Franklin Plus 2010 - Waikato District Council

Franklin Plus 2010
A Development Strategy for a Rural-Based Economy
The strategy’s aim
is to achieve:
“an innovative, sustainable
and growth oriented rural
economy”.
VOLUME 1

Strategic Aim
The strategy’s aim is to achieve:
“an innovative, sustainable and growth oriented rural economy”.
This will build upon the already flourishing rural-based economy of Franklin,
its competitive and locational advantages and environmental attributes.
The three areas of focus are:
A regulatory environment that enables growth and innovation across the key
rural sectors.
Investment in infrastructure and initiatives that support and stimulate
economic growth.
To advocate for the provision of services and infrastructure that promote
economic growth.
The strategy will:
• Provide key directions to the Auckland, Waikato and Hauraki Councils for
promoting economic growth.
• Inform the Long Term Council Community Plans, Annual Plans and Strategy
and Policy documents of all the above three councils.
• Provide direction to District Plan development and reviews.
• Contribute to the Auckland Council Spatial Plan.
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Introduction
The Franklin District is primarily a rural district with a substantial area of rural
land, supported by towns and villages. It therefore has a rural-based economy,
with particular location and competitive advantages.
Council has formulated a development strategy to capitalise on these advantages,
to achieve “an innovative, sustainable and growth oriented rural
economy”.
The strategy is divided into two volumes. This volume (volume 1) is a
snapshot of Franklin’s rural-based economy, its current direction and factors
that are needed for growth through the eyes of those at the “coal face” – the
rural operators. Volume 2 gives more detailed information, with supporting
statistics.
From this comes a list of key actions to help further build on the strengths
and remove constraints to the growth of Franklin’s economy.
Due to the changes to Auckland governance, in November 2010, governance
of the Franklin District will be split between the Auckland, Waikato and
Hauraki Councils. The target audience for this strategy is therefore these
successor councils, including Franklin Local Board members, and other
economic and social stakeholders.
The strategy is an advocacy document for the future of rural Franklin.
It will provide a platform for future stakeholders to further develop an already
flourishing economy.
For more detailed information, check the main strategy document (volume 2).
This is available at www.franklin.govt.nz or by calling 09 237 1300.
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So where are we now
The Franklin District is extensively rural, with 88% of land zoned for rural
activities. The economy is supported by towns and villages, with high levels
of retail and service sector growth.
A large proportion of New Zealand’s vegetables are produced in the District,
with a tradition of field crops, such as onions and potatoes. Exports of horticultural
products were estimated at 88% of the District’s total horticultural
sales in 2006.
The District’s population is growing at a rapid rate, with a 14% increase
between 2001 and 2006, reaching 58,900 in 2006. It has a youthful population,
with 31% of the population under 20 years.
Agricultural and horticultural activities provide 13.1% of employment. Manufacturing
is also significant in the rural area, dominated by the presence of
the New Zealand Steel Mill.
Key economic activities include:
• Horticulture
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Equine
• Tourism
• Mineral Extraction
Economic Development and Maori
The Maori population makes up 14% of the total District
population. Maori economic interests and Franklin’s rural
economy are interwoven, and many of the District’s workers
are of Maori descent, some Tainui and some from other
Iwi.
Tainui iwi have negotiated Treaty claims, including those
applying to the Waikato River. It is expected that the
outcomes of those settlements will lead to Tainui becoming
increasingly involved in economic and social development
initiatives as investors and as resource management
stakeholders.
All persons exercising the functions and powers of the
Resource Management Act must have regard to kaitiakitanga
(guardianship), the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
and the protection of historic heritage from inappropriate
subdivision, use and development. In planning for
economic development, within the District Planning framework,
these principles must be taken into consideration.
A considerable level of economic activity is focused in the northern part of the
District. In this area, the land is versatile, supporting towns are well established
and there are good connections to the surrounding regions.
