Wee Delights projects to be considered, prize draw winners announced

The winners of a competition run by Invercargill City Council, to encourage early engagement with its Long-term Plan (LTP) 2027-2037, have been announced after hundreds of entries.

Council’s Wee Delights competition called on Invercargill and Bluff residents to submit their ideas for small projects that would make a big difference to their community, with generous donations from local businesses adding an extra incentive to enter.

Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell said all of the project suggestions would be compiled and presented to elected members for discussion on 26 May.

Projects would then be assessed to ensure they fit the ‘wee delight’ criteria, including ensuring they would cost about $5000 or less to complete.

“Sadly, I don’t think we will be able to build a theme park, but there were so many positive ideas, and I really enjoyed hearing from so many people in our community. I am really looking forward to getting around the Council table to hash out what projects we could help make a reality,” he said.

Project suggestions had spanned a range of issues, from events like a manu competition in Bluff, more picnic and barbecue areas in the community’s green spaces, the creation of new pump tracks, agility logs at Ōreti Sands for dogs, new playground equipment, and the creation of signage celebrating fun facts about Invercargill.

Campbell said he was delighted so many people had gotten involved, with more than 230 entries submitted in the main competition and almost 110 in the competition for children aged between five and 13 years old.

While all of the ideas were still to be considered by Council, a random prize draw was undertaken for anybody who submitted a project idea to encourage people to engage early with the LTP.

Invercargill resident Tania McCann said she was thrilled to have won the main prize pack, which featured a private tour with Murihiku Māori Tours, a meal voucher from Hayz @ The Anchorage, a one-night stay at The Langlands, and an outdoor bath experience at Fern & Feather Retreat.

Donations from Bill Richardson Transport World, Southern Saunas, Solve It & Escape, and Splash Palace rounded out the prize pool.

“I was really excited – I hadn’t actually thought about it as a chance to win a prize. I just thought it was a really great idea, to have people engage with Council about what mattered to them. Those little, niggly things are actually the things that make a real difference in people’s lives,” she said.

Her project suggestion was to extend the gravel on the walkway at the Talbot Reserve.

In summer, she walked her cocker spaniel Beau along the walkway almost every day – but in the winter she avoided the area due to the mud.

“It is such a great asset. It’s absolutely stunning – it couldn’t get more beautiful than up on those tracks on a beautiful day, with all of the native trees and birdsong. Asking for the gravel felt like a simple thing that would make a really big difference to me, as well as the many people that use the track. The dogs are already there, the people are already there – so why not make it even better for us all,” she said.

Campbell said he also looking forward to meeting the winner of the kids’ competition soon – with the prize a day out at Splash Palace, including afternoon tea and a swim for the winner and their classmates, he said.

“Council’s Long-term Plan process is an incredibly important piece of work in shaping what our community looks like in the years to come, and it’s brilliant that so many people have taken the time to be part of that. I’m especially pleased so many of our youngest residents were keen to share their ideas with Council – and their suggestions for the kind of community they want to grow up in were wonderful,” he said.

Wee Delights prize winners

Main prize: Tania McCann

Spot prizes: Kathrine Donato, Jenny Campbell, Madi Manuel, Danika Horton

Kids competition: Sneh – Waihōpai School