A number of well known Wanaka names have been selected for the mayoral taskforce on tourism and short term recovery.

Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult introduced the taskforce concept in April, when he announced a steering group of “some of the brightest minds” in the district to select membership and develop terms of reference for two taskforces: one to look at economic recovery and one at community recovery.

Deputy mayor Calum Macleod, Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone general manager Bridget Legnavsky, and community representative Kathy Dedo are the Upper Clutha names on the list of 18 members of the economic recovery taskforce, which has been renamed the tourism and short term recovery taskforce.

The taskforce is chaired by Jim Boult, and the other members are Destination Queenstown CEO Ann Lockhart, Queenstown chamber of commerce board chair Craig Douglas, Iwi representative Jolanda Cave, Queenstown Airport Corporation CEO Colin Keel, QLDC economic development manager Peter Harris, and five Queenstown tourism operators, Mark Rose, Paul Anderson, Grant Webster, Henry Van Asch, and Trent Yeo. 

Members from outside the district include Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment tourism general manager Iain Cossar, and Roger Sharpe of Tourism NZ.

“...the work of the taskforces will be to explore and provide innovative ideas for the future of the whole community,” the mayor said. 

He said ensuring alignment with the council’s climate action plan will be of key importance, as will providing opportunities for the community to be involved in shaping “our future economy”.

So far, the council has received hundreds of ideas for community and economic recovery which the taskforce, once developed, will have a hand in evaluating.

“We know there are other groups looking at similar ways of generating innovation here. We are thankful for the enthusiasm and commitment being shown and are working to respond to the suggestions we’ve received,” Peter Harris said.

The steering group which selected the taskforce members also included some Wanaka names: Kathy Dedo, Ignite chair Pete Eastwood, sustainability advocate Monique Kelly, and governance advisor Simon Telfer. They were joined by Jim Boult, Sir Eion Edgar, Leslie Van Gelder, Clive Geddes, Bill Moran, Annis Somerville, and Julian Knights.

The final form of the second taskforce, the Regeneration Advisory Group, is currently being decided upon, a QLDC spokesperson told the Wanaka App.

PHOTOS: Supplied