Services
The Gore District is located at the south end of the South Island, New Zealand. By road it is 150km south west of Dunedin and 60km north east of Invercargill. The Gore District covers an area of 1250km² and has a population of approximately 13,279. The two main towns are Gore, which is the main service town for Eastern Southland and West Otago, and Mataura where the Alliance Group Ltd freezing works are located.
The life blood of the district is the Mataura River which flows through its centre. The land has been developed over many years into some of the most productive agricultural land in New Zealand. Industries have established primarily as a result of the agricultural development and these include meat and grain processing, fibreboard manufacture and wood processing that between them contribute a significant amount of employment to those who live within the urban areas.
The Gore District’s economic well-being is linked to the economic performance of the primary agricultural sector. This sector is now performing well and commodity prices are currently strong and this is benefiting the wider community. Intensive pastoral farming is likely to remain the dominant form of business activity in the district. Dairying and forestry will have an increasing impact on the rural landscape as landowners continue to diversify.
The potential for the continued development of other secondary industries within the district exists and the Council acknowledges that these will have a larger influence in the future. The service industries would appear to have the greatest potential for growth, both in economic and employment terms. This trend will accelerate as demographic projections indicate an ageing population.
The Gore District Council’s vision is to
“provide an environment that allows people to enjoy the lifestyle and culture of their choice
and our mission is to achieve our vision by
“ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations, encourage participation by the people, and provide an efficient quality service and facilities that meet the affordable needs and aspirations of the people.
The district has a number of advantages for developers and industry as well as providing opportunities for new development particularly in forestry and tourism. The Council is available to provide advice and appropriate assistance to facilitate the development of new enterprises, in particular those relating to promoting, developing, or manufacturing locally sourced or grown products and tourism ventures. The Council has pledged to keep restrictions on sustainable development to a minimum.
We invite you and your family to move to the Gore District and become Southlanders – why not, what have you got to lose?
Administration
Gore District Council is a body corporate established in 1989 under the Local Government Act. The Gore District was formed by the amalgamation of Gore Borough, Mataura Borough, parts of Southland County Council and Clutha County Council during the period of major local body restructuring throughout New Zealand.
The District Council the local government body responsible for planning, implementation and management of many services within the boundaries of the District.
Responsibilities of the Gore District Council include the supply of water and sewerage, road works, district planning, building control, maintenance of public parks and gardens and the provision of community services such as libraries, tourism and events, arts and heritage, swimming pools and other services to residents.
The Council comprises 11 Councillors and a Mayor re-elected every three years. The District is divided into five wards and voters elect Councillors to represent their particular ward.
The Mayor and Councillors are responsible for policy, while the Chief Executive Officer and Council staff carries out day-to-day administration. The administration structure is separated into two Directorates: Customer Services and District Assets.
Councillors usually discuss policy at Committee level with decisions being made by the full Council. The Committee structure comprises three committees: Finance and Policy, Operations and Planning, and Regulatory.
The Gore District Council employs approximately 58 administrative and operational staff.
Industry Opportunities
INDUSTRIAL LAND
A number of areas of land are available for industrial development within the two main urban areas of the Gore District. Although Gore District does not maintain a bank of industrial land, both Gore and Mataura district schemes provide suitable areas of flat land close to the two town centres and State Highway 1 for small scale industrial development.
Council has taken the view that large scale industrial development is generally site specific with suitable land first being identified by the developer.
Council’s policy is then to work with the developer to ensure that there are no adverse effects from the development that will impact on either the environment or the social infrastructure of the district.
Council’s District Plan, as yet to be released, will provide a more flexible approach to this type of development and will be effects based, rather than dictating suitable sites for development. This means that developers will be able to select the site that is most suitable to their needs and provided there are no adverse effects, it is not considered there will be many difficulties.
TRANSPORT
Gore Township is located at the junction of State Highway 1 (Dunedin and Invercargill) and Highway 94 (Gore to Te Anau connecting with State Highway 6 to Queenstown).
Five kilometres from Gore at McNab, Highway 90 leads to Tapanui linking up with State Highway 8 to Central Otago. Invercargill City is 65km south of Gore and Dunedin is 150km to the north.
There are a number of coach, truck and courier companies that service the district. Most major trucking companies pass through Gore on regular runs while Gore and the surrounding area also have a number of large carriers. The high transport flow means competitive rates for manufacturing and retailing business in the area.
Invercargill has a domestic terminal with regular links to the major international terminals and is only a 50 minute drive from Gore.
