Property Council reaffirms focus on industry needs

MEDIA RELEASE

12.11.2012

Property Council reaffirms focus on industry needs

Property Council New Zealand is reinforcing its capacity to address issues affecting the commercial property industry by strengthening its policy and advocacy divisions.

New senior policy analyst Chantal Creese started with the organisation on Monday 5 November. Ms Creese has returned to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, where she most recently worked as a policy analyst for the Scottish Government. She has also worked as a compliance manager for Office of Gas and Electricity Markets and an investigator for the Office of Fair Trading.

A highlight for Chantal during this time was her work on the Police and Fire Reform Bill, where she was instrumental in developing policy to establish a single police force and a single fire and rescue service for Scotland, merging the eight regional services into national services.

Property Council’s long-term organisational strategy is also focusing on advocacy, led by Andrea Hutchins on her return from maternity leave tomorrow as director of advocacy and communications. Ms Hutchins has been with Property Council since 2010. Hannah Diprose will be continuing with the organisation, becoming a permanent member of the advocacy and communications team from this week.

Over the next six months Property Council is addressing issues including:

• the anticipated release of volume four of the Christchurch Earthquakes Royal Commission report, which may include implications for seismic strengthening and initiate changes to the Building Act

• on-going work on amendments to the Local Government Act 2002, particularly focusing on the development contribution regime and alternative methods of funding for infrastructure needs of communities

• Resource Management Act Amendments, including a focus on housing affordability

• and the team will be closely watching how Auckland Council’s Unitary Plan planning process unfolds.

Property Council’s chief executive Connal Townsend is pleased the team has been reformed and is “armed and ready to advocate on behalf of an industry inching its way out of the recession”.

ENDS

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