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Mahurangi Matters
realestate
July 16, 2014
Mahurangi business improvement district (BID) mooted The Rodney Local Board is canvassing whether there is support for a Mahurangi Business Improvement District (BID), which would incorporate Wellsford, Warkworth and Snells Beach. The board believes that larger BIDs, such as the recently-launched NorthWest Business Association, can be more effective. The Warkworth Area Business Association (WABA) is already well down the track towards developing a BID of its own and the board sees the business surveys in Wellsford and Snells Beach as timely. It will spend $40,000 to survey both townships to identify the challenges that businesses in those areas face. Board economic development portfolio holder Beth Houlbrooke says the results will also help the Board develop an Economic Development Plan over the next 12 months. The work in Wellsford will involve an online survey, face-to-face discussions and phone surveys of businesses from Top of the Dome to the Auckland border past Te Hana. Wellsford Promotions chair Stephanie Railey says she is unable to comment on the association’s views on a BID, as she is yet to consult with members. The Snells Beach survey will involve approximately 60 businesses. Beth says that as Snells Beach doesn’t have a business association, a representative from the survey
Rodney Local Board member Beth Houlbrooke says supporting more business improvement districts, or BIDs, in Rodney will save the Board money in the long run.
organisation will be employed to go door-to-door to identify businesses. A similar survey was conducted in Warkworth this year, following a $30,000 grant from the Board. WABA chair Rachel Callender says the information from the surveys has been invaluable. “It gives us a good understanding of the challenges facing local businesses and the priorities businesses want WABA to focus on,” Rachel says.
Following the survey results, the association has decided to go to the next phase of investigating a BID for Warkworth. This will involve applying for more funding from the Board to further investigate the details of forming a BID. “There is initial funding involved in getting a BID off the ground, but once the model is established it’s selffunding through a targeted rate on members,” Beth says. Since May last year the Board has
allocated $143,000 for business surveys and BID investigations. The North-West Business Association BID is the largest geographically in the Auckland area, involving 700 businesses from Helensville, Parakai, Kumeu, Huapai, Riverhead, Kaukapakapa and Waimauku. In total, the Board spent $73,000 on that BID with the business sector contributing about $20,000. Board member Phelan Pirrie says a lot of the work is still done by volunteers so it is value for money, but it is essential the surveys are done professionally. “Local business associations are already stretched for resources and rely on volunteer hours. It also needs to be an independent process to get an accurate reflection of opinions,” Phelan says. “The costs aren’t that high when compared with the Board’s total budget. “But the more businesses involved, the wider the costs are spread, giving better value for money.” But Beth questions whether it is the Board’s role to invest in economic development at all. “With Auckland Council announcing the need for major budget cuts in the 10 year plan, is economic development a core function?” The Board allocated $25,000 for the Wellsford survey, and $15,000 for Snells Beach.
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