The Southland Mayoral Forum is going out to consult with Southlanders on a proposal for the creation of a council controlled organisation (CCO) to champion and lead regional development in the region.
The proposal, which has been agreed to by all Southland councils – Environment Southland, Invercargill City, Gore District and Southland District, is designed to take an all-of-Southland approach to social and economic development opportunities, including tourism.
The CCO would have a skills-based board of directors, appointed by the council shareholders. The shareholders would be the four councils holding 75% of the shares, with Ngāi Tahu, community and business interests holding the remaining 25% of shares.
Southland Mayoral Forum chairman and Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said getting all the parties to this point was a great achievement and boded well for Southland’s future.
“Now it is up to business interests and the public to take a good look at what we are proposing and to let us know what they think.”
The proposal can be read here (PDF).
Submissions will close on 2 October 2017 and hearings will follow.