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On 13th February 2009, Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade and Newry and Mourne District Council hosted a multi-party, multi-agency ‘think tank’ to revisit the Greater Vision Partnership and establish a strategic framework for the future development of the Greater Newry Area.
The economy was top of the agenda at this strategic meeting attended by high ranking politicians, including Minister Conor Murphy, Minister Caitriona Ruane, MLA’s, Councillors and representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.
The Greater Vision Partnership; a collective voluntary organisation, comprising of public, private and statutory bodies was launched in September 2006. Since its inception, the Partnership has lobbied for action on strategic infrastructure projects such as a Southern Relief Road, new railway station, Albert Basin, social and affordable housing provision, etc.
At the meeting on the 13th February, Dr Conor Patterson, CEO, Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency, presented delegates with an overview of the Partnership’s progress to date and facilitated debate around the following themes:
1) Infrastructure and Development
2) Enterprise, Employment and Education
3) Community Development
4) Leisure & Tourism
5) Health & Public Service
A mandate to establish working groups to focus on these strategic agenda items was approved. These working groups will examine the various issues, propose recommendations, identify delivery mechanisms and report back to the wider stakeholder group in the coming months with a series of actions for the Partnership to take forward.
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Mary Doran, President of Newry Chamber and Chairperson of the Greater Vision Partnership stated, ‘I am delighted and enthused about the outcome and positive response to this important meeting. The global recession is having a major impact on this region; we are faced with challenging times ahead and many tough decisions will have to be made. However, through working in partnership and collaborating on the appropriate way forward, we will get through these difficult times and be prepared for the upturn when it arrives’. Mrs Doran continued, ‘the delegate attendance here today represents a cross party, multi-agency, public/ private sector partnership approach; a model unique to this region, and its innovative, proactive response in dealing with the global economic downturn on a local scale, endeavouring to make a real and lasting difference to the people of the Greater Newry Area’.
Mayor Colman Burns, Newry & Mourne District Council stated, ‘The Council remains committed to working in partnership with the private and voluntary sectors for the benefit of all the ratepayers of the Newry and Mourne District. We also recognise the value of co operating with our neighbours in Dundalk in order to maximise opportunities to promote cross border development and to capitalise from our unique position on the Dublin Belfast Corridor. I am very encouraged by the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the private sector and am confident that by moving forward together we can achieve great things for this area”
