Bid to grow Carterton business

Carterton District councillors agreed to adopt a economic development strategy and action plan, and create a new position to oversee some its planned goals.

A new plan to promote business and economic growth has been approved by Carterton District Council.

Last week, the local authority agreed to adopt its first economic development strategy and action plan, and to create a new position to oversee some its planned goals.

The strategy, which aims to encourage business growth through mentoring, promotion, reducing bureaucracy and encouraging investment, has been in the pipeline since mid-last year, after a survey showed residents thought the council should be spending more money on promoting business in the district.

Councillor Greg Lang, who led the working group tasked with forming the strategy, said it would help existing businesses, as well as encouraging new businesses to move to Carterton.

Creating jobs in Carterton was a big part of keeping people happy, Mr Lang said.

"The vision is 'where the heart is humming' and it's about people being happy - and if the town is humming everyone is content."

The new economic development officer would be employed on a part-time 12-month contract and would be paid a small retainer with additional pay to be assigned on a project-by-project basis, Mr Lang said.

The council and the Wairarapa Economic Development Taskforce, which is shared by all three councils, would still be responsible for undertaking many of the strategy's planned actions.

It was hoped the strategy will allow the council to better access funds available through the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA), Mr Lang said.

"A lot of money gets rated which goes to WREDA, which is compulsory . . . and Wairarapa was not seeing a lot of that money, and one of the main reasons was that the three councils weren't working together and none of them had an action plan."

The plan's key goals include promoting business, creating jobs, increasing income, attracting investment and promoting Carterton as a commuter hub.

The success of the strategy will be reviewed annually.