19 May 2004

Foodstuffs Rates Remission Declined

At a public excluded session of Council last night (18 May) Council declined an application from Foodstuffs (Wellington) Co-operative Society Ltd for a rates remission on a proposed new Pak 'n' Save development in the CBD.

In declining the application, Council noted that there was already significant competition for supermarket retail spend in Hutt City, it was unlikely to attract visitors and their retail spend to the city and it did not introduce a new industry or support the emergence of a new or innovative industry sector.

"The new development will create around 150 new jobs, and a further 60 or so during the construction phase but, with three large supermarkets already in the city CBD and another five in the suburbs, Council did not feel there was a sufficiently compelling case for a rates remission to be granted," said City Development Manager Gary Craig.

For a rates remission to be granted on a new development Council also had to be convinced that there was a significant likelihood that the development would not proceed without it.

"In this particular case, with resource consent granted in 2002 and settled in 2003 and demolition work underway the view of officers was that the development is highly likely to proceed without a rates remission," said Gary Craig.

Hutt City's Rates Remission Policy is one of a number of initiatives Council has in place to assist in furthering economic development in the city. The aim of the Economic Development Strategy is to encourage more businesses to operate in Hutt City, build recognition of Hutt City as a business location and vibrant city and to develop a skilled workforce.

ENDS

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