Earthquake employment opportuntities
Food and shelter have been the first needs of the Christchurch Earthquake victims. Once those basic needs are met then it is time to evaluate the cause of the tragedy and for those affected by the quake to decide if it is worth rebuilding their houses and businesses on the same sandy shaky ground. We have been told that many people have decided to leave Christchurch in search of employment in other towns.
What Timaru has to offer
Nobody gets a job until someone goes into business and while there may not be a surplus of jobs in Timaru there is plenty of places for people to set up in business.
The last time I counted there were approx 50 empty commercial buildings in the central business area and many of these could be used to house businesses and some could even be used for temporary residential accommodation. There is also land at Washdyke and at the south end of Timaru to build a couple of large industrial parks and it’s these parks that would create employment. I see that my former home town of Hamilton is already marketing their industrial parks to the Christchurch business owners.
In Timaru we have a good deep water port capable of berthing both cargo and passenger ships. Our Richard Pearse airport has room to expand to become an international airport. There is land in the Central business area to build a 5 star hotel and conference centre. A large all weather shopping mall could replace the old buildings at the South end of Stafford Street.
While ignoring these opportunities the Timaru District Councils answer to growth is to appoint 24 people to promote business and tourism in a foreign district which they have named Aoraki. It would be good if just one out of the 24 Aoraki business and tourism promoters were to put their Timaru hat on for a change and travel around New Zealand selling Timaru to business groups. Then again the selfish side of me reminds me that Timaru is the best kept secret in New Zealand so why should we share it with others.
