Getting on with business

North Shore City Council is inviting local businesses and the wider North Shore community to join it early next year in discussing the future of the city's economy.

Workshops between members of the business community and the council will be the first stage of a comprehensive consultation programme to brainstorm ideas about how the city could progress and help to formulate an economic development strategy.

Work on national and regional economic development strategies has made councils think seriously about what action they are taking and look at ways to maximise local opportunities.

North Shore City's strategy and finance committee chairperson, Tony Holman, says his council's involvement in economic development to date has been relatively low key.

"Funding business advisory services such as Enterprise North Shore and supporting various city promotion and tourism events have been our main focus," says Councillor Holman.

"We recognise the need to take a more focused role in terms of economic development but want to work through, with local business people and residents, how this can be best achieved," he says.

A research report "North Shore City: Strategic Considerations for Economic Development" prepared by Massey University will be used as part of the public consultation. It provides a snapshot of the city's key economic and demographic characteristics, identifies a range of issues and explores options for the future. The report is a starting point and recognises the many challenges ahead.

Tony Holman says preparing an Economic Development Strategy is one of the 72 projects identified in the council's City Blueprint Action Plan launched last month.

"The strategy will identify key employment and economic development opportunities as well as recognising social, environmental and cultural needs which contribute to our quality of life," he says.

Anyone wishing to take part in the workshops or who would like to have their say should contact the council on 486 8600, email < mailto:beamans@nthshore.govt.nz > beamans@nthshore.govt.nz or visit the council's website < http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/> www.northshorecity.govt.nz to find out more or register their interest.

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