Buller mayor eyes 200 jobs
The Government’s Covid-19 stimulus package could deliver more than 200 jobs and secure Buller’s economic future, mayor Jamie Cleine says.
The Buller District Council has applied for nearly $40 million in crown infrastructure funding: $25m for projects connected to Westport’s fishing precinct and nearly $15m for water supply upgrades across the district.
The development of the fishing port and new industries in Westport would reshape Buller’s economy and mark a turning point for Buller after a tough few years, Cleine said.
‘‘Buller has faced many challenges over the past five years with the closure of its largest employers. ‘‘The impact on jobs and GDP has been one of the most severe in the region’s history as a mining, cement production and primary producing region.’’
But fishing and farming were still going full steam ahead, and the Government’s economic stimulus package could be a game changer for the district, he said. .
‘‘We can now clearly see large scale opportunities to redefine our future. My council is committed to a positive solution-based approach that provides economic sustainability to Buller and the West Coast economy.’’
That would mean more focus on supporting and growing key industries such as fishing, heavy mineral sands exports, and existing mining and primary industries, Cleine said.
If the Government came to the party, the projects would create 100 jobs almost immediately, and up to 200 in the long term.
And that would have the spinoff effect of stimulating other business in Buller, like hospitality, the mayor said.
The council’s funding wish-list for the port precinct include a whitebait farm, an energy plant, expanded fish processing facilities, housing units for workers, gravel extraction and mineral extraction plants.
The catalyst for these had been the Provincial Growth Fund’s $4m grant to renew the fishing jetties at the port. ‘‘Off the back of this catalyst investment, we can now present a strategic package for the ‘fishing precinct’, which sees significant private investment in related industries.’’
A native plants nursery and horticulture venture at Waimangaroa were also potential winners, Cleine said.
‘‘Bathurst support this — they have the land and the expertise and at the moment they buy tens of thousands of plants to rehabilitate mine sites, from Canterbury — that’s 10 jobs right there.’’
The water projects include new supply systems or upgrades for Punakaiki, Reefton, south Granity and Waimangaroa as well as the Westport trunk.
‘‘What we are proposing would mean a great leap forward for Buller,’’ Cleine said.
An Otago woman is urging people not to nark on their neighbours in these ‘‘very strange times’’.
Geraldine Tait wrote a column for the local newsletter, POWA (Progress of Waikouaiti Area), which upset some residents.
However, she defended her ‘‘Don’t nark on your neighbours’’ column, written late last month as tensions in Otago rose because of the lockdown restrictions.
Tait, who is on the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board, wrote that some people were ‘‘watching other people from behind their twitching net curtains’’.
Poor behaviour included telling people what to do, calling police and gossiping to neighbours.
Tait reminded residents that when the lockdown ended they still had to live there, writing: ‘‘As Jacinda says, ‘Be kind’, don’t nark on your neighbours.’’
A resident told Stuff he was upset over the article, particularly given some people were openly flouting the lockdown rules.
But Tait hit back, saying that if someone suspected a person was having fun ‘‘because they walked 3cm further than they should have, shut your bloody face and mind your own business’’.