The proposed formation of a new company to deliver the Queenstown Lakes District Council's resource management and regulatory services will be notified tomorrow (Wednesday), QLDC chief executive Duncan Field said.

On Friday, 24 November, 2006 the council adopted the Statement of Proposal and Summary of Information for the formation of a Council Controlled Organisation. That information was now widely available to the public.

"This proposal has stemmed from the recommendations of two independent working groups who were appointed to consider and evaluate all the options available. That process involved a great deal of consultation but now we want to hear from our residents and ratepayers," Mr Field said.

The council will be the only shareholder in the company, which it proposed would commence operations at the conclusion of the current contract with CivicCorp.

"The council is negotiating to takeover the CivicCorp contract and the proposed CCO would commence operating earlier if this occurs," Mr Field said.

Submissions on the formation of a CCO must be with the council no later than 4pm on Friday, 19 January 2007 and a hearing would be convened for February, 2007.

Copies of the Statement of Proposal and the Summary of Information (including a submission form) could be obtained from: QLDC offices at 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown or 47 Ardmore Street, Wanaka, any public library within the Queenstown Lakes District or from the council website www.qldc.govt.nz.

"This is a big issue that will clearly affect this community into the future. It?s important that people read the information and let us know their thoughts via the submission process," Mr Field said.

CCO Formation and Statement of Proposal

ENDS

For further information please contact Duncan Field 03 441 0499.

By: Sarah