Cambridge Chamber candidates meeting with Peter Carr as compere
Waipā District Council has been warned to expect negative feedback on its Economic Wellbeing Strategy after failing to engage with its commerce chambers.
Shane Walsh
Te Awamutu ward councillor and former Te Awamutu Business Chamber chief executive Shane Walsh told a recent council workshop he had always been disappointed that the council’s process was wrong.
“The chambers weren’t involved,” he said.
“Now, you say that they’re involved in in 2019, 2020, but that’s five years ago. Life’s changed, and it would have been very useful.
“I’m suspecting that some of the feedback’s going to be quite negative because of that… so just bear that in mind.”
The council can also expect to get negative feedback over its decision to withdraw tourism funding.
Kirsty Downey
“The other negative feedback will be about tourism given that destination Cambridge and Destination Te Awamutu were doing a fine job and now they’re no longer around,” Walsh said.
“As an anchor institute we should be thinking more about how those organisations should be working with council, not council to set up their own organisation.
“I’m just giving you that a heads up that you’re going to get some negative responses from that.”
Acting deputy chief executive and strategy group manager Kirsty Downey said there was economic development themed engagement through Waipā’s Community Spatial Plan, Ahu Ake.
“But you’re absolutely right. This is an opportunity now to directly engage with those key stakeholders and to hear from them um in terms of the further shaping of the strategy. So, we take that on board.”
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce – Back row, from left Cristal Montgomery, Janine Peters, Aroha Croft, Joanne Jogia, Kelly Bouzaid; front row: Monique Medley-Rush, David Natzke, Jim Goddin. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
