The board of a new trust to promote Clutha's development has been announced.
Three groups dedicated to the Clutha district's development - the Clutha District Development Board, Clutha Agricultural Development Board, and Enterprise Clutha - will merge to become the Clutha Development Trust (CDT) by next year.
Manuka Gorge sheep and beef farmer Rob Hewett was elected chairman of the CDT at its inaugural meeting in Balclutha on Friday.
Mr Hewett will head a board of 12 members, including representatives from the agricultural, business and education sectors.
Gaye Cowie, of Shand Thomson chartered accountants, was elected deputy chairwoman, and Linda Moore was appointed executive officer. Ms Moore previously held the role of executive officer at Enterprise Clutha.
Ms Moore said the next few months would be spent establishing the new trust, from developing contracts to branding and hiring staff.
The trust is expected to be operational by February and will report directly to the Clutha District Council against a service-provision agreement between the council and the new organisation, seeking to drive economic development in the Clutha district across a wide range of activities.
Mr Hewett said the trust recognised the importance of agribusiness in Clutha and wanted to explore ways to strengthen and develop the industry in the district.
"There are a number of other hugely positive opportunities in the Clutha district, such as the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail, Catlins tourism and opportunities around education at Telford are a few that spring to mind," he said.
Council contracts with Enterprise Clutha and the Clutha Agricultural Development Board, which promote business and agricultural development, expire next June.
The full list of Clutha Development Trust board members. -Chairman Rob Hewett (Manuka Gorge), deputy chairwoman Gaye Cowie (Tuapeka Mouth), John Christie (Dunedin), Charley Lamb (Balclutha), Hamish Anderson (Stirling), Stephen Korteweg (Kaitangata), Dick Sharpin (Clydevale), Andrew Gray (Waitahuna West), Michael Ferrari (Dunedin), Charles Hakkaart (Balclutha), Lloyd McCall (Heriot), and Janette Armstrong (Brighton).
