DRAFT LTP book.indb - Hurunui District Council

Draft Hurunui Community Long Term Plan 2012 - 2022Aligning Our Long Term Plan With the Government’sDrivers for Economic GrowthThe Government’s Economic GrowthAgendaThe government’s principal economic goal is to deliver greaterprosperity, security and opportunities to all New Zealanders.It wants to improve New Zealand’s fundamental growthmomentum. An important part of this is through the economyrebalancing itself toward exporting and investment. Thegovernment has a six-point Economic Growth Agenda aimed atcreating an environment that allows businesses to grow, exportand create high-value jobs. The six drivers for economic growthare:• Enable better science, innovation and trade.• Remove red tape and unnecessary regulation.• Deliver better, smarter, public services.• nvest in productive infrastructure.• Lift education and skills.• Create a growth-enhancing tax system.Hurunui’s Annual Economic GrowthBusiness and Economic Research Limited (BERL) RegionalPerformance Indicators Report for 2010, published in 2011, whichmeasures each district’s economic performance, ranked Hurunui10th out of 72 territorial local authorities in New Zealand. Ninekey performance indicators were compared for the year endingMarch 2010. We slipped slightly from our previous rankings of6th and 5th.Infometrics Limited Annual Economic Profi le for 2010, published in2011, said Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Hurunui measured$303m in 2010, down 0.3% from a year earlier. New Zealand’sGDP declined by 0.5% over the same period. Hurunui’s GDPgrowth of -0.3% ranked it number 32 among the 72 territorialauthorities for GDP growth.Agriculture, fi shing and forestry was the largest industry inHurunui in 2010 accounting for 45.3% of total GDP, followed bybusiness and property services (12.4%).Council’s Contribution Towards EconomicGrowthFrom a local perspective, Hurunui District Council plays asignifi cant role in growing the local economy. Its involvement inareas such as leadership, planning and infrastructure, regulation,services, business support, and social and community, activelycreate environments that attract, retain, and grow economicactivity. Our contribution occurs within its total annual spending(planned to be $30m in the 2012/13 year). This spending canbe viewed as an investment into the Hurunui environment thatenables individuals, households and organisations to produceand contribute to economic growth.Leadership: We contribute through our role in local strategicplanning. We have developed a new vision (‘Community partnershipin growth and wellbeing’) and have developed a LongTerm Plan that provides for economic growth and allows businessinterests to fl ourish. Key drivers for the Plan include coreprinciples of:• Focusing on core services.• Financial responsibility and affordability.• Continuous improvement in service to everyone in ourdistrict.• Facilitating appropriate growth in the district.and• Maximising our Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spaprofi ts.• Hurunui District Council being a High PerformanceOrganisation.Infrastructure: We contribute through our role as an infrastructureprovider. Our investment in infrastructure plays a directrole in creating an attractive environment for business toinvest.Regulation: We contribute through our regulatory role. Wecan make it easier for new investment, for businesses to growand create jobs.Services: We contribute through our role in providing localamenities, such as libraries and reserves. We provide servicesthat make our communities attractive to skilled migrants.Business Support: We contribute through our support tobusiness and industry development. Our economic developmentarm, Enterprise North Canterbury (ENC) carries out a range ofactivities that help retain businesses and support growth andprosperity in North Canterbury. ENC’s budget is over $1.1mp.a. It receives 44% of its funding from the Hurunui and WaimakaririDistrict Councils (HDC funding is $50,000 p.a.); 30%from central government contracts; 18% from the private sectorand other grants; and 8% from sponsorship.We also continue by promoting tourism in order to attractvisitors into the district to enable local business growth (referto the District Promotion activity for proposed tourism changesoutlined for consultation).Community: We contribute through our contribution to socialand community affairs, strengthening local social capital.Overall, we have a fundamental role in ‘shaping’ places in the37