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Advocacy will remain a major focus for the One Mahurangi Business Association in the coming year, the organisation’s co-chairs David Stott and Bevan Morrison told the annual meeting on October 19.
The organisation expects to collect $142,000 from Warkworth businesses through the compulsory Business Improvement District (BID) rate this financial year, with a further $55,000 contributed through voluntary sponsorship and associate membership.
“The BID budget is not sufficient to run the association by itself, so the contributions provided by our sponsors and associate members are vital, without which we would not have a business association,” the co-chairs said.
Their report stated that with the rapid growth in the town, it was essential that a strong local community voice influenced key decision-making for new infrastructure, well-planned new development in keeping with the character of the town, and for the development of a prosperous and vibrant business environment.
They listed some of the organisation’s key advocacy efforts and successes as:
Hill Street
“We were successful in getting funding for detailed design, land purchase and procurement, but the draft detailed design produced by Auckland Transport (AT) does not fulfil our requirements. We are currently lobbying AT vigorously to upgrade the design
Motorway tolls
“Thanks to strong and persistent of lobbying of our local MPs, the Minister of Transport was persuaded not to impose tolls on the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway. This will save our community and all of Northland millions of dollars in the coming years.
Watercare
“We are in consultation with Watercare over routes for the wastewater main through the town.
Watercare wanted to take the pipe up the main street, but we are looking at alternative routes with them.
Centre Plan
“We are a participant with other community groups to develop a Centre Plan for the CBD.
Supporting Growth Alliance (SGA)
“We are consulting regularly with SGA on the development of business cases for the new Sandspit link road, Western Collector, southern motorway interchange, upgrading of Matakana Road and Sandpit Road from Hill Street to the rural-urban boundary, and park and rides at end of the motorway.”
Other advocacy projects include involvement in the development of a Tourist Destination Plan, the campaign against the removal of the weir, lobbying the government on wetlands legislation, submitting to government and Auckland Council on medium density housing intensification, illegal parking in Glenmore Drive, and reverse sensitivity issues with future urban roads.
Stott and Morrison said the organisation’s successes in advocacy were in no small apart due to the positive working relationships that it had developed with local MPs, the Rodney Local Board and other community groups.
