Rosy results for Rosebank

Latest poll results of Rosebank businesses show high and widespread support for the creation of Auckland’s first Business Development Community (BDC) in the Rosebank Road area.

The results, presented to Auckland City’s Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee today, revealed 63 per cent support for a commercial partnership with a strong business organisation in Rosebank.

The chairperson of Auckland City’s Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee, Councillor Richard Northey, is very pleased with the vote of confidence from the local business community.

“The council is committed to finding opportunities to work with key business communities like Rosebank Road to encourage economic growth.

“This is a great result for all the businesses in the Rosebank area. The establishment of a BDC will allow businesses to collaborate and have more of an impact issues that affect them.”

Once the BDC is established, long-term funding will be allocated to business development projects overseen by the Rosebank Business Association. Projects will look at long-term strategies for things like security, waste collection and traffic congestion.

The BDC model enables Auckland City Council to support business development in commercial and industrial areas in Auckland. The BDC concept is based on the policies of the Auckland City Mainstreets programme, where businesses and property owners, usually in a strip retail shopping centre, pay targeted rates to the council, which then returns this to the local business association so that it can provide services that promote and develop economic growth in town centres.

“Mainstreets are defined by their retail activity. The dominant activity in Rosebank is manufacturing and distribution which means the council needs to work with Rosebank in a different way to a traditional mainstreet,” says Mr Northey.

“The establishment of the Rosebank BDC is a pilot. The next year will tell us if this strategy is appropriate to apply other areas around the city that could benefit.”

The initial budget, proposed as part of Auckland City’s draft annual plan for 2005/20006, will be $150,000 per year, coming from a targeted rate. The final tick for the establishment of the BDC and its budget will be considered in June when the annual plan is finalised.

Rosebank Road plays a significant role in the Auckland regional economy with 56 per cent of businesses in the area exporting goods, and 54 per cent importing goods.

With this in mind, Rosebank has also been prioritised for a business precinct plan, which deals with matters like zoning, public transport, expected growth and general amenities in the area.

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