As well as gliding, both regions have much in common, including the recent introduction of centre pivot irrigation on to dryland areas and recreational attractions such as boating, fishing and hunting.
The proposal, from Glide Omarama's Gavin Wills, has won the support of the Omarama community and now the Ahuriri Community Board has asked the Waitaki District Council to investigate the possibility.
Mr Wills has regularly visited Minden (population 2500) in Douglas County for the past 12 years to fly gliders and teach cross-country soaring.
He has been struck by the similarities between the two areas - not just as gliding centres attracting pilots from around the world, but in the geography, population, activities and rural-based atmosphere.
"Even the people are alike - conservative and friendly," he told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
In Minden in July, he discussed a sister-city agreement between the two areas, and the idea excited Douglas County officials.
"It is something that will not cost a lot of money, but offers both centres a lot."
Minden has the western United States' most famous recreational lake - Lake Tahoe.
Omarama has Lake Benmore.
Both towns support airfields dedicated to sports flying and soaring, and over the past 18 years there has been a steady exchange of pilots between the two.
Local skifields, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, horse riding, four-wheel-drive and all-terrain-vehicle trails are common to both.
"Both towns support extensive farming operations including sheep, cattle, dairying, bio-fuel and extensive areas under irrigation," Mr Wills said.
Both areas are on the dry sides of mountain ranges - Minden, the Sierra Nevadas and Omarama, the Southern Alps - with hot dry summers and cold winters.
"Douglas County and the Waitaki District Council are both committed to developing tourism, adventure tourism and attractive lifestyles. Joining the towns, we would be not only recognising that each has a unique position in gliding and soaring but their communities have much in common."