Charter flights are also available through the local aero club situation south of Gore on State Highway 1 and the Croydon Aircraft Company found to the north of Gore on State Highway 94 at Mandeville.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Water: The Gore District Council extracts water for domestic and industrial use from two bore fields. The first, Coopers Wells, produces up to 5000m3 per day and the second, at Jacobstown, produces up to 3000m3 per day. Gore’s total current summer consumption is approximately 6000m3 per day and in winter 3000m3 per day.
Mataura’s water is drawn from the Pleura Stream through a gravity main to the Mataura treatment plant. Mataura’s current usage is 1200m3 per day but the plant is capable of producing 2200m3 per day.
In addition, the Council administers the Otama rural water scheme. The Kaiwera and Otikerama rural water schemes are administered by private committees. The Glenkenich rural water scheme, administered by Clutha District Council, services the townships of Waikaka and Pukerau.
Water Tariff: All Gore and Mataura water users pay a full water rate of $210.55 per year, which entitles each user to 18 cubic metres per month.
Users outside the town boundary pay $1.385 per cubic metre used above 18 cubic metres per month. All other extraordinary users pay $0.585 per cubic metre used over 18 cubic metres per month (which includes commercial users).
Sewerage: The Council has three sewerage treatment oxidation pond plants. The Gore sewerage treatment oxidation ponds were completed in 1971 and are designed to service a population of 12,000. Mataura’s sewerage treatment oxidation pond can service a population of 4000. A reticulation scheme and oxidation pond also services the township of Waikaka.
While these plants have some spare capacity, pre onsite treatment of industrial waste may be required. This will depend on the makeup component of the industrial waste.
Electricity: Electricity is supplied by Contact Energy based in Invercargill. Service is contracted out and readily available in the Gore district.
Lignite/Coal: The district is rich in lignite and coal resources and these resources have significant future industrial potential. There are two large scale lignite mines in the district. These are New Vale and Goodwin coal and are located at Waimumu, 20km from Gore.
Both mines produce high quality lignite principally for industrial and domestic users. The cost of coal delivered to Gore is approximately $40 per tonne making it an extremely attractive energy proposition.
Modern coal-fired boilers are cost efficient and environmentally friendly with technical and practical assistance available for installation. Coal mining companies are prepared to negotiate competitive rates for major users in the district.
Coal is also available through several of the local carrier companies at a competitive price.
THE WORKFORCE
Gore District’s workforce is generally stable, loyal and imbued with the work ethic resulting in high levels of productivity.
Qualifications:
- At the time of the 1996 Census, 60% of the district’s population had some form of qualification ranging from School Certificate to University degrees.
- Of that 60%, 30% held trade-related or tertiary qualifications.
People looking for work:
- Gore district’s labour force is estimated to be 5,550.
- The 2001 Census showed that 3% of the workforce was unemployed.
- WINZ can assist in the staff selection process.
Employment Opportunities
The region, particularly Eastern Southland is currently experiencing exciting economic times with the rural sector contributing greatly to the economy. There are many jobs available across all sectors from agriculture to tourism. Experienced farm workers are in high demand especially for dairy farming however sheep and crop farms also require experienced workers.
Currently most trades are unable to full the many positions available. Plumbers, builders, carpenters, roofers, joiners, sheetmetal workers and apprentices for all trades are in great demand. Experienced truck drivers are required immediately and trucking companies offer excellent remuneration and working conditions. Seasonal work is also available especially in the meat industry with the Alliance Group freezing works located in the Mataura township. Last season 1,300 workers were employed due to shift work expanding capacity. Many seasonal horticultural jobs are also available especially in the bulb industry which has a strong focal point in the south.
Forestry is another large employer in Eastern Southland with many jobs going unfilled due to the lack of skilled staff. There is also opportunity for upskilling for those who would like to undertake further training to improve their circumstances.
Edendale Dairy Factory: Always a great demand for dairy workers.
Southlanders are currently the third highest wage earners in New Zealand and enjoy a better lifestyle than many people living further north due to higher disposable income because of cheaper housing and free tertiary education.
For further employment information contact:
info@venturesouthland.co.nz
goreinfo@goredc.govt.nz
WINZ Gore: Phone 03 902 0662
www.workandincome.govt.nz
The Community
HOUSING
Gore, as a place to live and bring up a family, represents the best value for money in New Zealand and for lifestyle we have some of the best scenery and recreational pursuits on our doorstep.
With a district population of around 12,500 and the township of Gore servicing up to 25,000, housing is moderately priced and easily affordable.
A wide range of housing styles is available in established areas and new subdivisions. Most houses are of brick construction with three or four bedrooms and large living areas. Section sizes range from 700 to 1000m2. A reasonable amount of rental property is available from around $120-$180 per week.
