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TURNING THE TIDE By Laura Baker
Ever considered opening up shop in Timaru, or maybe even moving there? It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from Christchurch and Timaru Mayor Damon Odey will personally roll out the red carpet himself. It’s an easy two hour drive to reach the seaside town in the heart of South Canterbury. So what has it got to offer you and your business? It has a big city feel in a small friendly community, comparable wages to other districts, affordable homes, a bustling port and Caroline Bay, which has been voted in the top ten beaches in New Zealand. “The lifestyle opportunities are really underrated - people just don’t understand how great it is,” Damon says. Damon was more than happy to talk me through why he reckons his beautiful city ought to have a second look in, despite some of the speed bumps it has been up against.
Who is Damon Odey? While the folk in Timaru know their mayor by name, there’s a good chance if you are from outside of the region, you aren’t familiar with Damon and the work he is doing. Born in Timaru Damon is a South Canterbury boy through and through. He grew up on a lifestyle block at Pleasant Point and went to a small rural school in the area. But he didn’t grow up with aspirations to be mayor. He started off as a boat builder in his early days and enjoyed a stint in the UK, before coming back home to get into business with his old man. Damon and his father owned Parr & Co Engineering, the pair purchasing the company in 2002 and Damon becoming managing director. “During my business career I decided I needed to do a bit of upskilling around human resources and management, so I headed off to Aoraki Polytechnic in the early 2000s. There’s nothing quite like going back to school after more than 20 years of being out of the classroom.” So, what inspired this hard working family man to run for Timaru mayor? It all came down to timing Damon explains. “I’d done one term as a Timaru councillor and the mayor at the time, Janie Annear, was coming to the end of her third term as mayor and decided she would stand down. “It was all about timing and opportunity, and sometimes you can’t choose either. While I was relatively busy on a few fronts I was committed to doing my bit for the district. So I put my hat in the ring for the Timaru mayorship.” Damon won the 2013 election and jokes he got the upper hand due to his “outstanding good looks,” but to be fair there were only two in the race he says. Plus he reckons being a local lad born and bred in Timaru helped win over 20 | October 2015 www.canterburytoday.co.nz
public support. “I’ve done a bit of work in the community over the years through my business, as well as working in the not for profit sector with our community foundations. I am in a small village so people knew who I was which probably helped.”
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There are a number of positive aspects to life in Timaru, in fact it’s probably one of the best kept secrets in the country. - DAMON ODEY, TIMARU MAYOR
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Now, two years into the job he says everyday is a challenge. The short three year term means he is trying to assess and deliver as much as he can for the community in the fleeting time allotted. At the next election in October 2016 he’ll be at the hands of the community, but for now he is making his time count. “I’m biting off as much as I can and then chewing it as fast as I can.” There is no denying it, Damon is extremely proud of his town. And while, yes, he may be biased in his views towards the place he calls home, he also raises a persuasive argument as to why Timaru is one of the best towns in New Zealand. “There are a number of positive aspects to life in Timaru, in fact it’s probably one of the best kept secrets in the country,” Damon says. The district’s GDP outstrips the country’s GDP by more than one percent, the median house price is less than a third of Auckland’s, incomes are comparable to the big cities and with Mount Cook in its backyard and picturesque rivers and lakes nearby, the work and lifestyle environment is enviable. But just like any other town Timaru has its fair share of challenges.
Public enemy number one One of the biggest threats to the South Canterbury town is people – or lack thereof; simply not having enough skilled people in the district to keep up with growth and fill job vacancies.