Board's decision represents "missed opportunity for community": New Zealand King Salmon
The draft decision released today by the EPA’s Board of Inquiry represents a missed opportunity for Marlborough, Nelson, New Zealand and the company NZ King Salmon CEO Grant Rosewarne says.
“All could have benefited so much more had we been granted additional space.”
Mr Rosewarne says the company believes commerce and conservation can live together and that the Sounds can easily support what the company had planned.
“But too often in New Zealand commerce is pitted against conservation in an adversarial way that prevents regions achieving benefits from their natural advantages. As a nation we must find a way to view development as not being contrary to environmental objectives.”
“While the Board has granted us some space to grow we are mindful that the farms must come with consent conditions which make them practical to operate. We will need more time to assess the resource consent conditions.”
Mr Rosewarne believes the region will miss out on downstream economic growth and local businesses will be denied capital development works as well as ongoing business.
“New Zealand depends on sustainable primary production to support a standard of living and a way of life we all enjoy. But Australia has recently granted almost 200 per cent more space for salmon farming than we have received at about one fifth of our cost. How does New Zealand industry compete with these realities?
“We have missed an opportunity to bring more than 370 new jobs to the Top of the South and support local businesses across a wide range of categories.
“As a company we had extremely good growth prospects but will now have to review our strategy. Our next move is to carefully examine the draft decision. We are able to comment on minor or technical aspects of the report before the Board’s final decision is issued in February.
“We acknowledge the community's voice during the process. We will continue to work hard to show them they can be proud of our wonderful world-class King salmon product in the same way that Marlborough is proud of the region’s renowned Sauvignon Blanc,” Mr Rosewarne says.
“King salmon, sustainably grown at home and in balance with the environment, is a success story for New Zealand and Marlborough. We produce a world class product sought after by some of the top chefs in the world and supply the New Zealand market with valued Omega-3s.
“We look forward to utilising the four farms we have been granted to help meet demand.
“Businesses that support the local community, the health of the nation and economic growth need to be fostered and celebrated.”