There is a need to find a balance to ensure the rules protect our people and place but also allow appropriate development and activity.
With multiple pieces of legislation and policy currently being reviewed and developed, there has never been a better time to work together towards this aspiration.
This is an opportunity to inform decision making and address uncertainty around regulations which many see as a barrier. Industry, businesses and Southlanders have said that it can be challenging to understand the rules and the ambiguity that is sometimes evident in regulatory settings. This has been exacerbated recently with the high number of policies and legislation being reviewed at the same time.
The Beyond 2025 Plan recommended a prioritised focus on policy and legislation relating to issues of high importance for our region (carbon forestry, housing, transport, energy, climate change, emissions reduction, immigration, water and land). The Plan recommended regulatory change be informed by accurate local and regional data and insights and that the Government acknowledge the importance of regional variation and that a ‘one size fits all’ model isn’t always appropriate.
