During the process of developing the WRS, the WRS Forum gave serious consideration as to how it was going to be implemented and funded. This proposal is the outcome of the those deliberations and has Greater Wellington playing a larger role in the implementation of the WRS. This includes:

• Greater Wellington, via a new governance committee, taking responsibility on behalf of the region for the future implementation, governance and funding of the WRS. The committee is proposed to consist of seven local government and  five non-local government members.
• Greater Wellington establishing a new council controlled organisation (CCO) to be responsible for delivering the economic development initiatives outlined in the WRS through a Regional Economic Development Agency (EDA).
• Greater Wellington funding the existing  and new initiatives outlined in the WRS  by the implementation of a targeted rate for economic development initiatives from 1 July 2007, raising $4.0 million (excl. GST) in 2007/08, and between $4.5 million and $5.0 million in the years 2008/09 and 2009/10.

The final number will be decided following this consultation and after a detailed consideration on the specific strategic projects by the new EDA Board, the WRS Committee and Greater Wellington. The proposed new regional rate will replace the amounts currently rated by the territorial authorities for funding Positively Wellington Business.

Some additional funding option scenarios are available by clicking here.

Submission form on funding.

Urban heart depends on wider region

If greater Wellington wants to remain ‘internationally competitive’ it needs to future proof its economy and its lifestyle according to the Chairman of the Interim Wellington Regional Strategy Committee, Ian Buchanan.

“Greater Wellington is a great place to live and work but we face challenges in maintaining our prosperity. This is an important issue to us all. Our lifestyle is linked to having a successful and sustainable economy. In the last five years the region has not kept up with growth elsewhere in New Zealand, or indeed that of our international competitors such as Sydney or Melbourne,” he says.

The Wellington Regional Strategy (WRS) is a sustainable economic growth strategy that has been developed over two years by the region’s nine local authorities.

“This is arguably the most significant region-wide initiative ever undertaken and an outstanding example of what regional cooperation can achieve,” says Mr Buchanan.

Five key platforms of the WRS include:

• “Centres of Excellence”. There are a number of areas where Wellingtonians are, or have the potential to be, world class – for example in film and animation. Identifying and growing our centres of excellence is one of the main economic growth catalysts of the WRS.
• Improving our “form” – the physical arrangement of urban and rural communities and how they link together. This includes many of the things that affect quality of life such as the vibrancy of city centres, housing density and choice, urban design, recreational options and transport.
• Improving the environment for new and existing businesses. Many of the initiatives in the WRS aim to improve the business environment, especially the region’s international connections.
• Direct long haul flights to Asia, one stop to Europe by 2010. Currently passengers and freight must ‘travel’ via Auckland or Christchurch to access Asia.
• Cost effective region-wide broadband. Broadband outside the Wellington City CBD is not of an international standard. It is slow and expensive to send complicated information outside the region.

The councils of the region currently invest $3.9 million in economic development. It is proposed to increase this to $4.5 million in 2007/08. Total investment of $4.5 million equates to just over $20 per average household per year -         $3 more than at present. Investment for 2008-2010 is projected to be in the $4.5 to $5.6 million range.