Otago Daily Times

Waitaki’s ageing population just one challenge faced

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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 lowerthane­xpected budget to fulfil its threeyear 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 resthome 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 resthomes. 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 understrai­n health system and councilown­ed Oamaru Hospital.

The ageing population has a knockon 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’

The Waitaki District Council has plenty on the agenda as the voters in North Otago get to cast their democratic right in the upcoming local body elections. North Otago reporter has a look at what is on the table when the new council gets elected.

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 Covid19.

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.

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