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2006 Conference
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The New Zealand Association for
Impact Assessment (NZAIA) held its annual conference on:
Thursday 30 November and Friday 1 December 2006 at St Margarets College, University of Otago, Dunedin. Proceedings from the conference will be available later in 2007, in the meantime, the following provides an overview of information prepared and presented in advance of the conference. Conference Poster Article on NZAIA Annual Conference 2006 New Zealand’s energy future is at the
forefront of national and local debate as the implications of energy
shortages become more apparent. Escalating petrol prices have raised
public and political awareness of this country’s vulnerability to
imported fossil fuels, especially as many experts are predicting the world
will reach its maximum reserves of oil in about 2020. Changes to the
electricity industry have seen the move to establish generating capacity
closer to population centres, some based on fossil fuels, others on wind
energy. Increasing calls for sustainable energy based on the country’s
own resources have seen a rapid expansion in wind energy proposals, and
renewed interest in biofuels. At the same time, coal is seen as one answer
to energy security in the long term, and there is continuing pressure to
maximize hydro generation. As a consequence, many parts of the country
are seeing a variety of energy development programmes and projects, from
wind farms, hydro development, and small power stations, to alternative
and renewable sources, and even renewed interest in lignite resources. In
the absence of a clear national policy on energy development, and with so
many options competing in the energy supply markets, decision-makers,
stakeholder groups and local people are faced with major challenges when
trying to assess the merits of the various proposals. As pressure builds
up to develop energy resources quickly, there is a danger that local and
regional councils, and local communities, will be overwhelmed by the tide
of proposals. The purpose of the conference was to provide a venue for sharing current understanding of the more important types of impacts associated with the various kinds of energy development, and to seek ways to improve the contribution of impact assessment to regional and local decision making with respect to energy development. The conference addressed the broad array
of impacts of proposed energy developments, including social, cultural,
ecological and health implications. Invited speakers will provide
overviews and thematic presentations, and each session will provide
opportunities for discussion and participant involvement. Relevant, accessible, practical, worthwhile and fun featured in attendees’ descriptions of the two-day New Zealand Association for Impact Assessment conference in Dunedin, December 2006. The topic, “Assessing the Impacts of Energy Development: regional and local perspectives” was timely as several power generating companies are searching for and applying for resource consents to erect wind turbines, build hydro electricity, and develop natural gas, oil and coal as sources of electricity and other forms of energy in this nuclear free country. The programme began with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Morgan Williams, providing a keynote address focussed on “decarbonising” New Zealand’s energy future in the search for higher levels of sustainability. The need for strategic approaches and impact assessment were then considered, and considered important, particularly at the regional level. Then a number of speakers from New Zealand and Australia considered different aspects of impact assessment including visual, noise, air quality, recreation and tourism, aquatic ecology, workforce and community aspects, with reference to wind farms, fossil fuels and hydro-electricity developments in particular. The final sessions included consideration of consultation, Maori and community partnerships as well as monitoring, mitigation and follow up studies. The small, dynamic conference worked well thanks to the effort of organiser Richard Morgan and his team. Throughout the conference emphasis was placed on excellent presentations by invited speakers and plenty of discussion amongst the participants. In addition, students and practitioners were encouraged to present their work via poster papers. There was an AGM and the conference ended with an “indaba” to set directions for the affiliate for the next year. A CD of the proceedings was produced. Held at a residential college at Otago University the facilities were quiet, comfortable and well priced. As many New Zealanders have studied at Otago there was also an opportunity to stay with or catch up with friends. Food, especially at the dinner in the historic staff club had vibrant discussion and the members committed to re-living campfire sessions from the past serenaded members from the various nationalities present. |
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| Contact
Us Email : sec@nzaia.org.nz Mail : PO Box 2581, Wellington, New Zealand Web Site : www.nzaia.org.nz |
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