The packages, largely shaped by the Queenstown Lakes District Council with input from Central Otago, have a distinct Queenstown focus, although efforts are being made to ensure they reflect the interests of Central Otago as well.
Central Otago District Council group manager for community vision Dylan Rushbrook said the proposals were evolving with each discussion.
However, he said a recent newspaper article had suggested major projects such as a Queenstown base hospital and gondola were set to proceed with support from the Central Otago district, Queenstown Lakes district and Otago regional councils, but these were still far from gaining final approval.
The regional deal, which is being considered by the government, is a long-term initiative with a vision extending 30 years.
The strategic plan includes key areas such as infrastructure, housing and healthcare.
Despite ongoing discussions, Mr Rushbrook emphasised no deal would move forward without Central Otago’s approval.
The regional deal’s timeline remains uncertain, but it is expected councillors will have the opportunity to sign off on the deal in late February before it is submitted to the government.
A key point of discussion at the workshop was whether the regional deal could be seen as a step toward voluntary amalgamation of services among local councils.
Councillor Stu Duncan raised concerns about the push for regional collaboration, questioning if the government might be moving toward greater amalgamation without clearly communicating its intentions.
"Do we need five CEOs? Do we need a mayor in Queenstown, Balclutha and Alexandra? ... Should the government not tell us what they are thinking?" Cr Duncan asked.
In addition to discussing the regional deal’s specifics, the workshop also covered other local issues, such as the allocation of Santana Minerals’ royalties.
Queenstown Lakes District Council strategy and reform manager Pennie Pearce provided an update on their progress and spoke about the involvement of a private sector group led by Rod Drury and Ross Copland.
The group had been working on infrastructure proposals for the past 18 months, unbeknownst to the councils, and expressed interest in leading the regional deal.
While Ms Pearce noted the government was keen for private sector involvement in infrastructure delivery, she stressed the councils would ultimately take the lead in the regional deal process.
The potential inclusion of a gondola project, which was initially discussed by the private sector, has gained traction due to an established economic case for offline mass rapid transport.
However, Ms Pearce pointed out that the private sector’s discussions with the media on these projects had been a surprise to the council.
Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley confirmed that another workshop would be held on February 5, where councillors from all involved councils would continue to refine the regional deal proposal.
As the conversations continue, the future of the regional deal remains in flux, with much still to be decided.
