9 December 2020
Keeping this Glorious Place Glorious
Sitting in my office in Esk Street, the noise of the construction site across the road and the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers reminds me that we’re okay.
The predicted doom and gloom of 5000 unemployed for our region and businesses closing down left, right and centre hasn’t happened and we’re just getting on with it.
There’s no doubt things are tough for some, especially in hardest hit sectors such as tourism but I wanted to end the year on a positive note.
The Langland’s Hotel is starting to look like a hotel, two new giant cranes have appeared on the horizon in the CBD, the council have released a City Centre Master Plan to bring it all together, there is real prospect we’ll get our beloved museum back open and even our Trooper is getting a revamp.
There’s a real feeling in the air that this city will be great again!
The Chamber team and Board ended the year on a high note with a gathering of our Southland Leadership Academy Alumni – our region’s future leaders, the ones who will be tasked with keeping this glorious place glorious, and going by the talent of these alumni, we’re in safe hands.
We wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and encourage you to visit our backyard, spend some time in beautiful Fiordland, take a day trip to the Catlins or Eastern Southland – we’re spoilt for choice.
Let’s not do 2020 again in 2021 – let’s do something new.
Sheree Carey, CEO
Southland Chamber of Commerce