Residential streets are generally wide and tree lined and there are pleasant vistas of the surrounding rural areas from many parts of the town. The central business and retail district is either walking distance or only a short drive from all residential areas and the town is well serviced with a variety of neighbourhood shops.
As a general guide, values of homes in the Gore District are as follows:
Houses
Good quality three and four bedroom family homes are available for between $80,000 and $200,000 in Gore and in Mataura such homes could be purchased for $50,000 to $100,000. Executive homes are available for between $200,000 and $400,000.
Ownership Units
Ownership flats and town houses range in price from $105,000 to $250,000.
Lifestyle Blocks
Depending on size of block and location, between $250,000 and $500,000 could buy a property from 1ha to 10ha.
Rural Property
Property with uses including sheep, beef, dairy grazing and farming, cropping, milking, forestry, horticulture and market gardening are readily available within or with close proximity to the town.
LIFESTYLE
Weather
Gore experiences the full contrast of the four seasons throughout the year with long, warm summers, beautiful autumn days, mild winters (sometimes with a bit of snow that can be very entertaining for the short while it lasts on the ground) and springtime bringing forth all the newborn lambs in the countryside. Contrary to popular belief Southland weather is not Antarctic-like in its arrival and we are renowned for our long summer nights and low rainfall compared to the North Island. If it was that bad do you really think we would want to live here? Temperature readings are taken out in the countryside and Gore is usually a few degrees warmer than what the weather-watchers forecast.
HEALTH SERVICES
Gore Hospital
Gore Hospital is an impressive, 20 bed primary care health facility that provides in and out patient services.
It is located in a quiet cul-de-sac in Birch Lane and allows easy access to health services.
Services available include in-patient medical, maternity and assessment treatment and rehabilitation of the elderly. A 24 hour emergency department provides stabilisation and treatment of accidents and emergencies and is supported by an x-ray department. Support services include occupational therapy, social work services, speech language therapy, needs assessment, physiotherapy, laboratory, district nursing and meals on wheels.
A range of visiting consultants provide specialist clinics on a regular basis. Funded clinics include medical, respiratory, gynaecology, oncology, orthopaedic, paediatric, audiology, surgical and ophthalmology. To augment these specialities dietary, asthma, diabetic education and STD clinics are provided by specifically qualified staff. In addition, Gore Hospital is able to offer a variety of visiting private services expanding the range to include cardiology, diabetic retinal eye screening, audiometry and cardiac exercise test monitoring, natural fertility, and ear care.
A community wellness programme runs from the hospital. This includes a wide range of clinics and seminars, changing on a monthly basis.
Mental health is provided from Gore Hospital by the Southland District Health Board which leases part of the hospital complex to base their community service. The Community Mental Health service is supported by a team of health professionals ranging from psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, Maori health workers to specialist nursing staff.
Other Services
Gore has a medical centre within a block of the Gore Hospital facility, housing four general practitioners in private practice. Mataura also has a general practitioner. In the same vicinity as the Gore Medical Centre there are Plunket rooms and a physiotherapist.
There are also three dental practices in Gore and other health services, such as breast screening, visit the district on a regular basis.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
Please refer to the Education section of this site.
RECREATIONAL AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
Multisports Complex
The multisports concept is unique in New Zealand and is the focus for a wide range of recreational activities for the entire Gore district attracting patrons from throughout Southland and South Otago. Facilities cater for all age groups and include an ice arena (ice skating, ice hockey, curling), aquatic centre (swimming, hydrotherapy, scuba diving, aquarobics etc), and stadium (ball and indoor sports, gym, aerobics etc). The stadium is yet to be completed.
Parks
There are numerous reserves and recreational facilities scattered throughout the Gore District totalling 222 hectares. Gore has many beautiful gardens and parks including the magnificent Dolamore Park which is surrounded by native bush and provides excellent facilities for family picnics over the warm summer holidays. Also set aside are extensive walkways, a heritage trail and impending mountain bike track.
Arts and Heritage
Gore is becoming nationally recognised for its arts and heritage precinct particularly relating to the story of Hokonui Moonshine (illegally brewed whisky) and early pioneer history of the area. The Council’s Arts and Heritage department assist in the management and development of arts and heritage facilities, services and initiatives within the Gore District including the Eastern Southland Gallery and John Money wing, Gore Historical Museum, Hokonui Moonshine Museum, Fishing Museum, Croydon Aircraft Company, Aviation Museum at Mandeville, Hokonui Pioneer Park and many others.
Fishing
Brown trout and country music are just two of the attractions which have given Gore a world wide reputation. From October through to April, Gore takes on an international feel as anglers from all over the globe come to pit their skills against the wily brown trout in the Mataura River and its tributaries.