As a resident of Marlborough, I know how much we all enjoy our beautiful natural environment.
From boating and swimming in the Marlborough Sounds to those sweeping views up the Awatere Valley to majestic Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku, we have a lot of wonderful things going for us here.
It’s up to us all to protect our stunning region now and for the future. Therefore, climate change goals and environmental sustainability are a priority for any decisions made by Council.
As Mayor it has always been a priority for Councillors, council staff, our community, businesses, iwi and other stakeholders to work together to develop a collective vision for the long-term health of the region’s environment.
As part of that, Council’s role is to set clear parameters around how landowners can use and develop their land. Likewise for our successful aquaculture industry. A balance must always be struck to ensure economic growth isn’t achieved at the detriment of our environment.
Policies around land use must be set in a manner that promotes environmental sustainability but also works well for the landowners who are subject to those rules, and doesn’t inhibit business.
Any planning document that governs land management needs to be user-friendly and not overly complex, offer a level of adaptability so as not to be unreasonable, and guide decisions effectively that are made in the best interest of our region’s natural and physical resources.
This includes resources such as fresh water and coastal space.
Over the past few years, Council has been working to bring together the Marlborough Regional Policy Statement, the Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan and the Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan.
The creation of a single resource management document for the district is a positive leap forward in creating a clear system that will guide all future Councils toward decisions that are in the best interest of our environment, while continuing to respect land and sea users and stimulate economic growth.
There are other ways in which our Council can show true leadership in sustainability, by setting goals to reduce our own carbon emissions, investing resources into better understanding the long term consequences of climate change, and adapting and measuring the effectiveness of our response.
Resources have already been allocated by Council toward this, including establishing measures and a co-ordinated response across Council.
We have responsibility as a Council and a community to lead future enhancement of our whole region to be a place that is renowned internationally for its environment, sustainable and successful business practices, recreational and tourism experiences, and healthy, vibrant communities.
As Mayor, continuing to build on the work already done and showing strong leadership in these areas will always remain a priority for me.
