Economic Sustainability in Focus for Blueprint

Many of the Coromandel’s industry leaders gathered in Thames this month to share their views on how their particular enterprises might contribute to growing the district’s economy over the next 50 years.

Hosted by the Thames-Coromandel District Council as a partner in the multi-agency Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint project, the all-day workshop was an opportunity for owners of longstanding local firms to mix with representatives from emerging business sectors to discuss the threats and opportunities presented by the current economy and the community’s changing demands.

Launched in 2006, the Blueprint project set out to create a long-term growth and development strategy. Among the key drivers to future-proofing the peninsula and its people’s prosperity is a focus on sustaining economic growth and providing modern, reliable infrastructure while protecting environmental values.

Derek Kemp of Prosperous Places facilitated the impressive line-up of speakers representing key industry sectors – aquaculture, property development, electricity supply, telecommunications, health, tourism, quarrying, rubbish disposal, manufacturing, forestry and Iwi economic development. In addition, community board chairs addressed local retail and community issues and opportunities.

Blueprint project partners - Environment Waikato, Department of Conservation, Hauraki Whaanui and TCDC – were present to listen to the presenters, help facilitate the discussion and record the many ideas generated throughout the day. These now feed into the Local Area Blueprints [LABs] stage of the process when the views of key stakeholders and the wider community are blended with technical information to create detailed plans of how seven catchments, or localised areas, might look in 50 years’ time.

ENDS

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