Wanaka Wastebusters this week elected a new chairman and board to lead the organisation in its search for new sources of income.
Executive member Russell McGeorge replaces retiring chairman Ross McRobie. Other newcomers to the board are Dominic Stayne, Caroline Harker and Barbara Chinn, who join existing executive members Sally Battson, Sharon Beattie and Devon Hotop.
Recent publicity over the charitable society's loss of key kerbside recycling contracts with the Queenstown Lakes District Council was discussed.
Mr McRobie and Wastebusters manager Sue Coutts signalled challenging times ahead.
"This past year has really been surpassed by events post balance date ... Income for the last financial year was up by almost 7%.
"Under our strategic plan we are continually seeking ways to grow our revenue from other sources and management and project fees have risen by just over $100,000 this year from almost nil the previous year. This is a great start and does prove that we need to continually be innovative in searching for other income streams," Mr McRobie said.
The organisation's major expenditure is its payroll, about $1.1 million. Equity had risen to $642,000, primarily the result of a $150,000 surplus. The cash buffer was created because of uncertainties surrounding the recycling tender process.
"Events post balance date will have significant impact on Wanaka Wastebusters. The loss of the kerbside collections and processing has been devastating and coupled with this there was no certainty around tenure of our site," Mr McRobie said.
Tenure had since been secured, following a recent resolution of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Mr McRobie said Wastebusters had received "probably the highest community support it's had since its inception" since the loss of the contract.
"It's been a great three years and ... I have appreciated and learned to understand how a true community can come together in times of success and adversity." Wastebusters manager Sue Coutts said next year presented a very different operating landscape.
"The global economy is not looking too flash. We can expect lower visitor numbers, therefore less money flowing through our local economy. The building boom has wound down. The re-processors are also predicting a big drop in demand ... This means we need to adapt our activities, zeroing in on the things that we have the infrastructure, resources and capacity to do well," she said.
