Ciaran Keogh's presentation at the "Growing Green" conference, Auckland

Here you are, Anon's-all and anyone else interested to hear and see what our ex-CEO is saying about farming and Councils, now that there's some distance between himself and us.

We're full!

Southland has full house of dairy farms - report
(Southland Times front-page story)

"Southland cannot handle any more dairy farms.
 A report detailing the state of the environment is due out next month and according to Environment Southland chief executive Ciaran Keogh the region cannot deal with any more effects from intensified farming."

That's a killer opening paragraph right there, reporter Scot MacKay! Perhaps that's why the story's not on-line.

I suspect that once teased out, the story will be that while present practices and the effects of those on the environment make the 'full-house' claim true, changes to those farming ways can allow for the expansion that Fonterra are banking on.
At least that's the message behind the article and Mr Keogh's headline-grabbing claim, in my opinion. He'll have curdled the milk in the coffee of the DairyNZ and Fonterra executives coffee this morning though - the hot-line to his office will be fizzing!
Many Southlanders will be satisfied with the first part of the story, and won't buy the 'we can squeeze more on if we tidy up our act' sub-plot. In fact, they'll likely think we passed the point of fullness long ago. Certainly the wounded Waituna Lagoon broadcasts that message loud and clear. Farmers though, are still adamant that there must be no limit to the number of cows! It's a collision-course situation, in my view, and already there are casualties. The report described in the article by Mr Keogh will be interpreted by many as sure proof that farming is destroying our rivers and lagoons and that while farmers and their agents are beginning to talk the talk, they ain't walking.
"The council has signalled the report is not good news for the region, but will provide a way forward to manage it", reporter Scott reports.
"In terms of runoff from farms we cannot handle any more, in fact in some areas we need to reduce it", Mr Keogh bravely states.
Good man.
We need to hear truth, not platitudes.

Opinions divided on one council for Southland idea

Nicola Fallow, SIT journalism student has this to say about proposals for a unitary authority for Southland:
"The idea of creating a unitary authority, combining Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council, Gore District Council and Environment Southland, is back on the agenda in the lead-up to this year’s local elections and as the Auckland super-city takes shape." read more.

For my money, Ciaran Keogh has it about right where he said:

"A lot of shared-services were happening already in Southland and more political leadership, rather than less, was required.

“There has been a serious lack of leadership from central government that’s being resolved from the bottom up instead of from the top down.”
“First Principles are a sound place to start,”.

Thanks Nicola. Nice work.