Two million reasons for CBD investment

[Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin's 'Council Talk' column from today's Rotorua Daily Post]


The success and desirability of any city will be strongly influenced by perceptions of its central city precinct – its beating heart. The CBD is the community's ‘shop front’ and an important element in how a city is viewed by its residents and by others.

Is the CBD a busy, vital and active place? Does it feel safe and people-friendly? Is it an attractive environment and pleasant to be in? Is it easy to get around? Is there protection from the elements? Does it have the right mix of retail, entertainment and other commercial services?

Does the CBD encourage city living? Do visitors want to come downtown and spend time and money there? Are interesting events regularly taking place? Does it have a positive and progressive look about it - one that will attract investment and revitalisation?

As part of Rotorua District Council’s implementation programme for our Urban Design Framework, we’re putting up $2 million in subsidies to encourage private businesses to invest in a defined area of Rotorua's CBD.

We want to encourage investment in new buildings and in businesses that will add to the quality, variety, look and feel of the CBD. And we want to encourage existing building owners to upgrade or possibly even change the use of their buildings to match the evolving needs of today.

Changes of this type will play a role in lifting our city's economic performance while creating sustainable growth, more opportunities for locals, and enhanced experiences for our visitors.

There are many good business reasons for investing in Rotorua’s central city area – many of them significant competitive advantages over other cities elsewhere.

We have a compact CBD close to a substantial local population, and with the potential to tap into other population centres nearby. We attract visitors who stay more than 3.5 million bed nights and have high daily expenditure. Nearly one million visitors pass through our i-SITE visitor centre alone.

We have new and innovative strategies in place to grow leisure, convention and event visitor numbers. We boast excellent roading networks and an international and domestic airport. Iwi are committed to supporting investment in Rotorua’s economic future. Rotorua’s lifestyle, unique natural resources, excellent infrastructure and community facilities are second to none.

And we have a council that is very committed to providing a business-friendly environment and a ‘can-do’ attitude to assisting investors.

Our Rotorua CBD Incentive Package offers qualifying projects subsidies of up to 100% of development contributions for transportation, public amenities, storm water and drainage. Applications need to be made before 30 June 2012 and be for development projects that will be completed by 30 June 2014. The council is making available a total amount of up to $2 million for this incentive package and it could mean substantial savings for some development projects.

Interested? Want to find out if your project might qualify for a subsidy? Give our Economic Projects Manager Nick Dallimore a call on 07 351 8307 at the council or email him on nick.dallimore@rdc.govt.nz.

Peter Guerin
Chief Executive
Rotorua District Council