The Waitaki District presents unique challenges to its councillors — both existing and incoming.
Geographically it is a large area — from East Otago to Omarama — for a relatively small population, with an extensive and expensive roading network.
The council is working with a lower-than-expected budget to fulfil its three-year road programme, with flooding events and coastal erosion placing extra pressure on the finances.
The population of the district has a higher percentage of elderly than the national average, and rest-home services are struggling to keep up with demand.
The new Observatory Retirement Village was created with a vision to the future, as the percentage of elderly went up. Instead it has initially plugged a gap from other closing rest-homes. All the hospital care beds are full, and the housing units sold before they have been built.
Older residents also place pressure on an already under-strain health system and council-owned Oamaru Hospital.
The ageing population has a knock-on effect on the employment situation, ith staffing shortages creating issues for businesses across all sectors.
Demand is exceeding supply for affordable housing, and rentals are in demand — both of which are adding to employers’ woes, as they try to fill the gaps.
Tourism is a growing industry for the Waitaki, and an industry that was heavily affected by the fallout of Covid-19.
Border closures meant a dearth of tourists visiting attractions such as the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, which in turn had to reduce its opening hours to stem financial losses.
The Victorian precinct is another huge drawcard for the district, and it is a delicate balance between ensuring the historic buildings are kept operational and tenanted, but also produce a viable return on any investments made.
As the borders reopen and with the peak tourism season just around the corner, a new economic development strategy is being proposed, which could change the way tourism is managed.
Rural issues abound in the district. Farmers are struggling under the weight of changing legislation, which includes the controversial implementation of Three Waters and all that entails. Carbon farming is also a big issue for the wider Waitaki region, and climate change has ongoing repercussions.
The council is also implementing a transformation programme, which will create a shift in the way we see council and its services delivered, but how that will look is still a mystery.
Councillors will also need to ensure plans and fundraising efforts continue to progress so the new events centre happens sooner rather than later.
