Kingsland urged to tackle future

Photo: JASON OXENHAM

KINGSLAND PUSH: Business society chairman Steve Gillett says that, in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup, the benefits of voting to form a partnership with Auckland City Council will give Kingsland the leverage to boom.

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A ballot paper for Kingsland businesses to vote on their future has been sent out.

The ballot will ask proprietors and tenants if they want to collectively partner with the Auckland City Council and become a business improvement district (BID).

This would give the Kingsland Business Society, responsible for driving the proposal, an annual budget of $200,000 to promote and improve the area in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup.

Funding would come from a levy charged to commercial properties in the corridor along New North Rd from Dominion Rd to Morningside Drive.

Representatives have been visiting businesses to deliver their campaign leaflet and facilitator Christine Foley says the campaign has so far been going well.

"We are having a good response from businesses we're meeting. With support to achieve a successful poll, the Kingsland Business Society will establish many initiatives that will benefit our area and business."

More than 20 projects are planned for the district from July, if the poll is successful.

Chairman Steve Gillett says with almost 500 business owners on board at least half of those registered need to vote.

If more than half of the returned ballots have the yes box ticked, the process will move forward.

"We need at least 125 business owners to say yes. Now is the time for businesses to be working together for ourselves and Kingsland," he says.

"Already the knockers are suggesting that Auckland, and Kingsland in particular, won't be able to cope. And we won't if we don't do something positive now. Winning the BID programme will give us the leverage, at the right time, to make this a boom time for our business precinct."

Mt Albert MP David Shearer agrees. "Kingsland will be on display to the world in just a few months' time.

"This is an exciting time for Kingsland and the local business society is doing a fantastic job in promoting this vibrant part of the city," he says.

"I was at a workshop recently and was impressed by the enthusiasm and ideas local businesses were suggesting in capitalising on that exposure."

Voting papers must be returned by mail in the postage-paid envelope provided by noon on March 25.

For more information call 6234395 or go to kingsland.net.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News