CCBA Chairperson, Jennifer Ashman.
The meeting was well attended with about 35 members turning out to hear Mitch King and Jessica Black from the TCDC Economic Development Team.
Also attending were Mayor Len Salt and TCDC councillor and Community Board member, John Morrissey.
The Economic Development team of Mitch and Jessica was well received. They presented relevant statistics for businesses in Coromandel Town and explained their role in promoting business development and growth in the TCDC region.
Some of their role includes bringing big events to Coromandel, administering Coromandel Peninsula’s tracks and trails, and bringing creative ideas for promoting the Coromandel region to the rest of NZ and the world.
They also support community organisations who want to start new initiatives and help to develop infrastructure to support these projects.
Local business owners were very appreciative of the Mayor’s and John Morrissey’s attendance. This gave the business owners the chance to ask some hard questions face to face. “At least they have the balls to turn up,” was one comment.
Consent issues
A contentious issue that was raised was the length of time and increasing complexity of getting resource and building consents processed, specifically for business owners trying to build premises to carry out their business. Their frustration about this issue was obvious and was directly addressed by the Mayor.
Len Salt explained that TCDC is currently about 40 staff members down and that repeated advertising and recruitment campaigns have not been able to secure suitable applicants for these positions. He said that part of the challenge was finding long-term accommodation in Thames or other towns in the Coromandel for successful candidates.
During discussion after the conclusion of the meeting it was speculated that the delay in getting building consents processed could be contributing to the very problem Mayor Len shared.
Questions were raised from the floor about stalled or rejected projects that would have benefitted Coromandel Town, such as the proposed development at Jacks Point, and the Blue Highway proposal – investigating and funding ways to routinely use the eastern seaway to bring in supplies to Coromandel Town, both day-to-day and also in times of Coromandel’s isolation due to natural disasters. Mayor Salt explained that both these projects involved a huge investment in infrastructure such as upgrading the wharf and subsidising a ferry.
He said that the current government is not interested in financing such projects and their current priority is improving roading, so there are no government funds available for this project.
John Morrissey commented that the cost of infrastructure for these projects is high, and with no public funding available, TCDC could not help with funding without substantial rate increases, so they are currently “Dead in the water”.
Further comments from the floor indicated that the feeling is that councils generally have become too risk averse rather than risk neutral, and it was noted that the role of the council is to serve and enable their region rather than enforce ‘roadblocks’.
CCBA Chairperson, Jennifer Ashman, said that the discussion was cordial and lively throughout the meeting. She felt that the business owners and other interested parties, had had their concerns listened to, responded to and feedback was promised within the next six weeks.
The Economic Development Unit and TCDC are expected to have their feedback ready to report in time for the CCBA AGM in September.
People stayed behind for some time to further discuss and network with each other. Jenny sees this as evidence of a successful meeting.
“The CCBA is a vehicle to raise collective business concerns and these networking meetings are open to anyone, “said Jenny. “They aim to bring topics for discussion to the community.”
Future meetings
The business network meetings are the last Wednesday of every month. August will include the Hillary Trust speaking about their new venture at the old Tangiora Retreat Centre near Port Charles. The September meeting will feature the feedback from the Economic Development Unit. It is also the AGM.
