Chamber’s targets outlined
Kelly Bouzaid, with from left Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, chief executive Garry Dyet and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, speaks at last week’s function. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
If Susan O’Regan was expecting a charmed ride at her first Cambridge Chamber of Commerce ‘Meet the Mayor’ function, it took all of two minutes for chief executive Kelly Bouzaid to disavow her of that.
Saying it was an opportunity for the business community to welcome the new mayor, Bouzaid then listed seven workstreams where the chamber was looking for active engagement from the Waipā council.
“We all know that Cambridge is growing at an extraordinary pace and with that comes growing pains, issues and opportunity,” she said last week.
Crime was at number one because of the escalating crime rate in the town.
Second was a strong business voice to ensure sector specific issues were on council’s radar.
The chamber would play its part by creating a business panel made up of chief executives who would represent their industry and work together to address key issues. The ultimate goal was to create economic innovation in the district, said Bouzaid.
The Cambridge to Piarere Expressway extension and Southern Links between the airport and Tamahere came in third. Notably, a new bridge over the Waikato River was not put at the top of that category.
“We want to ask that this continues as a priority for elected members for both safety and to unlock economic development potential,” she said.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan
The chamber often hears things the council does not and there was a huge opportunity to better connect.
“The cost of council delays and management of some issues has significant consequence on business.
“We would like to boldly ask if the council might take a ‘how can we help attitude’ when dealing with business from consents to compliance.”
Bouzaid gave the example of liquor licensing. Several businesses had expired certificates with an 18-month lag time.
“They have customers challenging them and have completed the paperwork and paid their fees. Council have justified this, primarily as a result of Covid but in all honesty, this was an issue before Covid.”
Council had an opportunity to move with the times, post Covid, she said.
Installation of heating units achieved code of compliance digitally and it was now back to human availability for sign off which takes weeks.
“And the big one – resource consents, the cost of delay has significant consequence.”
Workforce talent, Cambridge-centric business round ups and local procurement rounded out the wish list.
“Every dollar spent with local businesses contributes back into our local economy.”
Bouzaid urged the new mayor to ask for a review of council suppliers and retain focus.
O’Regan was accompanied by chief executive Garry Dyet, deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, chief financial officer Ken Morris, Strategy group manager Kirsty Downey and Economic Development manager Steve Tritt.
During the election campaign she promised to work more closely with the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce saying a close relationship was important for the district.
She confirmed that view at the chamber function.
