Bluff community stalwart Tammi Topi has been contracted by Great South to drive forward grand visions for the Southland town of Bluff.
Great South facilitated the Bluff Motupōhue 2020 Tourism Master Plan with partners Te Rūnaka o Awarua and Invercargill City Council (including the Bluff Community Board), which was released along with an implementation plan in late 2021.
Bluff born and bred, Topi is a Bluff Community Board member, has been involved with Bluff 2024 since its inception in 2012 (the town’s rejuvenation trust) and various other community activity, including coaching softball.
In her role as community board member, she was instrumental in seeing the Bluff Motupōhue 2020 Tourism Master Plan, come to fruition.
“I’m really excited to see these projects come to life. They look great on paper but seeing them actually come to life is what I’m really excited about,” she said.
“We’re ready. Bluff’s really ready to see some progression and positive outcomes.”
Topi’s role, which is already underway, will be to keep the conversations going and make sure there is coordination between the various projects, “keeping it alive”.
Given the contract finishes in December, the focus will be on quick wins.
“There is a lot of work happening around Motupōhue Bluff Hill, including active recreation, ecological restoration, and the Ocean Beach precinct, so this is where I’ll be focusing my energy.”
“We can see a lot happening in a short space of time.”
The role is being funded by the New Zealand government’s Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan, intended to support a sustainable and resilient future for tourism.
The importance of a coordinated plan for Bluff was identified in the Southland Murihiku Destination Strategy.
Bluff Community Board chair Ray Fife said he was excited to see that Tammi had been contracted for this position.
“We see this as a positive move in having someone supporting the numerous projects identified and look forward to seeing some progress over the coming months.”