Ōamaru CBD Revitilisation

Collaborative Revitilisation of the CBD

We are pleased to share the progress of Oamaru's CBD revitalisation, where the Strategic Doing methodology is driving positive change and bringing new energy to the town centre. The first workshop, held in December 2023, brought together over forty representatives from local businesses, community groups, agencies, and the Waitaki District Council to collaboratively explore ways to enhance the CBD.

Strategic Doing practitioners from across Otago played a crucial role by acting as table guides, supporting participants and gaining valuable hands-on experience—an excellent example of the collaborative spirit of Strategic Doing in action.

Facilitated by Melanie Jones from the Council’s Economic Development Team, this session utilised Strategic Doing™ principles to harness the group's collective knowledge and resources. By the end of the workshop, five actionable projects were identified, showcasing the effectiveness of this collaborative, action-oriented approach.

Building on this success, a second workshop was held in March 2024 at the Ōamaru Opera House. Thirty-five participants presented their project plans and discussed further integration to create a more vibrant CBD.

One of the projects has already been successfully completed. In July 2024, a public forum was held to showcase successful heritage building developments and provide guidance to developers and businesses. This well-received event increased awareness of Oamaru's unique heritage and encouraged thoughtful development in the CBD.

The other four projects are in the planning stages and are set to be piloted by the end of 2024. These initiatives aim to further revitalise the town centre by enhancing business engagement, improving traffic flow, and creating new community events celebrating Oamaru's heritage.

Mel Jones, the Council’s Business Attraction Manager, noted, "Our strategy is to engage a diverse range of businesses and organisations in co-designing the changes we make. This is about community and council working together to shape the future."

Participants have been enthusiastic about the progress. Martin Horspool of Harbour Street’s BuggyRobot said, "It’s great to see everyone’s ideas come to life, especially the focus on both the historical and underappreciated areas of the CBD." David Wilson of the Ōamaru Whitestone Civic Trust added, "The ideas generated will build on and enhance the ongoing activities in this fantastic town."

Oamaru's revitalisation efforts highlight the power of Strategic Doing to foster collaboration and drive positive change, demonstrating how communities can work together to tackle challenges and create new opportunities.