Unlocking city's business potential

Chris Heywood is upbeat about the district's economic potential. Photo/Stuart Munro

Wanganui's agri-business based economy has massive potential to develop, especially by adding value to existing primary product.

And that idea will be one of several pushed by Chris Heywood, Wanganui District Council's new economic development and projects officer.

Mr Heywood has been in his role for three months, arriving here from Rotorua where he had been in a similar role for 10 years. During that time he oversaw the development of the 74km cycle trail from Rotorua to Orakei Korako and named Te Ara o Ahi (Pathway of Fire).

Essentially he is the conduit between the world of business and the governance arm of Wanganui District Council.

He hit the ground running because, by his own admission, "I don't have a lot of local knowledge". So he has been busy making connections with Wanganui business leaders but has some clear ideas.

"When I look at Wanganui it's quite obvious it's in the area of agri-business where the greatest potential for growth is and that's simply because of the wealth of primary product coming from the region.

"Then it can be about adding value to the primary product, whether that be dairy, meat, the leather industry. All those processing industries are big players but there is still room for growth in them."

Mr Heywood said the Government recognised that potential through the recent launch of the regional growth strategy.

"There are a lot of potential opportunities in that area and there's a lot happening already. The primary sector is a buoyant area here and it's very much a part of who we are as a region."

And he said a key is that it is not an area in decline so that gave plenty of positives.

"If you look at agri-business we've got a big milk industry in the form of Open Country and I believe there's potential to get some investors involved in the dairy-type industries spinning off from that, things like cheese-making or ice cream-making. That's probably the next step."

But Mr Heywood said the shadow of the city's wastewater treatment system upgrade lingered.

"It has to be done and it's something that will affect business. So I believe the focus should be on getting 'clean' businesses into the city so they are not a drain on the wastewater treatment plant.

"Attracting offshoots of the dairy industry - those clean industries - are ones I believe would be good to attract here," he said.

Currently he was working the local real estate people who were handling commercial property portfolios.

"They've been outside the city promoting the district and these are people who know what properties are available."

He said Wanganui was able to offer exceptionally well-priced commercial property.

"There are still some nice ones available in Heads Rd and there's an advantage for Wanganui in that regard."

But Mr Heywood emphasised his role was about facilitation.

"It's not about me coming in as Captain Hero and starting up a cheese factory or finding a cheesemaker and then saying I don't know where they could set up.

"It's about understanding what's available for them and telling them about it.

"Then we come in behind that and deal with council, smoothing the way between the business and council.

"There's a lot involved setting up in any business such as planning consents, building consents whatever. So we work to link them together to make that easier."

The council's economic development office was also involved in promoting a business mentor programme.

"Again, if businesses are out there at the lower end and really battling, we want to know about it. It could be helpful in any part of their business.

"If we can establish a wide field of mentors in a broad field of specialties, then we can steer these businesses to someone who can help," Mr Heywood said.