“This process ensures you get an outcome. What the outcome is, is entirely up to the people in the room.”

More than 40 representatives from local businesses, community groups, agencies and the Waitaki District Council met last week to explore ways of working together to reimagine Ōamaru’s central business district.

The three-hour session used “Strategic Doing” principles to explore a new way to collaborate - drawing on the knowledge, expertise and assets of the people in the room.

The session was devised by council business attraction and recovery manager Melanie Jones.

She coordinated a team of local, qualified Strategic Doing practitioners, who each led a sub-group in a fast-paced and action-oriented session, resulting in five projects being identified to move forward.

Practitioner, certified workshop leader and Ōamaru business owner Cara Tipping Smith, who led one of the groups, said it is “really cool” council has introduced this methodology into the community. 

“I know it’s easy to think that if council’s involved, then council’s either in charge or responsible but this isn’t that.

“So, whatever you imagine is going to be the end result ahead of time - check yourself, because those other voices have history, have experience, are passionate too.”

Melanie said the new approach reflects the adage “many hands make light work”. 

“It was great to feel the energy in the room and everyone making a small commitment to their project over the next month or so to move it forward,” she said.

The broader group will meet again in March to review progress and share what they have learned.

Council chief executive Alex Parmley said this is a transformative approach from council towards revitalising the CBD.

“By bringing together stakeholders from across different sectors, and encouraging them to set their own project objectives, the work that takes place in the Ōamaru CBD is about community and council working together to take forward our town centre.”

There will be further opportunities for broader community input to the Ōamaru CBD revitalisation plan in the New Year.

Cara explained Strategic Doing has a 30-year record of success, since being founded by American Ed Morrison, as part of a large-scale experiment to transform the regional economy of Oklahoma City, in 1993.

Independent assessors estimated that project had a net present value of a 10-year return on a $10 million investment to be $1.35 billion.

Fast forward to 2023 and it is now a global practice, she said.

The purpose is to generate and implement solutions to complex challenges, through collaboration and networks.

“You bring people together. 

“In this case, not just business people, but representatives of sectors, agencies and community groups, and using this proven process together, devise an achievable, actionable project that we all actually really want to do.”

Strategic Doing practitioner Cara Tipping Smith (centre) leads the discussion for her group, during last week's session.