Editorial: Tapping potential

OPINION: The selection of two irrigation schemes among the four winners of a competition to find projects with a long-term potential capacity to make a significant contribution to the Canterbury economy demonstrates the significance of the appropriate use of its water resource to the region.

The fact that both schemes are extremely contentious shows also how arguments over the use of the resource are unlikely to be quickly resolved.

But if the judges are right, that these schemes are among a handful in Canterbury with the capacity to generate $100 million of revenue for Canterbury within five years and $1 billion or more in revenue within 10 years, it is obviously very important that the decisions that are reached on these projects are the right ones.

There is precious little else on the economic horizon with such potential.

The Canterbury Plains Water project and the Hurunui water project along with an international student village project and the Ellesmere Te Ao Hou solar technology project were chosen as the winners from 18 entries in the Canterbury V5 initiative.

This initiative was launched in August last year by the energetic and entrepreneurial vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury, Rod Carr.

The aim is to help potential investors and developers advance schemes for the economic betterment of the region.

Winners will have access to a wide variety of development expertise – feasibility studies, specialty consulting, legal and financial advice, public relations, marketing, strategic planning and project management – to help them move their ideas, in the words of the organisers, from "why" to "why not".

It may appear surprising that the Canterbury Plains Water project should need such help at this stage. It has, after all, been under way now for what seems like a long time.

But the project has had a rocky ride so far and has had to be pared back from what was originally planned.

If, however, it has the potential that its backers, and now the judges of Canterbury V, believe it has then it needs all the help it can get.

The fact that it, and the similarly controversial Hurunui scheme, have got the blessing of the judges does not of course mean they are a fait accompli.

They still have to make it through all the consent processes necessary, where opponents will have all the opportunity they need to have their say.

Of the other winners, the international student village project, which is jointly promoted by the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and Christchurch Polytechnic, would, if it gets off the ground, both promote Christchurch as a destination for overseas students and also help with the city council's stated aim of regenerating the inner city.

The most eye-catchingly innovative of the winners, however, is Te Ao Hou, a project supported by Ngai Tahu.

It intends to use sun power to convert waste nutrients in agricultural water runoff to make fish food for aquaculture and tourism businesses.

It is striking and disappointing that, as one of the judges, John Judge, noted, that of the 18 enterprises that entered there were none from Christchurch's vaunted electronic and IT sector.

Many of them, of course, are already successfully well established and in no need of help to get under way, but it would be dismaying if there were no new such enterprises seeking to make a start.

Because, as another judge, Ruth Richardson, commented, even with water projects, Canterbury, and New Zealand, cannot afford simply to produce low-value commodities if it is to succeed. We must use our resources to produce high-quality products that bring better returns.

Canterbury V is one of the few concrete developments to come out of any of the jobs summits held at the peak of the economic crisis last year.

While people may differ over the judges' selection, if it achieves its aim of bringing real economic gain to the province it will be well worthwhile.

Canterbury people, it sometimes seems, are ready enough to gripe and moan and object to any project put forward (while wondering why anyone with any drive and gumption tends to get up and leave).

This is a wholly worthy effort to bring a more positive attitude to change and development.

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