Recovery planning building up slowly

A GROUP tasked with hatching ‘‘innovative ideas’’ to support the Queenstown Lakes district’s economic recovery has yet to appoint a chairman or schedule its second meeting.

The Regenerative Recovery Advisory Group had its first meeting on July 6, when its 10 volunteer members heard a briefing on recovery work so far.

District council spokesman Jack Barlow said the date for a second meeting, when the chairman was expected to be appointed, was likely to be decided next week.

Council chief executive Mike Theelen told the Otago Daily

he acknowledged it had ‘‘taken some time’’ to get the group up and running.

‘‘Getting the group set up and bringing a group of individuals together who may have never met each other . . . is not a

simple task,’’ Mr Theelen said.

Diversifying the district’s economy was a challenge that would not be resolved ‘‘in an instant’’.

‘‘Many of these changes need deliberate action, but will only emerge over the coming years.’’

Mr Theelen said the Mayoral Taskforce on Tourism and Short Term Recovery, which met for the first time on May 27, was

focusing on the district’s immediate issues of unemployment and business failure, while the advisory group would look ‘‘much longer term’’.

The council had asked the group, which was ‘‘supported by QLDC but is communityled’’, to come up with ideas to contribute to its 20212031 10Year Plan and a ‘‘Diversification Plan’’ for the district.