Councils give Strategy green light
Regional cooperation took a giant step forward in Council chambers throughout August and September. Councillors voted their support for the Wellington Regional Strategy (WRS) and a leadership structure to see it implemented. Eight of the nine councils, representing 96 percent of the regional economy, gave it their support. In some cases, including Wellington City, the vote was unanimous.
“I’m not aware of cooperation on this scale in any other local government area in New Zealand. It’s an achievement greater Wellington should be proud of. More importantly the Strategy itself is a quality document – the result of input from the business, education and voluntary sectors, and central government - covering quality of life issues as well as economic development opportunities,” says the Chair of the region’s WRS Forum, Murray McCaw.
“The initiatives contained in the Strategy have the potential to deliver enormous benefit for the region. High on our list of priorities is establishing direct air services to Asia, one stop to Europe. This means Wellingtonians won’t have to travel via Auckland or Christchurch,” says Mr McCaw.
Regional economic clock ticking
Mr McCaw said the region’s economic clock was ticking and the need for economic transformation was paramount.
“Successful regions offer the trifecta of a great lifestyle, a strong economy and therefore good career prospects. We have a great lifestyle but our economic output is modest by international standards and this isn’t sustainable. Major Australian cities also offer lifestyle advantages, with the added benefit of significantly higher incomes”
Quality leadership
It is proposed the WRS will be ‘governed’ by a 12 strong committee of Greater Wellington Regional Council. This WRS committee will hear submissions and finalise the strategy. It will be chaired by Ian Buchanan who is also Chairman of Greater Wellington. Region wide representation will be provided by
Ian Buchanan Greater Wellington Regional Council
Bob Francis Masterton District Council
Wayne Guppy Upper Hutt City Council
David Ogden Hutt City Council
Kerry Prendergast Wellington City Council
Ken Douglas Porirua City Council
Alan Milne Kapiti Coast District Council
Independent appointees representing private sector and business interest are:
Sir John Anderson Consultant and company director
Prof Paul Callaghan Prof of Physical Sciences, Victoria University
Diana Crossan Retirement Commissioner
Prof Ngatata Love Prof of business development, Victoria University
Catherine Savage Managing Director of AMP Capital Investments
Ian Buchanan said the leadership structure is likely to be a trailblazer for other regions in New Zealand.
“This structure accommodates local authority interests but ensures decisions are taken in the best interests of the region. Throughout we’ll be seeking community buy in and ownership. We’re especially pleased with the calibre of the five independent members. They are all passionate Wellingtonians. We have the business equivalent of the All Blacks working on Wellington’s behalf,” he says.
The committee will initially be an interim one, responsible for public consultation on the Strategy. Subject to public feedback, it will become permanent following the consultation period.
Finalising strategy and establishing EDA
“One of the leadership committee’s first jobs will be to make recommendations on, and consult on, the establishment of a region wide economic development agency (EDA) to do the work outlined in the strategy. The proposal also includes Greater Wellington taking over the funding arrangement for the agency. The establishment of the EDA, and its funding, will be subject to public consultation which takes place in October,” says Mr Buchanan.
Under the proposal, the EDA would be funded by a regional rate that Greater Wellington levies. The city and district councils will reduce rates for economic development once this arrangement is in place, from July 2007.
Mr Buchanan said that the proposal was for a small increase in overall funding for the agency in the 2007/08 year - around $3 per average household per year. Any further increases in funding would need to be agreed by the committee.
“Of course opinions differ on the right level of funding that we need, and this will mean that any changes will be carefully considered and robustly debated. In the end, however, we all recognise that the region must work together to achieve its goal.”
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