The Waitaki District Council’s draft economic development strategy proposes dissolving Tourism Waitaki and creating a new agency for economic development.
The draft strategy, which was led by Polis and developed with the engagement of Te Runanga o Moeraki and local stakeholders, will be presented to councillors at a meeting on June 7.
Council chief executive Alex Parmley said the strategy had "ambitious" targets, including growing the district’s economy by more than 8% above projected growth in the next 10 years.
It also set out goals to improve the environmental, community and cultural wellbeing of the district.
As part of the strategy’s development, Polis reviewed current arrangements and made recommendations, including dissolving Tourism Waitaki and establishing an economic development agency which would be a council-controlled organisation, but operate at arm’s length.
Representatives from the council, the business community and Te Runanga o Moeraki would sit on the board.
Mr Parmley said the recommendation was "not a criticism" of Tourism Waitaki, it was about achieving the best sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the district.
Tourism had an important part to play in the district’s economy, and there were opportunities in the draft strategy to grow it further, he said.
"We don’t have limitless resources and so we need to ensure we get the most benefit from the resource we have for developing the local economy."
Polis suggested calling the new agency "Venture Waitaki", but there would be more discussion required over the name, Mr Parmley said.
The overall strategy focuses on five key themes for economic growth: growing and diversifying land, farming and associated businesses in the context of growing environmental constraints and climate change; developing and attracting the skills Waitaki needs; supporting increased entrepreneurship, innovation, and productivity; using and improving Waitaki’s towns to attract more businesses and visitors; and developing more engaging experiences and capturing more value from visitors.
It aims to create between $70 million and $146 million additional GDP and 1350 more jobs in the district by 2032.
If councillors approve the draft strategy next week, the council will re-engage with the business community, central government and other stakeholders on the proposals and how they can best be implemented.
The business community had contributed to the draft strategy’s development, but had not seen the final product, Mr Parmley said.
"It’s important they get to see it and tell us whether it’s on the right track, whether anything needs to be adjusted in there or whether there’s some things that they think are wrong in there."
He expected that process would take "a couple of months", and a final strategy would then go back to councillors for approval.
