Shaping Central Otago's Economic Future

Public feedback on the Draft Economic Development Strategy will begin in October 2025.

We know that economic wellbeing is important to the people of Central Otago. Through the Shaping Tomorrow Together project, approximately 500 members of the community told us about their motivations for living in Central Otago, and about their aspirations for Central Otago over the next 50 years. We now want to build on those results, with a focus on economic development.

What is economic development?

Economic development is about lifting the standard of living for our community through influencing economic growth to improve social, environmental and cultural well-being by providing jobs, sufficient incomes, and the resources required to achieve a healthy standard of living and quality of life.

Economic Development Strategy

Central Otago is a vibrant district, harnessing that growth to benefit our communities and support our businesses, while maintaining the unique culture of the district can be a challenge. Council's economic development strategy articulates where we want to be and how we are going to get there. Developing this strategy alongside stakeholders ensures that the direction reflects our diverse community needs. To read the current Economic Development Strategy, click here.

Examples of some of the goals that may be achieved with the Economic Development Strategy that we're developing include:

· Improving connectivity (transport/technology) and infrastructure

· Creating an environment that is business friendly

· Protecting and enhancing the landscape and environment

· Supporting diversity of age, skills and employment opportunities

· Increasing prosperity and wellbeing across the district

· Supporting industry and sector-specific goals

How can I get involved?

The draft Economic Development Strategy will be open for community feedback from 13 October - 28 November 2024. Those who participated in this project during the development of the strategy will be emailed a link to provide feedback on the draft document. To provide feedback click here (insert hyperlink) or pick up a hard copy at any Council Service Centre, library or at the Alexandra Citizens Advice Bureau (ACAN), located in the Alexandra Community House. For accessibility purposes, oral feedback may be provided. Please email lets-talk@codc.govt.nz or call 03 440 0056 and make a request to submit oral feedback and we will get back to you with more details.