Murwillumbah 17 May 2013. No to pay parking, yes to rail trail and full steam ahead with pro-business policies

Economic development was top of the agenda at last night's Tweed Shire Council meeting, with a raft of decisions set to provide a boost to the local economy.

Two policies aimed at encouraging and supporting existing and new Tweed businesses have been placed on exhibition for public comment.

The Draft Business Investment Policy provides investment incentives for new, relocating or expanding businesses within the Tweed Shire, while a draft amendment to Council's Procurement Policy will allow Council to give preference to local businesses, as well as recognising businesses in our neighbouring local government areas on both sides of the border, when Council purchases goods and services.

The Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, said economic development is high on Council's agenda and these two draft policies built on a range of pro-business initiatives introduced at the April Council meeting.

"We've seen more positive steps for economic development and business support in the last two meetings than we've seen in the last year," Councillor Longland said.

The Draft Business Investment Policy provides investment incentives for new, relocating or expanding businesses within the Tweed Shire.

"Attracting new businesses to the Tweed is critical to boosting the local economy and enhancing job opportunities," Councillor Longland said.

"The adoption of this policy would result in Tweed Shire Council taking proactive measures in accordance with the adopted Community Strategic Plan under the Strengthening the Economy theme, with a longer term view of increasing economic activity, leading to local job creation."

This would be achieved through incentives which allow payment by instalment of developer contributions for water supply and sewer services infrastructure (if that infrastructure is already in place). There are also options for delayed payment of road contributions.

Meanwhile, local businesses (and businesses employing Tweed residents) may be more likely to win Council business for the supply of goods and services if the amendments to Council's Procurement Policy are adopted, following exhibition for public comment from industry stakeholders and the general public.

"In 2011/2012, Council procured goods and services to the tune of $99.13 million with $25.35 million of that sourced from suppliers in the Tweed Shire - that represents 25.6 per cent," Councillor Longland said.

"Our current Procurement Policy doesn't allow us to favour local businesses so the draft amendments will go a long way to redressing that balance.

"In simple terms, we're looking to adopt a local preference policy which will give up to a 10 per cent weighting towards local businesses tendering or quoting to supply Council goods or services above $10,000 in value, as well as providing some weighting to businesses for neighbouring council areas.

"There are risks to this approach, so we're also doing economic modelling of the likely financial impacts and having the policy amendments scrutinised by our Audit Committee and external auditors," he said.

In other good news, Council has thrown its support behind the rail trail concept for the disused Casino-Murwillumbah rail line.

"I have previously come out in support of the rail trail concept but it's heartening to have the backing of my fellow Councillors. as we will now can do everything we can as a Council to make this a reality at some time in the future," Councillor Longland said.

"The economic benefits this would bring are substantial and we are in the prime spot to benefit due to our proximity to the Gold Coast Airport and the start of the line being located in Murwillumbah."

And lastly, the concept of pay parking in the Tweed is no more, following a decisive move to abandon the idea at last night's meeting.

"The idea of pay parking in the Tweed was put on the table by the former General Manager. At the time, some of the Councillors were seduced, seeing it as an answer to providing funding to maintain facilities in these localities," he said.

"I am really pleased that after consideration and a lot of community input, Councillors unanimously saw fit to put an end to it last night."