Waikato united on pitch for government funding to rebuild local economy

Local councils are uniting in their bids to get government funding to rebuild the Waikato economy post Covid-19. Photo / Supplied

Waikato mayors say local councils and their partners have "turned over every possible stone" in their bid to secure government money to help rebuild the Waikato economy following Covid-19.

Waikato District mayor Allan Sanson, Waipā District mayor Jim Mylchreest and Hamilton City mayor Paula Southgate each lead high-growth councils which are facing big demand for new infrastructure.

They said efforts to pitch projects to Wellington for co-funding had been exhaustive but the region was united in putting a Waikato-centric case to Wellington.

Sanson, who also chairs the Waikato Mayoral Forum, said irrespective of size councils around the region wanted the same thing – to create jobs and build infrastructure which would provide long-term public benefit for people in the region.

"This is about people and their families – that's what we have to focus on," said Sanson.

"It's not about boundaries. It's thinking about what we can and should do, together, to get the best possible outcome for the Waikato.

"Waikato District has put up a number of things for consideration including tourism infrastructure, sports fields and work to support the Hamilton to Auckland passenger service. But we're also part of much bigger projects that go beyond our district. As a region we're speaking to Wellington with one voice and I'm really proud of that."

This week local councils pitched 23 shovel-ready projects to the Government plus a further nine packages of work focusing on medium to longer-term opportunities.

The shovel-ready proposals, worth $1.5 billion, will be considered over coming weeks before Crown ministers decide what gets supported. Details of potential funding support are not yet known.

To be considered projects must create jobs, be ready for construction within six months, provide public benefit, modernise the economy and be worth at least $10 million.

Mylchreest said he was "hopeful but realistic" on behalf of his district and the wider region. As part of the collective effort, Waipa had identified potential projects worth about $210m.

They included completion of the Te Awa Cycleway linking Hamilton to Cambridge, community development projects and support to upgrade and expand water treatment plants and water infrastructure. Waipā was also seeking government support for Te Ara Wai, the new museum to be located in Te Awamutu.

"All councils want to work with central government to help lift us out of the recession that is undoubtedly coming. The fact is, councils can't do it alone because our ratepayers just couldn't fund it," said Mylchreest.

"But nothing is in the bag and nor have we made any promises on behalf of our communities. But we have done everything we possibly can to make sure projects meet the criteria, have a sound rationale and so will be right up there for consideration."

The region has also submitted a suite of urban growth programme initiatives to central government. Most represent medium to long-term opportunities within the Hamilton to Auckland corridor or are part of an emerging Hamilton-Waikato metro spatial plan being developed alongside iwi, Auckland Council and government ministries.

This work was well under way before Covid-19 hit and Southgate said the region's long term planning framework was already well recognised in Wellington.

"Ministers and their officials know that a strong Hamilton means a strong region and a strong region means a strong New Zealand," said Southgate.

"There's been some very good work done for a long period of time, so the three high growth councils in particular are ready for the challenges ahead. We've been ambitious in what we've proposed, but the rationale is very sound. I'm hopeful that as a region and a city we will be successful; now it's up to Wellington."