Mayor and Councillors approve Economic Development Agency proposal

Published on 31 October 2024

Waitaki District Council’s Governance Team agreed to public consultation on a proposal for standing up an Economic Development Agency (EDA) for the Waitaki District at a meeting of full Council this week.

Councillors chose the first of three options presented to them, which proposes repurposing Tourism Waitaki Limited as an EDA while and creating a separate Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) to operate the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony (OBPC).

By creating an Economic Development Agency for the Waitaki District, Councillors recognised the potential for additional funding streams for economic development. This would reduce ratepayer contributions and improve the ability to involve businesses in developing the local economy.

An arms-length organisation will likely be viewed as more agile and easier to collaborate than the current in-house operations.

Mel Jones, Community and Economic Development Manager, says: “After a year of implementing our Economic Development strategy within Council, some great work has happened collaborating with stakeholders. Unifying our Economic Development functions in a new EDA would be better for the District”

Placing the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony (OBPC) into its own Council Controlled Organisation will allow it to focus on its assets; to develop new offerings, invest in research and conservation and consider future partnerships. However, this does not involve the sale of the OBPC as an organisation.

No final decision has been made, and both elements of this proposal will be consulted on with the public in 2025.

ENDS