Latest news with #GlynLewers
Otago Daily Times
14-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Group shows confidence in hospital plan
A privately owned public hospital for the Central Otago-Queenstown Lakes area is not quite a done deal — but one might be forgiven for thinking so after a show of confidence from southern leaders. The Otago Central Lakes Health Services Project steering group issued a statement yesterday saying Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) was "prioritising" work on a clinical services plan for the region that would "clear the way" for a new hospital in the region. "It could be New Zealand's first large privately owned and publicly operated hospital," the statement said. HNZ did not respond to questions yesterday. However, the steering group — comprising Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers, Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, Act New Zealand MP Todd Stephenson, of Queenstown, Southland MP Joseph Mooney and Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley — said it had a "positive meeting" with Health Minister Simeon Brown recently. Mr Mooney said the public-private partnership the steering group was pursuing was not yet a done deal — nor would a new hospital, in Queenstown, affect the status of the new Dunedin hospital as the region's tertiary hospital. "I guess there are no done deals — a lot of work has been done to get to this point and a lot more needs to be done," the National Party MP said. "It is arguably the farthest the region has got for a decade to getting a significant change to health services. "It will improve Central Lakes health, and it is also going to improve health services across the entire region because of the pressure of this fast-growing population. "Visitor numbers to Central Otago push a lot of people down to those base hospitals." He said HNZ had agreed to use "more accurate" council-derived population projections for its planning, instead of Stats NZ figures. Mr Mooney said the government statistics were off and "it would be silly" to model from inaccurate numbers. Stats NZ suggested the population was growing at 1.5% a year, when council statistics were closer to 6%, he said. Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown was built in 1988 to cater for 4500 people. The current combined resident-only Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts' population is 78,400. In 2024, Queenstown had a peak day population, including visitors, of 168,353. Peak day population is projected to be 303,628 by 2054. The update on the health project work came in the wake of a regional deal announcement for the area. At the start of the month, the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago district councils, along with the Otago Regional Council, won the right to negotiate a new 10-year partnership with central government designed to progress shared priorities. Yesterday's statement noted the regional deal proposal included health as a cornerstone. It said a hospital in Queenstown — "built and financed by a private investor from which public services can be delivered by HNZ" — was in the planning stage. It also touted private surgical hospitals for both Queenstown and Wanaka. Mr Lewers said investing in health in the area was a long time coming. "Until recently, despite our growth, Health NZ had no plans for expansion in our area. "We're finally on their radar." The hospital would work alongside current or planned private providers in Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Wānaka and Queenstown, which, Mr Mooney said, would be co-ordinated. "We would start mapping and talking to what services already exist across all those centres." The statement from the steering group said decades of under-investment in health services and infrastructure in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts had led to problems when seeking speciality and emergency healthcare. Many patients in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago had to make a six-hour return drive for their healthcare. Last year, there were 300 helicopter transfers from Lakes District Hospital costing $6.3 million, it said.
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Otago Central Lakes Signs Regional Deal MoU With Government
The Otago Central Lakes has taken the first official step towards developing a Regional Deal with Central Government, having signed an MoU with Government Ministers this week. In late February the region, which comprises of the Otago Regional Council, Central Otago District Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council, submitted a light touch proposal to the Department of Internal Affairs in line with the Regional and City Deal framework. The proposal outlined the region's current challenges, which are set to intensify as population and visitor numbers continue to rise. With some of the fastest growth in New Zealand over the past decade - and projections showing this will continue for at least 20 years - the region's popularity, natural beauty, and appeal to investors make it a magnet for growth. The proposal aims to manage this growth effectively, ensuring it enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Glyn Lewers, Mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council was pleased Central Government had heard the calls from the region 'Our entire region is seen as a highly desirable place to live and visit, but we can't manage the impact of growth alone. We need to work with Central Government on affordable and sustainable tools that enable us to continue to manage growth and ensure the entire region retains its status as a destination of choice'. Central Otago District Council Mayor Tamah Alley said 'while it is by no means a done deal, it is a huge step forward and shows a commitment by the region and Central Government to address some of the unique challenges in our communities. Central Otago understands the growth issues Queenstown has faced in recent years and we are already seeing some of those emerge in our district. Working alongside ORC, QLDC and Central Government to future proof our communities across infrastructure, housing and economic growth is a smart play'. Chair of Otago Regional Council Gretchen Robertson was grateful to see Central Government had recognized the challenges faced by the Inland Otago Districts. 'The Otago Central Lakes region is faced with enormous pressure from rapid growth, which is only forecast to continue. Looking ahead this is a great step forward to give the region the ability to get ahead and manage the impacts of that growth and ensure the region remains one of the greatest places on earth to live, work and play.' In the coming months representatives from the Central Otago Lakes will engage in negotiate with Central Government around the contents of the deal, while final approval will remain delegated to individual Councils and Cabinet.
