The chairman of the Council’s Strategic Management Committee, councillor Len Brown, has welcomed the commitment of major agencies and community groups which will carry out the work to achieve the goals set out in “Tomorrow’s Manukau”.

Public submissions on the draft “Tomorrow’s Manukau” book released in January are now being analysed. More than 300 have been received. Oral submissions are being heard this week.

All submissions will contribute to the final version of the book which will be published in August. It will provide a comprehensive picture of the community’s values and goals for the future, and be a major planning resource that will help guide decision-making by organisations in the City for years to come.

Mr Brown said “I’ve been delighted at the enthusiasm shown by the organisations taking part, and their support for the agreed outcomes. I am certain their future actions and decisions will improve the quality of life in the City, which is the ultimate goal of the project.

“A fast-growing community such as Manukau needs a long-term city plan to guide its development, and “Tomorrow’s Manukau” will provide that.

“Important organisations and community groups in Manukau were heavily involved in the project from day one, and the final outcome will be a mix of their contributions and the public’s.
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“This includes the Police, Manukau Institute of Technology, Skill NZ, Enterprising Manukau, the Chamber of Commerce, Department of Work and Income, Transit NZ and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

“Their involvement and support was vital, and it’s led to many new links being forged between the various agencies. I think it’s a great achievement to get all these organisations working together because it sets off sparks and creates ideas and linkages which hadn’t been considered before.

“It is particularly pleasing to see the education sector strongly behind the process because we are getting strong feedback from the public about the importance of education. In fact it’s pretty much the single most important issue.

“The Council co-ordinated the “Tomorrow’s Manukau” project and the results will guide its planning decisions in areas of Council responsibility such as parks, city planning, events and tourism promotion.

“But we will not be doing the hands-on work in the community in areas such as education and health. That isn’t our role.

“We were simply the facilitator, bringing people together as part of our responsibility to help the City progress. However we will also be monitoring that progress to see how quickly the City is reaching the targets that are set”, he said.

ENDS

Media inquiries:
Philip Keating
Communications Advisor
Manukau City Council
Phone: 09 2625181

Contact numbers for the agencies involved in Tomorrow’s Manukau available on request.

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