NZFF Board in the first place was so he could represent Southlands interests. Surely if Councils are to continue to support Great South and I for one believe they should then they need to seriously consider electing a chair from our province rather than one who does not live here. That way we can be assured that the first thing the chair will do is support the province which on this occasion has been sadly lacking. I applaud Councillor Pottinger and others for ensuring that a full enquiry be made into why this unfortunate outcome has been allowed to happen.
Paddy, this is a commercial opportunity that is driven by the market and will only succeed with external investment. Without that investment, the project could carry on for another 10 years and not land anywhere. Yes it is dissapointing that the factory is not in Southland, but we need to look at the bigger picture here. If ILT wants to secure it in Southland, you could stump up the capital required and buy the shares in NZFF. Again, yes it is dissapointing the plant might be built out of our region, but we need to look at the fact that it is going ahead, and celebrate that. The shares that Great South own on our behalf have value. The board and the chair are still acting in Southland's interests, albeit with a different outcome that wasn't initially expected (Rob Scott - Mayor of Southland)
Rob you have missed my point. If what you say in your reply is correct then the people of Southland should have been told that not lead along the path of the prospect of 70-80 jobs been created. If the fact that the project will only succeed with external investment then that should have been communicated. The people of Southland have every right now to ask what other projects where job oportunities are being bandied around for the province are not going to come to fruition because they need external investment? All we ever ask is transparency , we do not like surprises.
I look forward to a full and transparent disclosure from Great South, if and when they divest their shares in NZFF, at present their share value in what is currently a project in train is probably outweighed by the time and investment that has gone into the development to date, further investment and share issues will not increase the overall value of their shares.
The outcome you speak of is minimal in terms of the expected outcomes,
eg continual employment, continual regional spend and wages, population growth, contributions to rates and infrastructure (3 waters etc through rates and usage charges). Not to mention an increase in costs for growers (if they so choose) to move their goods out of region, none of this aligns with the intent or regional growth and lessening of climate impacts. I would love to see your numbers of how in the short, medium, long term the "value" in the shares can in any way shape or form if sold off would outweigh the benefit to the region.
The biggest issue however, "secrecy" and putting out a plan 23 days before an announcement that included the plant when it would have been well known the possibility was slim, makes the beyond 2025 project a joke as it is now potentially missing quite a significant part.
What other potential developments might we look at for southland, that may be better commercially in another region that we'll take the same approach on?
As the mayor of a council that cant control its finances and is increasing rates at almost twice the rate of inflation I would have thought you would have been passionate about any development that would broaden the rate base of the SDC.
To support anything that takes money and jobs out of Southland is shameful for anyone in the position you are in. Surely you would have wanted to see some transparent process and due diligence done to see if investors could be found to make the proposal happen locally.
Makarewa has a rail connection, is well served by several highways, is in close proximity to the growers and is close to a decent sized workforce. And is in the SDC area as are many of the growers. That last point should be the big one for you.
You can't sell a proposed project to rate payers where rate money is used on a project where we are continually told how much the region will benefit and then pull the rug out as other players came into the project and suddenly move to where u think u will get a better deal. You have put out promos that have conned people into supporting this project.
Therd is a man with a high profile role in great south who is,also a trustee of nzff sounds like a great conflict of interest.
Really gutted that all the players in this province couldn't make it happen here.
We got Icentral that is going to be a financial burden in years to came. Yes I like what has happened in the block but it doesn't help rate payers.
The new oat milk plant would be a business that employerd people putting money into our economy and that is what we need.
I am extremely disappointed to read that two Mayors in our Province are ok with the fact that Canterbury rather than Southland is going to benefit from all the hard work of the Great South team in trying to secure up to 80 new jobs in the deep South. Nowhere has anyone criticised the Great South Board. However what needs to be criticised is that the Great South Board Chairman is part of a 3 person NZFF board that made the decision to build in Canterbury rather than Makarewa and he voted in support. The reason he was on the NZFF Board in the first place was so he could represent Southlands interests. Surely if Councils are to continue to support Great South and I for one believe they should then they need to seriously consider electing a chair from our province rather than one who does not live here. That way we can be assured that the first thing the chair will do is support the province which on this occasion has been sadly lacking. I applaud Councillor Pottinger and others for ensuring that a full enquiry be made into why this unfortunate outcome has been allowed to happen.
Paddy, this is a commercial opportunity that is driven by the market and will only succeed with external investment. Without that investment, the project could carry on for another 10 years and not land anywhere. Yes it is dissapointing that the factory is not in Southland, but we need to look at the bigger picture here. If ILT wants to secure it in Southland, you could stump up the capital required and buy the shares in NZFF. Again, yes it is dissapointing the plant might be built out of our region, but we need to look at the fact that it is going ahead, and celebrate that. The shares that Great South own on our behalf have value. The board and the chair are still acting in Southland's interests, albeit with a different outcome that wasn't initially expected (Rob Scott - Mayor of Southland)
Rob you have missed my point. If what you say in your reply is correct then the people of Southland should have been told that not lead along the path of the prospect of 70-80 jobs been created. If the fact that the project will only succeed with external investment then that should have been communicated. The people of Southland have every right now to ask what other projects where job oportunities are being bandied around for the province are not going to come to fruition because they need external investment? All we ever ask is transparency , we do not like surprises.
Rob,
I look forward to a full and transparent disclosure from Great South, if and when they divest their shares in NZFF, at present their share value in what is currently a project in train is probably outweighed by the time and investment that has gone into the development to date, further investment and share issues will not increase the overall value of their shares.
The outcome you speak of is minimal in terms of the expected outcomes,
eg continual employment, continual regional spend and wages, population growth, contributions to rates and infrastructure (3 waters etc through rates and usage charges). Not to mention an increase in costs for growers (if they so choose) to move their goods out of region, none of this aligns with the intent or regional growth and lessening of climate impacts. I would love to see your numbers of how in the short, medium, long term the "value" in the shares can in any way shape or form if sold off would outweigh the benefit to the region.
The biggest issue however, "secrecy" and putting out a plan 23 days before an announcement that included the plant when it would have been well known the possibility was slim, makes the beyond 2025 project a joke as it is now potentially missing quite a significant part.
What other potential developments might we look at for southland, that may be better commercially in another region that we'll take the same approach on?
As the mayor of a council that cant control its finances and is increasing rates at almost twice the rate of inflation I would have thought you would have been passionate about any development that would broaden the rate base of the SDC.
To support anything that takes money and jobs out of Southland is shameful for anyone in the position you are in. Surely you would have wanted to see some transparent process and due diligence done to see if investors could be found to make the proposal happen locally.
Makarewa has a rail connection, is well served by several highways, is in close proximity to the growers and is close to a decent sized workforce. And is in the SDC area as are many of the growers. That last point should be the big one for you.
What a load of…..we’ve ended up with milk on our face !
You can't sell a proposed project to rate payers where rate money is used on a project where we are continually told how much the region will benefit and then pull the rug out as other players came into the project and suddenly move to where u think u will get a better deal. You have put out promos that have conned people into supporting this project.
Therd is a man with a high profile role in great south who is,also a trustee of nzff sounds like a great conflict of interest.
Really gutted that all the players in this province couldn't make it happen here.
We got Icentral that is going to be a financial burden in years to came. Yes I like what has happened in the block but it doesn't help rate payers.
The new oat milk plant would be a business that employerd people putting money into our economy and that is what we need.