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Government deal closer for Central Otago and Queenstown
Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers. Photo: Tracey Roxburgh Congestion charges or tolls could be on the way for Queenstown as part of a government deal to cope with population growth and pressure on infrastructure. Otago Central Lakes is one of three regions which have made it to the next stage to negotiate a 10-year regional deal partnership, the government announced today. Three Otago councils have been working together since late last year to secure the agreement which Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say will help unlock growth. The region, which comprises the Otago Regional Council, Central Otago District Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council, submitted a proposal last year. It outlined the region's challenges with rising population and visitor numbers and how to manage it. The proposal said mass rapid transit such as a gondola or the gondola-like cable cars could help to "alleviate road congestion by offering transport that bypasses traditional road networks". It called for a revised public transport funding model to enable long-term private sector partnering for mass rapid transit along with "road pricing". Among the expectations laid out by the ministers is that the region commit to exploring congestion charging. The government also expected the region to "unlock housing growth including around rapid transit corridors". 'City and Regional Deals will be strategic 10-year partnerships between local and central government to progress joint priorities including economic growth, enabling abundant housing, better management and utilisation of local assets, and closing the infrastructure deficit,' Mr Bishop said. Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers said government help was needed to manage the impact of growth.. "We need to work with central government on affordable and sustainable tools that enable us to continue to manage growth and ensure the entire region retains its status as a destination of choice'. Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley said the announcement was a significant step forward but cautioned it was "not a done deal". "Central Otago understands the growth issues Queenstown has faced in recent years and we are already seeing some of those emerge in our district. "Working alongside ORC, QLDC and Central Government to future proof our communities across infrastructure, housing and economic growth is a smart play'." - APL
Otago Daily Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
CCO preferred option for Three Waters
A recommendation for a council-controlled organisation (CCO) to deliver Three Waters services in the Queenstown Lakes district will go out for public consultation on Monday. Councillors voted 8-2 in favour of the recommendation at a full council meeting in Arrowtown yesterday, taking another step in revamping Three Waters delivery in line with the government's 'Local Water Done Well' reforms. In her report for councillors, council strategy and reform manager Pennie Pearce said compared to an "in-house" model, a CCO would provide the "greatest opportunity to deliver high-quality, resilient, sustainable and reliable water services". The council would transfer the district's drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets — and associated liabilities — to the CCO, but would be its sole shareholder. The CCO would operate independently from the council, with its own specialist board and management. It would not need to consult with the community, but the council would set its expectations and priorities through a statement of expectations. The report said average annual water charges for households would increase significantly under either model, but were estimated to be 10% lower under a CCO in the long-term. The council's debt would significantly decrease, giving it more "headroom" for non-Three Waters capital spending. Mayor Glyn Lewers said he strongly backed a CCO, saying the litany of Three Waters failures the current council had been forced to deal with were the outcome of poor decisions by previous councils. The 2023 Cryptosporidium outbreak, the Shotover wastewater disposal field failure, and the need to truck waste out of Hawea were all the result of "political interference", and had led to households having to pay more for water services. The council was investing nearly $1.5 billion on Three Waters infrastructure over the next 10 years, and he wanted a professional board overseeing that, Mr Lewers said. Cr Gavin Bartlett said the projected reduction in council debt under a CCO would allow the council to "focus on the other services we provide". The two councillors to vote against the recommendation expressed scepticism that a CCO would result in better decision-making. Cr Quentin Smith said it did not guarantee a higher level of expertise, and he favoured an in-house model. Cr Niki Gladding said keeping Three Waters delivery inside the council ensured transparency and accountability. "I think we're going to lose something with a technical board that meets quarterly." The four-week consultation period will end on June 29, with the council expected to make a final decision on July 31.
