Timetable set for plan to deliver Brown's Auckland vision

Auckland Mayor Len Brown. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The Auckland Council has seven months to agree on an economic development plan to back Mayor Len Brown's bold hope of turning the city into one of the world's most liveable and productive centres.

The council's economic development forum last week set a timetable so the plan could be part of the Spatial Plan which is to direct growth and development from the end of next year.

Forum chairman Arthur Anae said it was off to a good start, with agreement on a working definition of economic development - intervention aimed at "generating a better quality of life and standard of living".

Among possible interventions hinted at by economic development manager Harvey Brookes was to attract investment through rate relief and subsidies. "There could be greater leveraging against the council's enormous $29 billion asset base to pay for economic infrastructure."

A discussion paper will go to the forum next month. Local boards and community views will be sought when it is released early in the new year.

The council is getting the views of its business advisory panel and the Economic Development Ministry.

Mr Anae said an immediate concern was a rapid result in Government tender negotiations to enable provision of ultra-fast broadband and fibre coverage for rural hubs.

"We estimate the innovation, growth and productivity benefits to the Auckland region to be at least $900 million a year."

Auckland wants a $500 million share of ultra-fast funding for urban areas.

The council is pushing its rural communities' need for priority cover.

The council is recruiting a chief economist - a first for a New Zealand territorial local authority.

The role is described as "thought leadership" - advising the mayor and the council on economic development issues, trends and opportunities, and big-ticket infrastructure projects. These include a downtown rail loop, a cruise-ship terminal and an international convention/exhibition centre.

Forum deputy chairman Cameron Brewer said he hoped the chief economist would take a leadership role in the city to show it was the country's economic powerhouse.

As well as its policy role, the city's economic development department is responsible for 46 business improvement districts from Orewa to Papakura representing 25,000 businesses.

It is also working on building Auckland's international relations. The former Auckland City's civic, economic and cultural exchanges are estimated to add $55 million a year to the economy.

The department's policy is delivered by a council-controlled organisation called Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development.

BIG PROJECTS

* National convention and exhibition centre.
* Cruise-ship terminal.
* Business precinct and town centre prosperity.
* International profile raising.
* Urban and rural broadband.