A paper outlining a vital new engagement process for the Queenstown Lakes District community will be considered by the Council next week.

‘Shaping our Future’ is being driven by QLDC Mayor Vanessa van Uden as an exciting and innovative way of bringing the community closer to key issues.

“This is a framework that lets us constantly have an eye to the big picture in terms of the environment, social and economic issues, whilst working together with our people to find solutions and deliver,” Mayor van Uden said.

The work would build on the guiding policies and strategies from the 2020 engagement undertaken in 2002. The first focus of Shaping our Future was to progress two essential work streams.

From original workshops attended by 30 key people from throughout the district, a Shaping Our Future steering group had now been formed, chaired by the Mayor.

Membership being: Mayor van Uden, David Kennedy (Ngai Tahu Tourism), Sue Coutts (Wanaka Wastebusters) Alastair Porter (Queenstown Chamber of Commerce), John Aspinall (Farmer) and QLDC CEO Debra Lawson.

“The role of the group will be to facilitate community forums on a number of issues, starting with ‘events in our district’ and ‘economic future’,” group spokesman David Kennedy said.

Both issues had been highlighted during last year’s Annual Plan round and $25,000 was tagged to investigate, in the 2010/11 financial year, the establishment of an independent events facilitation organisation and economic futures agency.

“Future forums will be developed over time in areas including, for example, tourism, health and social services, affordability, heritage and environmental protection and there are others,” Mayor van Uden said.

The Council would be asked to sign a partnership agreement with all community and business stakeholders and be asked to recognise the steering group.

“It will also be asked to consider the allocation of $26,400 in the 2011/12 Annual Plan to continue to deliver the first forums,” Mr Kennedy said.

The forums would be open to the entire community. The item would be considered by full Council at its meeting of 12 April. To view the agenda item click herefull_council_agendas__2

By: Jo Blick