Economic Well-Being Issues & Options

Sustainability

► Focus on making this a sustainable place for the future where our economic activity, domestic and public life truly occur without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This may require investment to help people make the change from current practices to ones which are sustainable. For example:

- providing R+D grants or loans to companies developing products or services which decrease resource use;

- requiring new buildings to use passive and active solar design, roof water use and grey water recycling.

Every activity and proposal should have to pass through a sustainability test.

► Carry out an environmental footprinting exercise for the city and develop key indicators such as water use, greenhouse gas emissions etc. Then aim to decrease these over time.

► Base urban design on the resource availability likely to exist in 20 years time not that which exists today. For example, we should, at all costs, be avoiding sprawl. This is a major contributor to cities being hugely unsustainable and places where people are greatly disconnected from one another.

Vibrant community with jobs for our children

► How will this Council build on our gains in encouraging business development and resettlement through pro-business mechanisms and processes?

► Lakes and wetland.

► Vibrant city - jobs for families and children/CBD = investment.

► Tourism focus - link with environment/Greening Strategy/promotion and marketing/Airport, transport infrastructure.

► Industrial Land/students/Ohakea and Defence.

► Wind - land yacht race/kite festival/alternative energy conference.

Education

► Integrated education.

► Student summit and outcome (use as model for other issues?)

► Are students only cash cows? need to be more hospitable as a city.

► Migrants - support to participate in city/have skills, need assistance to overcome problems and stay in city.

► Playgrounds - for all kids: 10-16’s; older kids - adventure/excitement; even the over 25’s.

► Support night classes - Te Wananga, QEC and others

What opportunities exist that the City can do more to foster?

► Ethnic Affairs - migrants - labour.

► Councils attitude to residents - residents feel like cash cows.

► Social, cultural ideas are fostered - need to focus on financial management.

► Look at election issues - $ spend on Square, IRD.

► Palmerston North should be rich city - especially with govt/public $.

► Need to focus on things for greatest good not individual issues.

► Tertiary sector and events - link:

- Student welcome day

- Kite festival

- Manfeild, Arena and other facilities available for students

- Mid Winter Festival

► Rat race with students - “Yes” - use it more often in decision-making.

► Don’t stop because of negative comment/publicity.

► Yes City - “Yes” to development; ‘Yes” to find a way thru difficulties of District Plan.

► Time is money for businesses, developers.

► Cargo hub - should be a focus - doesn’t matter if airport @ Milson/Ohakea. There is a cargo hub here - rive around town @ night and early morning. Location of Palmerston North! Centrality is an advantage. District Plan may assist better. Transfund etc. - roads being addressed.

► Retain existing business.

► Retain industries.

► Make it easy for business:

- How!! - take away restraints:

► Competition for business to be located in Palmerston North.

► Student retention.

► Council offer sponsorship/reward - low or no-interest loan.

► Plan for unforeseeable future - adopt policy at local - maximise localisation.

► Sectors working collaboratively.

► Council’s role to be the communicator.

► How are we promoting ourselves to international market or returning NZ’ers:

- working closely with NZ Embassies (model Australia)

- our city the place for people to come and live

- develop Sister City relationship, i.e. UK city

► “Balance” important. Business (students) are not the “whole” of Palmerston North (e.g. rate reductions for businesses?/comfortable place to live.

► Recruit new businesses/new people.

► New residents pack should include local maps/brochures - where to shop, visit.

Rating Issues

► Support full rates review - clean slate.

► Rates holiday to retain businesses.

► Overdue for rating review

- Business paying more than residents

- Residents in some areas paying more

- Clean Slate

- Finding what’s fair

- Capping

Events

► Will Council up $s for international events? e.g. world triathlon competition. Volume of $ or access of existing?

► Attitude of Council “yes”.

► Link with other institutions e.g. UCOL, secondary schools; winter town; jobs, accommodation.

► Pool of $ not big enough - also need to target fact that some international events require more commitment. Volume of $ or access of existing?

► Not about $ - about determination and hunger - an international and national event each year.

► Needs city leadership.

► Promote city of choice for students integrated!!

► Use trains to bring Wellington to us and Napier - bells and whistles, streamers.

► We have low parking fees compared with Wellington.

► Students’ events - link with the policy and implementation not strong.

► Event community better linked with Destination Manawatu for promoting and registering events e.g. link to the Bay, events planners inter-regionally. ► Compliment Council on Square development.

► Package up events/things that are happening in the city for families of students - those living out of Palmerston North.

► Equestrian event - have infrastructure to support this. Working with District to develop, i.e. secure land for event.

► Council look at a theme for a sporting event, e.g. Invercargill - netball.

Attract and retain young people

► Fund Creative Sounds.

► Lower speed limit, Rod Tolley - makes city more attractive, interesting and safe - starting to happen.

► Rates Review.

► Industrial landbank - long term planning, blue print for 50 years.

► Vibrancy - implement interim Arts Policy.

► Competition - profile of Palmerston North, businesses, e.g. promotion and support for local winners of NZ Skillex competition.

Student City Summit

► One stop shop.

► Expand focus to adults.

► Not a shortage of young people.

► 40-50 year olds are a gap for Palmerston North, especially re middle-management; skilled workers.

Bollards

► More.

► Better management by Council okaying material or a manager of the bollards.

► Business/economic growth is only part of the whole. So develop economically which will benefit/or all the parts of the whole.

► New bridge - coordinated with transport modes. Alternative route to the Bay - developed with Tararua, Manawatu District Council, Transit NZ.

► More emphasis on working with Manawatu District Council:

- issues - industrial

- airports - Ohakea, Palmerston North

We need a leader with Vision

General

► Fitzherbert Bridge lights - refurbish, put back on the bridge. Also Centennial Drive lights - should recover them for the City.

► Promote existing walkways.

► Develop more walkway access to places of interest, e.g. windmills - promote.

► Limited promotion of local icons/park type areas - increase promotion, e.g. local papers highlight one a month.

► Safety for bikes and cars.

► Don’t need to retain student after graduation. “Moving on” is part of lifelong learning.

► Council that has stickability completes projects in all areas.

► Part of staff induction include history of Council activities and how relates to present day. Employment Opportunities

► Those least advantaged in paid work - to be offered opportunities via City Council - reinstate Council depot workers.

Environment

► Put bikes on specially marked parts of footpath.

► What are we good at? - transport, Id comparative advantage.

Regional Economic Strategy

► Education } location

► Smart business } transport

► Bio-technology } cargo hub

Retail/Live Entertainment

► Recognise “economic” benefits of Arts:

- performing/visual - promotion

- weekend arts - ‘Square Edge’, e.g. Christchurch Arts back area centre.

Tourism

► Where is agricultural museum.

► Life on farm experiences.

► Develop educational working farm - encourage tourists/farm/education packages.

► Signage - increase, upgrade.

► Maps at entranceways to walkways.

► Maps in motels.

► Signage to city to be clear and coloured - need to add “Welcome”