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So where are we now
Council’s Strategic Direction
District Growth
Strategy
Strategies and Plans:
• Transport
• Heritage
• Economic Development
• Social Wellbeing
• Growth and Innovation
Framework
Long Term Council
Community Plan
Resource
Management Act
Documents
Policies
and Bylaws
Asset Management
Plans
• District Plan
• Plan Changes
• Pukekohe Futures
• Pukekohe Concept Plan
There are several Council documents and plans that are linked to or influence the District’s rural economy.
Those with significant influence are examined in more detail in Volume 2
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So where are we now
Urban and Regional Influences
Franklin’s economy is dominated by activities related to agriculture or land
resources. The proximity of the Auckland urban area directly influences this
economy in both a positive and negative way. To a lesser degree, the Waikato
region provides both a domestic market and scientific services, particularly
for horticulture.
Negative influences on these areas include:
• Land prices and competition for land
• Fragmentation of land
• Rural character expectations
• Environmental demands
• Impacts of expansion on equine hub
• Lack of public transport to and from the District.
Franklin’s towns and villages provide significant services that underpin rural
productivity and are an important component of the District identity.
The towns and villages developed as service centres for the rural area. In
some cases, these settlements include particular rural service features such
as the A&P showgrounds in Pukekohe and the saleyards in Pukekohe and
Tuakau.
The larger towns provide a base for businesses manufacturing and processing
rural products, adding value to raw materials before they are exported to
Auckland and further afield. In addition to the provision of business land in
Pukekohe, a number of zoning initiatives for new industrial zones in Tuakau,
Waiuku and Pokeno provide a basis for encouraging new rural suppliers/
service industries and possible distribution/processing hubs.
Positive influences include:
• Extent of the domestic market and proximity to Auckland market
• Supporting infrastructure (place in the “golden economic triangle” of
Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga)
• Transport accessibility and freight movement
• Employment base
• Growth in key settlements
• Tourism and visitors
• Agricultural support sector and industrial land
These are discussed in more detail in volume 2.
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So where are we now
Expected growth sectors are:
• Horticulture and value added
• Manufacturing
• Equine
• Mineral extraction
• Tourism
• Motorsport
Interviews with key sector operators identified current issues and what is
needed from Council for these businesses to grow.
Some of the actual and potential issues common to all these sectors
include:
Specific sector issues include:
• To meet market needs, horticultural operations are changing. They need
to use specialised on-site packaging and production methods. This is
constrained by current planning rules.
• Further development of equine hubs and links between equine establishments
is needed.
• Reverse sensitivity issues from local residents around manufacturing and
mining operations in rural areas cause problems for these sectors.
• There is a need for a co-ordinated local and regional tourism promotion
and more provision for tourism activities in planning documents.
• Conflicts with the perception of the rural environment as just a clean/green
landscape rather than also a working environment (noise, dust)
• Fragmentation of rural land and lack of suitable sized properties for rural
production
• High land costs
• Competition for water supply from aquifers for horticulture and agriculture
in the northern area
• Importance of transport links
• Perceived inconsistency in Council’s planning rules and lack of knowledge
of rural sector.
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Where do we want to be
Vision and Mission
The District’s vision statement is:
“A country lifestyle in harmony with our environment”.
The District’s mission statement is:
“A diverse people living within defined, planned and serviced country towns
and villages surrounded by countryside offering great living, working and
recreational options, connected to cities by well developed transport links”.
The importance of a countryside environment comes through strongly in
these statements, with a clear distinction between the settlements and the
surrounding countryside. These statements have been used to set the guiding
principles for this and other Council strategies.
The Enterprise Franklin Development Trust (EFDT) currently operates in
partnership with Council to foster, influence and initiate economic development
in Franklin. EFDT are champions and custodians of the Economic
Growth and Innovation Framework. However, this relationship will change
under the revision of Auckland governance arrangements.
The principles identified in the Framework are to:
• retain existing wealth,
• create new wealth, and
• capture wealth from elsewhere.
These principles are used by both EFDT and Council to foster and facilitate
economic growth. These are expected to remain as principles in future
economic planning for the District.
Economic Growth Framework
The Economic Growth and Innovation Framework sets the foundations for
the District’s future economic and employment growth. The Framework
identifies four high growth sectors in the District. These are horticulture,
construction, steel production and visitor experiences.
