Southland's billion dollar aquaculture quest gets 'fast track' boost
“These projects, if consented, will provide benefits to the Southland regional economy, including high-paying jobs, increased exports, and reliable infrastructure."
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A quest to grow Southland’s economy through aquaculture has just been given a boost - in terms of the speed of the consenting process.
The Government has announced 149 projects with significant regional or national benefits, to be fast-tracked for approval under the Fast-track Approvals Bill.
Four of those projects approved are from the Southland region and three of those four are aligned to aquaculture.
The Southland projects for fast-track are:
Sanford Ltd’s Makarewa Hatchery project, which involves the construction and operation of a land-based recirculating water salmon hatchery on a 24-hectare former abattoir site.
Ngai Tahu’s Hananui Aquaculture project, which aims to develop a 2500-hectare site of marine space for marine farming (finfish).
ImpactMarine Bluff Ltd’s sustainable and climate-resilient aquaculture project, involves the construction and operation of a land-based salmon farm and processing facility.
An Invercargill City Council Awarua Alternate Water Supply project, providing a standalone, reliable, secondary water source for the residents and businesses of Invercargill from groundwater bores, capable of providing approximately 20 million litres of additional treated water per day.
Consent for those projects could still be declined though.
Aquaculture is a key component in the Beyond 2025: Southland Regional Development Plan which was launched last year.
The plan points to the opportunity the potential $1b aquaculture industry could provide the region.
“We could be the number one region in the world utilising our natural advantages of a cooler climate and clearer waters,” the plan explains.
It is proposed to grow aquaculture in Southland into a $1b industry by 2035 contributing one-third of New Zealand’s $3b goal.
This would equate to Southland increasing its salmon production from 5000 tonnes to per tonne to approximately 40,000 tonne.
Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds said each Fast-track Approvals Bill project will be reviewed by an expert panel.
The panels will contain expertise relevant to the project, environmental issues, and Treaty considerations.
“They will balance environmental protection with the need for growth, and if the environmental impacts are deemed excessive the panel can decline the project,” Simmonds said.
“These projects, if consented, will provide benefits to the Southland regional economy, including high-paying jobs, increased exports, and reliable infrastructure.
“Successive governments have allowed red and green tape to hinder economic growth, delaying much-needed infrastructure and housing projects.
“The Fast-track Approvals Bill cuts through this bureaucracy, enabling projects of national and regional significance to proceed more quickly and efficiently.”
Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop said the bill is yet to pass, and there are a few steps to go through, but it is expected some of these projects will be accepted by next year.