Moratorium call shortsighted

The recent call for a moratorium on investment from one major industry sector against another is a disappointing signal of the potentially divisive nature of our economy, Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said today.

“The Tourism Export Council should be looking to support all sectors within our economy as opposed to jumping on a band wagon against one primary industry. Disappointingly they have singled out only one beneficiary of irrigation – dairying - because the TEC believes they are not worthy of investment in light of the current downturn in returns.

“Added to the short sighted view the belief irrigation is solely for the benefit of dairy farmers is naive.

“To ignore the multiple benefits of water storage for the wide number of communities and industries is disingenuous at best. New Zealand’s economy is small and as a result very dynamic, greatly affected by moderate change in taste, markets and trends overseas.

Irrigation takes many forms, supports many other industries beyond dairy and has been proven to provide the environmental benefits sought by the Tourism Export Council. Currently Tasman is working through a process to provide for a dam to service urban and commercial interests, environmental well-being of a river and a local economy based predominantly on horticulture.

“In Tasman these benefits are all to the advantage of tourism. An augmented supply in the river aids the environmental well-being of the river which turn feeds the producers of our world class wine, beverage, horticulture and food businesses all of which are part of the attraction to the Tasman District

“This option for a secure water supply will not attract dairying as the land is not suitable and is too expensive as prime cropping land.

“Tasman is an area tourism has been keen to take advantage of – magnificent food and beverages within a scenic area serviced by one of the best cycle trails in the country; all of which will benefit from an augmented secure water supply.

“To make arbitrary statements about one sector without fully realizing the consequences of those statements can create divisions in what is small and effective economy can only have a negative impact. A combined and cohesive economy is necessary to ensure the country has some level of resilience against the international market changes that can have a lasting effect. Surely attacking a sector while they’re down and a means of harnessing our most valuable resource is not the solution.”

ENDS

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