Clean Sweep South For Wero

Five out of five southern local boards support the proposal to invest funding from the sale of land in Manukau into Wero, the white water and cultural centre planned for the region.

On Wednesday April 17 Papakura Local Board voted in favour of Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) funding proposal.

The local board agreed to the plan to provide net sale proceeds from the adjoining land sale to Counties Manukau Pacific Trust (CMPT) at Manukau to develop Stage Two of the Vodafone Events Centre (formerly TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre).

Support from Papakura follows in the positive trend set by Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Franklin, Otara-Papatoetoe and Manurewa Local Boards.

Former managing director and CEO of Auckland International Airport, Sir John Goulter says the proposal to sell RFA land at Manukau and allocate funds to Wero is a sensible asset swap that he fully supports.

Sir John’s extensive experience with the airport and the former Manukau City Council gives him an insight into developments in the region.

“It’s our on-going and collective responsibility to achieve growth in economic development and job creation, while at the same time installing pride within our communities,” Sir John says.

“Wero achieves this and more, as stated in the ATEED report requested by Auckland Council to peer review the outputs of the Wero business plan.”

Papakura Local Board’s endorsement was conditional on Wero requiring no further money from Council and that the operation is self supporting.

Counties Manukau Pacific Trust chairman, Sir Noel Robinson says the trust will not proceed with the project unless it is viable and all the research and planning to date states it is.

“Wero is unique in New Zealand and aligns with the strategic directives in the Auckland Plan and delivers outcomes within the Southern Initiative,” says Sir Noel.

In November 2012 Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development’s (ATEED) presented the results of its peer review of the economic output data of the business plan for the proposed Stage 2 development, Wero.

Counties Manukau Pacific Trust’s business plan stated the total project would generate 110 fulltime equivalent jobs and contribute $7.4 million in GDP to the southern area of Auckland each year.

At the November Auckland Council Strategy and Finance Committee meeting, ATEED reported that the figures were conservative as were the visitor forecasts and the Wero project could expect to exceed expectations.

RFA and CMPT have agreed to develop Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets out funding conditions and limits RFA and Auckland Council’s exposure to unnecessary risk.

ENDS

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