Plant Closure Emphasises Need For Economic Development Strategies

News that Pilkington is proposing to close its Taita automobile glass plant only reinforces the importance of developing proactive and sustainable plans to improve the business environment in Hutt City, Mayor John Terris said today.

"While the announcement is perhaps not a total surprise to Pilkington's employees, Council wants to express its heartfelt sympathies to local management and staff and I will be asking officers to look at anything we could do to lessen the blow to them and their families," said Mayor Terris.

"I would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of both staff and management at Pilkington's to look for ways to keep the plant operating in an increasingly tough international market.

"Employees should feel proud that they have done their utmost for the company and that the closure is the result of international factors totally outside their ability to control.

"There is nothing that either the staff or the people of the community at large could have done that has not been tried to keep the plant going over the past few years.

"This closure was not the result of any local conditions."

The recent establishment by the Wellington Region Economic Development Agency (Positively Wellington Business) of a creative manufacturing cluster, which includes many Hutt City businesses provides an avenue for the future growth of many of the emerging and creative manufacturing businesses in the city.

"We have a number of initiatives underway to grow the manufacturing base.

"This includes things like the proposed Wingate development plan, which envisages spending $400,000 over the next three years to improve the physical environment and provide a visual identity for the area - one of our centres of manufacturing excellence."

Other initiatives include:

· A project aimed at improving access and affordability of broadband services in the city

· Visitor strategy to attract more visitors and tourists to the city

· Improved business liaison to ensure good communications between business and Council.

Council last year earmarked $580,000 to be put towards the sustainable economic development of the city.

"This funding for economic development represents a proactive and significant investment in the future of this city.

"Despite this being yet another announcement of a company closure, I think we should also focus on the many positive things going on in our city, including the significant new investment in retail, the new WINZ call centre, and CAA's recent decision to remain here," said Mayor Terris.Hig

© Scoop Media