Assistance for businesses wanting to set up or expand within South Wairarapa is being boosted through a new system developed by the South Wairarapa District Council and launched this week.

The ‘one-stop shop’ system provides for a coordinated approach by council for businesses applying for multiple council-controlled consents and licences such as resource, building and liquor.

Instead of talking to different people from each council department, consent applicants would have just one personal contact point for all their dealings.

The free service is for projects that need multiple consents and meet two of four other qualifying criteria covering employment, investment value, future growth potential and prominence.

“We wanted to proactively strengthen our focus on helping developers and investors, recognising their needs, and speeding up support and actions by council,” South Wairarapa District Council chief executive Paul Crimp said. “It is about presenting council and the district it represents as friendly, helpful and positive to people wanting to do business here.”

“Sometimes people are hampered by being unaware of council’s processes and requirements or having to work their way separately through departments such planning, building and infrastructure.

Mr Crimp gave the example of a chef wanting to open a licensed café in a main street, renovating a building previously used for as a tailor. “The owner would need four approvals – a building consent and change of use approval from the building department, registration for food premises and an on-license.”

He said the new system was designed to identify as many requirements as possible at the initial project phase or even earlier in the planning cycle, saving all parties time and expense in the long-run. “The single council contact person will streamline the process by sorting out up-front what is needed, liaising with other staff, organising meetings, working out the best order for applications and following up concerns,” Mr Crimp said.

“Flexibility will be applied to the criteria as we want to assist as many businesses as possible in this way and deliver what works best in a particular situation.”

A new booklet produced by the council provides businesses with a simplified overview of what to think about when setting up in South Wairarapa, whether they are home based, commercial or industrial.  It also provides links to other organisations that can assist.

Attached: booklet “Your Success:  Our Business”

Further information from:  
Paul Crimp
Chief Executive
South Wairarapa District Council
Phone:  06 306 9611