Council's principle document for delivery of this activity is the District Plan and Council has a statutory responsibility to be involved in this activity under the Resource Management Act 1991.
Council contributes to economic development by:
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Providing infrastructure
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District planning
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Promoting the District to encourage visitors and residents
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Involvement in specific projects such as the harbour development and aquaculture
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Seeking to grow existing events
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Contributing to local and regional economic development agencies.
Tourism and
Promotion
Council provides a Visitor Information
Centre, works to promote District events and is involved as a
partner with regional economic development
agencies. Council's role in Tourism and
Promotion is to increase the number of visitors to the
district. Achieving this goal will increase the
economic well-being of the community and support tourism strategies
developed by Council and other agencies.
Harbour Development
The creation of a reliable entrance to the
Opotiki Harbour is essential to promote both marine industry
development and enhanced tourism and recreation activities in the
offshore environment.
Major aquaculture development with the
potential to create more than 900 jobs is planned for the Opotiki
area and both the Council and the community recognise that
consistent access to the harbour will be required to ensure that
this new industry is located in and serviced from
Opotiki.
The District's offshore waters also hold some of the
country's best recreational and commercial fishing grounds and
improved access will therefore bring other economic
benefits.
Council plans to construct groynes to upgrade the
harbour entrance by 2012 at an estimated cost of $15
million.
The improvements provided will also help to
reduce the risk of flooding in the Opotiki township.
For further
information on the future development of the Opotiki Harbour
see www.opotikiharbour.co.nz
