5 May 2005

Buy-in for benefits of a bigger boundary

The Heart of the City Mainstreet boundary is to be increased to businesses on the western fringe of the central city.

Mainstreet organisations like Heart of the City (HOTC) succeeded in fostering business development and local prosperity, lobbying for good urban design practice, forming infrastructure partnerships, as well as marketing and promoting their areas.

Auckland City’s Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee has now approved the bigger boundary for the HOTC mainstreet area. From 1 July this year, it will include the western area of the CBD, including the western Viaduct Harbour, Wynyard Point (the Tank Farm) and Victoria Park Market.

Complementing this, Auckland City has already approved an action plan for the Victoria Quarter (the area bound by Hobson, Union and Fanshawe streets), which will guide new development to ensure a diverse choice of inner city urban living and working opportunities.

The chairperson of Auckland City’s Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee, Councillor Richard Northey, says businesses in the western area of the CBD voted strongly for the extension.

“The support is a testament to the work of Heart of the City to promote the central city as a prime business location and a great place to live and work,” Mr Northey says.

The expanded programme will provide greater opportunities for these businesses to collaborate on issues affecting them, allowing them to form a good working relationship with the council via the mainstreet association.

“Auckland City is committed to fostering business growth in key sectors. The western area presents huge potential for nurturing new and existing businesses. It is great to see that they will now be a part of a very effective mainstreet association,” says Mr Northey.

Alex Swney, CEO for Heart of the City says the impetus for extending the boundary came from the businesses.

“The past few years have seen many businesses approaching us with hopes to be included in the mainstreet programme. They saw the synergies and opportunities that come from being part of an organisation that represents the interests of local business.

“With increased development around the waterfront area, and the western area of the city being a major entry point to the inner city, it made a lot of sense for them to be a part of an organisation that can provide effective avenues for promotion, networking and business development,” he says.

The boundary extension will be included in the council’s annual planning process which will be finalised in June this year.

ENDS

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