From Te Waka:
Te Waka is progressing a sector-led approach where we focus on key sectors which
can survive and thrive and can spearhead our recovery and drive employment and wellbeing outcomes.
We need your help to achieve this.
The Waikato has sectors with strength, natural resilience and the potential to be strong engines of growth and employment. These include agriculture, technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare,
education, logistics, distribution and construction.
Our first focus is on construction. Following a discussion with a range of commercial and civil constructors, we see significant commercial risks across our contractor base in the region if things cannot get moving quickly again. But we also see opportunity. As such, we want to identify and enable small ($50k-$500k plus) projects across the region that could get going far more quickly than the larger scale infrastructure projects the market has focussed on to date.
Many smaller scale infrastructure projects sit within councils existing maintenance and renewals program. These have understandably stalled but could be quickly brought to market enabling work to
commence. We have written to Council Mayors and Chief Executives urging for quick review on this front, and despite workload and funding challenges are pleased to see some picking this up and getting projects moving again. Councils also have a role to play in enabling a range of private market led projects.
In our letter, we have encouraged them to consider how they might leverage off central government’s stance on fast-tracking process where appropriate to fast track or streamline council consenting processes to get these private projects moving.
But in order to get real cut through, we need to work with business. As such, we are seeking intel on any projects business is aware of or planning, so that we can quickly build a list of key projects and any
obstacles to those projects getting underway. We then want to see how we can tackle obstacles and get the ball rolling.
We would appreciate you taking the time to consider and respond in short form – noting projects you have planned yourselves or are aware of in the broader market - and also noting obstacles we could help you tackle. A solution could be as simple as enabling a winter works consent. Or we might help advocate to council re a consenting process or more broadly with Iwi or Central Government.
About Te Waka: Te Waka is the Waikato’s Regional Economic Development Agency. In partnership with local councils and business, they are working to identify and support the short-term survival needs of businesses and to champion bold and collaborative solutions which build a stronger Waikato.
If you are aware of any appropriate projects aligning with remit described above, please contact Chamber CEO Kelly Bouzaid: ceo@cambridgechamber.co.nz with details.