Region’s next ‘big deal’
Heavily deprived parts of the region are being targeted for large-scale development advocates say could herald thousands of new jobs.
Powerhouses in their day, towns like Tokoroa and Te Ku¯ iti were feared headed towards zombie-town status as populations dwindled.
But times are constantly changing and now South Waikato, Waitomo and O¯ torohanga districts are the focus of renewed energy in talks between Government and Te Waka – Waikato’s newest economic development agency.
Te Waka chief executive Michael Bassett-Foss briefed Hamilton City Council last week on the two big projects in his sights – authentic tourism infrastructure development and the draft Southern Waikato Economic Action Plan.
Expected to be finalised by the end of March, the Southern Waikato Economic Action Plan includes projects from aquaculture to tourism, timber and infrastructure.
‘‘Some of the projects are ready to go, some need a bit more feasibility and some are down the pipeline,’’ Bassett-Foss said.
‘‘If they come to fruition they can unleash about $120m in investment and create several thousand jobs.
‘‘That’s a big deal.’’
The region is renowned for its forestry and farming but the step change in job creation won’t come from traditional industries, he said.
Te Waka is applying for more than $4 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to seed fund the first few projects to change the fortunes of those at the south end of Waikato.
‘‘The socio-economic deprivation report clearly shows these areas of the Waikato as having some of the highest deprivation in the country,’’ he said after the council briefing.
‘‘On the back of that, this initiative is important to ensure that economic benefits and the resulting well-being and improvements across communities are well and truly targeted down there in southern Waikato.’’
Waitomo District Council Mayor Brian Hanna said of the key projects identified for his district, the potential of a hotel at the Waitomo Golf Course, would make the biggest impact.
And it would impact on the neighbouring O¯ torohanga District Council as well.
‘‘That’s probably a game changer for both of our districts,’’ Hanna said.
‘‘There is plenty to do here but nowhere to stay.’’
About 700,000 people travel
‘‘If they come to fruition they can unleash about $120m in investment and create several thousand jobs. That’s a big deal.’’
Michael Bassett-Foss
through the Waitomo District each year to visit the Waitomo caves or to carry on to the central North Island or Taranaki. Taranaki was named by Lonely Planet as one of the best places to visit in 2017.
‘‘We want to capitalise on that. It’s not all below ground.
‘‘Tourists like getting off the beaten track to the wild west coast circuit and we are positioned from the gateway of Auckland to the central plateau.
‘‘We’ve been in boots and all wanting to work with South Waikato and O¯ torohanga – the other councils involved – and it’s been really good.’’
Puta¯ruru dairy farmer and trustee of the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust Philip White said South Waikato sits on a goldmine of opportunity.
‘‘There is available land, there is a skilled labour force, there is the opportunity to upskill those who aren’t currently participating in the workforce at the moment and if you talk to a lot of employers, it’s getting those skills and training in place for young people,’’ White said.
Plans already in place have seen a move away from managing population decline to identifying growth initiatives which are, at this time, largely confidential.
‘‘The potential is for places like Puta¯ ruru to double in size,’’ White said.
‘‘This is really a game changer and there are a couple of big projects which will eventually employ hundreds of people.
‘‘If we can pull this stuff off, through the stuff we are investigating, there are literally hundreds of jobs in South Waikato.’’