'Bucket-loads' of Government cash heading to the West Coast

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Tony Kokshoorn is retiring from politics next year, but will first fight for a share of the Government's multi-billion-dollar Provincial Growth Fund.

'Bucket-loads' of cash have been promised to help fulfil a wishlist designed by the West Coast's three mayors.

The Grey, Westland and Buller district mayors met acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones in Wellington on Tuesday to discuss how the region could get its share of the Government's $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund (PGF).

Grey Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the meeting was very positive.

'My whole life I have begged, borrowed and stolen for projects for the Grey district and all of a sudden we have bucket-loads of money sitting there,' he said.

* Regions begin to lobby new minister for cash from new $1 billion a year fund

* Shane Jones could have a problem - spending $1 billion a year is hard**

'The bottom line is jobs. The minister said they have the money and really want to put it into the Coast. We have to put forward a list of projects. The problem is to identify what is going to work for the Coast.'

The West Coast leaders will meet again on Tuesday to create a shortlist of up to 10 projects to present to the Government's advisory panel tasked with dishing out $1b a year over three years.

Established as part of the Labour-NZ First coalition arrangement, the PGF will fund the planting of 100 million trees a year, provide 'significant' investment for regional rail, and pay for a feasibility study into moving the Ports of Auckland.

Kokshoorn said he wanted money for a $10 million-plus Discovery Centre and rejuvenation project for Greymouth's CBD to help attract tourists.

He noted the West Coast paid 18 per cent more for power than the South Island's east coast, so money for proposed power generation projects like the Ngakawau and Arnold hydro schemes would help create a 'level playing field' for the Coast's manufacturing industry.

He also believed jobs could be created by opening a salmon farm on the Arnold River and a processing and export facility at the Port of Greymouth – an idea already being investigated by Westfleet Seafoods. There was potential for the Buller and Westland districts to set up salmon farms on their rivers too, he said.

In a statement, Jones said the West Coast would definitely receive funding.

'I was heartened to hear that the districts are working collaboratively and thinking about how to maximise the opportunity the PGF presents. The West Coast will certainly receive funding this year as it's among our surge regions, meaning it's absolutely a priority for us.'

The region's wishlist was expected to be submitted in August, but 'we’re working towards being able to make other funding announcements for the West Coast prior to that', he said.

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith said it seemed Jones was ready to dish out funds.

'It's fair to say Shane Jones was saying 'Get into it. I'm waiting. It's in your hands boys',' he said.

Smith wanted money for a proposed $15m National Pounamu Centre in Hokitika. The council had already earmarked $4.5m for the project in its long-term plan and had been speaking to Te Papa and iwi about the idea. He also wanted money to expand Hokitika Airport.

'Winston Peters said the West Coast was in a unique situation in that it is the only region with 86 per cent of its land controlled by a Government department (the Department of Conservation). It's a special case and that's how it will be treated,' Smith said.

Buller Mayor Garry Howard previously said his district's wishlist was topped by a $15m upgrade of tourism facilities at Punakaiki and a 54-kilometre walking and cycling heritage trail from Westport to Charleston, estimated to cost up to $7.5m.

The West Coast mayors also spoke this week to Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage about their opposition to the proposed ban on any new mining on conservation land.