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Regional Impacts - Southland Lignite Presentation

Learn about the impacts of Southland's lignite resources on the region, including potential challenges and benefits. Explore the future plans for coal-based industries and the big questions surrounding population growth and development. Prepare for the future with a district growth strategy.

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Regional Impacts - Southland Lignite Presentation

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  1. Regional Impacts – Southland Lignite Presentation by Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks

  2. What is Southland known for? • Oysters • Friendly people • Strong agricultural sector • Trout fishing • Burt Munro Rally • Spectacular scenery • Southern Institute of Technology • Tiwai Aluminium Smelter

  3. What is Gore known for? • New Zealand’s capital of brown trout fishing and country music HOME OF … • NZ Gold Guitar Awards • Eastern Southland Gallery (nicknamed the Goreggenheim) • Hokonui Fashion Design Awards • Southern Field Days • Hokonui Moonshiners Festival • All Blacks Jimmy Cowan & Justin Marshall

  4. Southland today • Population approx 90,000 (2.3% of NZ) • Only 2.6 people per km²(15 people nationally) • Land area 3,035,577 ha (12.0% of New Zealand land area) • Three local authorities/one regional council • Declining and ageing population • Shift in farming sector from sheep/beef to dairying

  5. Coal Resources • NOW • 3 billion tonnes recoverable lignite in the Gore District (coalnz.com) • Solid Energy main stakeholder • New Vale coal mine – output 250,000 tonnes pa • Soon-to-be-commissioned $25m briquetting plant • Plant to produce 90,000 tonnes of briquettes from 150,000 tonnes of lignite

  6. Into the future Coal to fertiliser plant Output: 1.2million tonnes urea pa (initial investigations but Solid Energy now considering other plant sizes) Cost: $NZ1.5 billion Jobs: Construction 1000 plus over 2/3 years Plant 250 Mine 250 Location: Decision at the end of 2012 at the earliest

  7. Further into the future • Coal to Liquid Fuels • Input/output: Unknown • Cost: $NZ10 billion plus • Jobs: Construction 4000 over 3/4 years • Plant 600 • Mine 600 • Commercial plant potentially operating by 2019-2020

  8. Impacts • Local, regional & national • Potential impacts on air quality, water, ecology, traffic, noise • Local authorities will have RMA and community advocacy roles • Challenge will be how they balance these roles • Recognise growth brings social change • Maximise benefits while minimising impacts

  9. The Big Questions Population growth - how will it affect • Our medical services • Our schools • Our recreational facilities • Our safe communities • Our municipal infrastructure Development but not at any cost

  10. More Big Questions • Where will the people live? • Where do we build new houses? • Do we have enough water for them? • Is there enough electricity? • Will there be an increase in tourism? • Will the pool be crowded? • Will McDonalds get crowded?

  11. Will there be enough … • Doctors • Dentists • Emergency service personal • Police • Schools • Playgrounds • Recreation facilities • Restaurants

  12. What can we do? Prepare - be proactive not reactive • GDC has commissioned background studies on • Social and economic framework • Transport model • Urban infrastructure • Landscape • Framework to assess ecological values Next Step: A District Growth Strategy

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