Michael Barnett: Champions' eyes on the ball

The soon to be unveiled Metro Project Plan of Action will address Auckland's urgent challenges.

For some time the region has been in broad agreement that Auckland could be performing better in its role as the engine room of the national economy.

The draft report from the Metro Project, reinforced by an extensive round of consultation with interest groups - including the region's mayors and other political leaders - has made it clear that if Auckland wants to compete internationally it needs to take action now around four key platforms - infrastructure, people and skills, promotion of the city-region and innovation.

The Rugby World Cup that New Zealand is hosting in 2011 has been added to the Metro Project as an opportunity to bring forward some of the deliverables on these key initiatives.

Auckland has been researched to death on what is holding back the region's economic development from achieving its potential. The Metro Project has taken this analysis and is packaging a plan of action that will systematically address each of the issues. It will be one plan with integrated action points, including:

* Delivering world class transport, broadband and energy supply systems.

* Marketing Auckland's vast untapped tourism potential.

* Improving education and training services to provide a greater pool of skilled people.

* Lifting the capability of business to be more innovative and productive.

Another key area of the Metro Project which was reinforced at a symposium attended by about 200 Aucklanders, including mayors and political leaders, was that a group of "Champions" be selected to lead the delivery of the key initiatives and encourage the Metro Project team to stay focused on delivering actions.

There is no question that there is a huge appetite for change in the way Auckland manages its opportunities. An inclusive, focused leadership is one of 15 key recommendations for the plan of action needed to co-ordinate the One Auckland Plan.

All the mayors and Mike Lee, as chairman of the Auckland Regional Council, are members of the Champions team.

They have a pivotal role to play in enabling Auckland's plan of action to be delivered in a way that is inclusive of everyone's opinion and not simply representing sectional interests.

With private sector leaders also included in the Champions group, the issue of the region's leadership is best addressed within the Metro Project.

Another key finding of the project is the need for Auckland to act with a single vision that integrates and co-ordinates economic, social, environmental and cultural dimensions and also central and local government interests - around a long-term and a short-to-medium-term plan of action.

We strongly believe that the Metro Project will have both strategies and supporting actions to achieve progress for the city-region in areas previously lacking, including:

* An investment prospectus to identify financing mechanisms necessary for the package of actions.

* A single project delivery organisation to deliver projects and interventions.

* An improved transport link and service between central Auckland and the airport.

* A co-ordinated plan of action for taking forward a regional view to tackle Auckland's energy supply and distribution weaknesses.

* An action plan for revitalising not just the waterfront, but also the central business district and its connection with the rest of the city-region.

* A strong commitment to empower disadvantaged areas and communities to greater participation and benefit from Auckland's economic potential and growth.

Having a One Auckland Plan on where the city-region is heading will provide the badly needed focus and give Aucklanders a demonstrably more cost-effective and satisfying process than the present ad hoc arrangements.

We want Aucklanders to have high expectations of action and also to have some trust that the desired action is happening.

The Metro Project initiative is not about reforming local government. What it is about is changing our attitudes and building a region that knows what it wants and where it is going.

* Michael Barnett is Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce