Feedback Sought on Ruapehu Economic Development Strategy

Maximising sustainable growth while protecting Ruapehu’s environment are the goals of Council’s economic development strategy ‘Growing Ruapehu’ that is now open for public comment.

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) is seeking feedback on the economic development strategy as part of its Long Term Plan (LTP) 2015-25 consultation that is open until mid-April. (Fri 17 Apr 15)

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said that the purpose of the Growing Ruapehu strategy was to help focus on what actions communities and others can take over the next ten years to encourage and assist economic development in the District.

“Growing Ruapehu outlines the key strategic areas where Council sees it needs to provide leadership and enablement as well as more specific immediate actions it plans to take over the next three years to maximise the potential for facilitating and accelerating economic growth,” he said.

“Council is determined that Ruapehu is in a position to achieve the economic potential that the District has to offer.”

“Our vision is for a prosperous rural community that is able to capitalise on the agriculture, business and tourism sectors while sustaining our beautiful environment.”

Mayor Cameron said that both the LTP and Growing Ruapehu are interconnected plans focused on the future of the District.”

“Successful implementation of the economic development strategy would make achieving the goals of the LTP easier and faster and in some parts of the plan may even determine if the objective is feasible.”

“As well as integrating with the LTP Growing Ruapehu will take advantage of the findings of the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Growth Study and the Central NZ Agribusiness Strategy.”

“Growing Ruapehu plans to utilise the findings of these studies to both support and leverage the opportunities that they identify.”

Mayor Cameron noted that although only partially completed the Regional Growth Study had already identified a number of opportunity areas within Ruapehu.

“These all leverage off our existing production base or activities and offer significant growth opportunities,” he said.

“Without economic growth we will not achieve the broadly based increases in the standard of living across sectors of Ruapehu society that we all want to see.”

Mayor Cameron added that because the economic development strategy and the LTP affects everybody who lives, works or plays in Ruapehu we want as many people as possible to understand the issues and challenges and what Council is proposing to do about them.

“Council would like to encourage anybody who has an interest in the future Ruapehu to get a copy of the Growing Ruapehu economic development strategy and let us know your thoughts on it,” he said.

“A copy of Growing Ruapehu along with the LTP Consultation Document and all supporting material can be accessed via Council’s website;www.ruapehudc.govt.nz or can be obtained via any Council office.”

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