First business breakfast a success
Almost 50 business and community members joined forces over breakfast on Tuesday morning, 17 September, to spark conversation and create a collective voice and vision for businesses in the Ōpōtiki district.
The business breakfast was organised by the Ōpōtiki District Council and the Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce.
Council's Planning and Regulatory Group Manager, Gerard McCormack said that the meeting was an opportunity to hear directly from local business owners and to provide an update on Council activities that will affect their day to day work.
"We have some big projects underway that are going to impact business owners, particularly in the CBD. Changes through the national earthquake legislation will start being felt in the coming months so it was a chance to make sure building owners were across the implications of that.
"It was also a chance to get feedback on our town centre revitalisation project. We appreciate that there have been some global shifts in the way people shop and how provincial towns service their communities. We also know that the physical look and feel of a town centre and the infrastructure that Council provides has a big impact on how attractive it is for people to come and spend time. By revitalising our town centre, we want to bring back the heart to the CBD and make it a buzzing, energetic place to be.
"We got some really valuable feedback and certainly a commitment to meet again soon. There were some good ideas from attendees about Christmas parades and markets and all sorts of opportunities to revitalise our town centre.
"This is an exciting time for Ōpōtiki and a key moment as the revised business case for the Harbour Development is submitted to government in the coming weeks. There is no doubt that the development of a Harbour would change the face of our town considerably and we want to hold the reins on that.
"A 'yes' to our business case would mean we move to stage two of the revitalisation project - looking at how best to link the harbour with the CBD and unlock that new potential," Mr McCormack said.
Mr McCormack explained that Council saw the first breakfast meeting as a 'catalyst' - a chance to bring together the business community and spark the connections for a united voice. At that point, Council expects that businesses themselves would take the lead to continue that process.
Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce President, Karl Gradon, spoke at the breakfast and said that the benefits multiplied when businesses worked collectively.
"It is a bit of a clich, but a rising tide really does lift all ships. When we all do well and when the town is buzzing with locals and visitors alike, everyone wins.
