Coromandel as a heritage region concept warrants more work

Further investigation into the possibility of the Coromandel as a "Heritage Region" is being supported by Council.

At its latest meeting, Council resolved that the concept has merit and warranted further discussion with stakeholders.

"There was plenty of passion from Councillors and in the public presentation part of the Council meeting both for and against the proposal of the Coromandel as a Heritage Region," says Mayor Glenn Leach. "Overall, the majority agreed further conversations should be pursued with everyone about what a heritage region could mean for the Coromandel."

Sandra Goudie was the only Councillor who opposed Council's recommendation.

"This isn't going to be a quick process and we plan to take the following months and years to start initiating and holding meetings," says Mayor Leach. "Council's resolution to investigate the concept further by initiating discussions with stakeholders and is not any way a formal project launch, but the beginnings of meeting with different groups from across our District to see if we move forward or not."

The proposition of the Coromandel as a heritage region was signposted for some time in our 2014 Annual Plan and 2015-2025 Long Term Plan. Our Economic Development Committee then commissioned a "discussion document" looking at the possibility of what that could be, which can be viewed here.

Coromandel Heritage Region - Public Summary of Concept

Some of the main points being proposed in the independent report include:

1. The establishment of a Coromandel Accord – a high-level agreement between our Council, The Waikato Regional Council, DOC, iwi, industry and sector groups and the community to reaffirm the key values that all seek to preserve and enhance.

2. Signature conservation projects – defining and establishing important community and conservation projects that were agreed in principle during the Accord process.

3. Signature species monitoring – within the Coromandel Heritage Region defining a set of 10 or so significant and representative species which would be monitored and reported on annually to publicly highlighting progress around protecting and enhancing the natural environment.

4. Sustainable Development Plan and Fund – developing a Plan with 5, 10 and 25 year targets in employment, business creation and community well-being

“The propositions in this report are not a fait accompli, but the basis for looking at the future of the Coromandel in its entirety,” says Mayor Leach. "And while there may be concerns about individual rights and self-interest groups, this document needs to be seen in a wider context in that it’s the basis for the first discussions and debates. The detail will fall out as discussions continue and I am looking forward to having these discussions in the following weeks and months and years with all our communities, iwi and other regional and central government agencies," he says.

You can read more about the concept by going to our website www.tcdc.govt.nz/heritageregion

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