Second round of feedback on Draft Economic Strategy

Queenstown Lakes District Council is inviting further comment on aspects of the draft Economic Development Strategy for the district.

Mayor Vanessa van Uden said the Council was providing an opportunity for stakeholders and the wider community to take a second look at the proposals, after deciding to “park” some of the suggested actions, which had been the focus of earlier comment.

Based on feedback, the Council has set aside five of the original action points. They included the review of regional tourism models; and the Council establishing an economic development forum and an investment panel.

“Leaving those matters aside, we would like to hear more views on several other issues that were in the original draft,” Mayor van Uden said. These include initiatives around the town centres; providing funding or capability for senior level economic advice and analysis; encouraging the expansion of economic activities in the district; and encouraging higher contribution visitor activity.

The Council has also moved its position on the establishment of an economic development unit. “We have received a clear message that the business community does not believe such a unit should be based within the Council, and we have listened,” Mayor van Uden said.

“The position we would now like to test is that the Council could potentially support the community in establishing an economic development unit. We would like the business community in particular to put forward ways in which an economic development unit would function outside the Council, and how it would be funded.”

Information about all the proposals is on the Council’s website www.qldc.govt.nz , along with an on-line form to make feedback easy.

The feedback period will close on 2 February 2015. The Council will consider the feedback at its February meeting.

ENDS

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