29 November 2012

ATEED Gives Wero White Water Stadium Project the Tick Following Economic Outputs Review

Today Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) presented the results of its peer review of the economic output data of the business plan for the proposed Stage 2 development, to build a whitewater stadium (Wero), at the site of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

The Trust’s business plan stated the total project would generate 110 full time equivalent jobs and contribute $7.4 million in GDP to the southern area of Auckland each year.

At today’s Auckland Council Strategy and Finance Committee meeting, ATEED reported that these figures were conservative as were the visitor forecasts and that the Wero project could expect to exceed these expectations.

ATEED is strongly of the view that the wider range of potential benefits such as youth development, increased tourism, the attraction of international sporting events, should be at the forefront of consideration since economic development is only one of a range of objectives of the Wero proposal.

Sir Noel Robinson, Chairman of the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust spearheading the Wero project, said:

“We are delighted with the findings of ATEED’s peer review. This aligns with the Trust’s excellent track record for exceeding its targets as it has done with Stage 1 of the project (The TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre). We hope these findings will silence some of the naysayers of the Wero project which has now been proven to have significant social and economic benefits for the local community in the south as well as the wider Auckland region.”

In addition to attracting international events and providing New Zealand’s Olympic team with an accessible training facility, surpluses from the Wero initiative will be used to maintain the asset making it accessible for use by schools for youth development and water safety programmes without the need of ongoing council or third party funding.

Sir Noel says:

“Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders currently enjoy kayaking, and recreational rafting is also developing into a popular sport. Wero will be used on a daily basis by anyone who wants to, including school groups, students or families. The wider Auckland region will also benefit as it helps to support the Mayor’s vision of creating the world’s most liveable city.”

More information about Wero:
In 2000 a Community Trust was established to develop and operate the TelstraClear Events Centre in partnership with Manukau City Council to develop a project of national and international significance that would support the community. The Trust protected the surrounding space to complete the site with a second stage development. This Trust is now looking to complete the development of the rest of the land as per the Master Plan and create a white water stadium with function rooms. This project is called Wero. If Wero gets the go-ahead, Stage Two will be completed in 2015/16.

Wero has plans to further develop the site beyond the white water stadium to include other engaging facilities such as a Body Odyssey Exhibition, Art Gallery and Café, office and classroom spaces, and interactive high-tech Polynesian cultural display.

For further information, check out the video clip on www.wero.org.nz

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>