Carterton District Council has finalised an economic development working group to counteract the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency [WREDA] proposal for a single economic development agency for the Wellington region.
The WREDA merger would bring together the functions of Grow Wellington, Wellington Positively Tourism, Absolutely Positively Venues, and major events from Wellington City Council as well as the Destination Wellington programme.
Members of the council had spoken out against the proposal in the last council meeting, saying it "would do nothing for Carterton", and with only one seat in the organisation Carterton wouldn't be fairly represented. Other concerns were that WREDA wouldn't boost tourism and primary industry in Wairarapa.
The working group is made up of councillors Greg Lang (chair), John Booth, Mike Ashby, Jill Greathead, Colin Wright and co-opted members Tracey O'Callaghan (Destination Wairarapa) and Karen Fairweather (CDBI).
They will meet every second Wednesday of the month, working on a "Carterton District economic development plan and a proposed means of implementation".
