Cr Robertson, who also chairs the council’s biodiversity reference group and policy committee, told the committee this week it was proposed to have the strategy approved by the council by next February and then to launch it.
Many Otago people clearly wanted the council to develop a biodiversity strategy and "we simply must make it happen".
It was the "special connection" Otago people felt with their environment that was "driving a huge interest in biodiversity enhancement".
The council did not want to take over biodiversity action but instead find the gaps and making a lasting and valued contribution, she said in an interview.
Developing a strategy for the region’s diverse ecological areas would be a "leap forward", and it was "really important" to have already had input from about 50 community groups and agencies, through the consultant report process.
Tabled at the committee meeting was a report by Wildland Consultants, commissioned by the council, which analysed options "to improve management of ecosystems and biodiversity" for Otago.
Also tabled was a timeline, through which the draft strategy would be developed by next month by the biodiversity group and council staff.
The deadlines were demanding and "ambitious".
But given the strong community interest, it was "absolutely crucial to the credibility of the regional council that we do deliver on this", she said.
She was confident the council would meet the deadlines and "give everyone a chance to have a say".