Clustered around these ‘driver sectors’ are ‘complementary activity sectors’
to be developed and grown to support the key sectors.
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Where do we want to be
District Growth Strategy
One of the main concerns in the District is the increasing fragmentation of
land and loss of rural character. The creation of rural lifestyle has the potential
to inefficiently use good quality, productive land, and can also damage
the rural character that attracts rural lifestylers in the first place. There are
also reverse sensitivity issues, increased car movements, demands for wider
roads and negative effects on the landscape.
Council has developed a District Growth Strategy (DGS) which recommends
that future growth is accommodated through redevelopment in existing
urban areas, particularly in the three main towns of Pukekohe, Waiuku and
Tuakau, and also in the growth nodes of Pokeno and Kingseat. In addition,
it provides for greenfield development in selected places and rural living in
defined locations.
Integrated Transport Strategy
The Integrated Transport Strategy gives guiding principles and objectives
which inform and guide the long term development of safe and easy transport
in the District. More specific and immediate actions over the next 3-9
years are given in six action plans which complement the Strategy, including
a Freight Action Plan and Passenger Transport Advocacy Plan.
The Freight Transport Plan identifies how Council intends to facilitate freight
movement to support the growth and development of Franklin as signalled by
the DGS and Auckland regional plans. The Plan:
• Recognises that freight movement is one element of the land use/transport
equation, and needs to be developed to support growth.
• Recognises that road freight will be the principal method of freight movement
for the foreseeable future, and needs to be integrated with rail,
regional air and sea freight.
• Identifies an efficient road freight network as a basis for capital and maintenance
infrastructure investment.
The Passenger Transport Advocacy Plan promotes the development of public
transport to support the towns and rural areas.
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How do we get there
To create “an innovative, sustainable and growth
oriented rural economy” the following objectives are
recommended:
Provide a regulatory environment that enables growth and innovation
across the key rural sectors.
• Allow complementary, multiple and value-added rural economic activities
to occur on one site.
• Create growth sectors around key economic clusters of horticulture,
equine, manufacturing and tourism.
• Encourage larger land holdings and address level of fragmentation.
• Protect the District’s mineral resources for future use.
• Make adequate industrial land available for rural support industries
• Provide a District roading network that facilitates the movement of freight
to and from rural economic activities.
• Promote recognition of Maori values and needs.
• Provide an allocation regime to ensure the availability of water to meet the
present and future needs of rural economic activities.
• Promote a wider understanding of rural character in planning documents.
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How do we get there
Invest in infrastructure and initiatives that support and stimulate
economic growth.
• Provide infrastructure that attracts and retains key economic activities
and a skilled workforce.
• Invest in economic initiatives and partnerships.
• Invest in productive and vibrant town centres.
• Retain and build upon existing sites with an urban/rural connection,
e.g. A&P Showgrounds.
Influence and advocate for services and infrastructure promoting
economic growth.
• Influence investment in nationally owned infrastructure, in particular:
- Passenger transport
- Broadband
- Rail
- Water supply.
• Support and promote regional and national complementary economic
initiatives.
• Promote economic growth by continuous review of the District Plan
rules.
• Provide a responsive and knowledgeable service to customers.
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How do we get there
An indicative spatial plan for Franklin is shown below
Synergies with other
rural areas
High quality Coastal
Environment - Tourism and
Farming
Steel Mill
Equine
Equine
Coastal
ecology - aquaculture
- farming
Agricultural- horticultural
economic development and
innovation preference
Transport and Distribution
opportunities area
Northern Waikato
gateway
Key service centres
Rural activity /industry hub
Franklin Plus 2010 indicative spatial plan directions should be incorporated
into the Auckland Spatial Plan and key strategic documents for Waikato and
Hauraki Councils. This will highlight Franklin’s role in the wider economy,
giving impetus to economic growth.
For more detailed information, check the main strategy document (volume 2).
This is available at www.franklin.govt.nz or by calling 09 237 1300.
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