Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to all those who took the opportunity to vote in this weeks Poll.
Two of you have a chance to win a free meal compliments of our sponsor Zanzibar Restaurant Your vote is valuable because it is the little ripples on the pond that finally make the wave.
 A special thanks to our sponsors this week who have shown their support in this promotion in making this page possible.
Please support them and read what they have to say.
The people have told us loud and clear that they want the south Canterbury region to become a Tourist Centre and they want a tourist hotel and conference centre built on the Caroline Bay Hill.
This week we are going to ask you to tell us what you want to see in your new Hotel but first lets look at the results of last weeks poll.
Hydro Grand Poll Results
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Voting papers are still coming in but we have received enough results so far from our public opinion poll to establish what the people of South Canterbury are thinking
From 2 polls conducted these are the results
 1. In favour of Tourism for the region
        Timaru Rotary Club 91%
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Courier News Readers 100%
2. In favour of a tourist hotel with conference facilities
       Timaru Rotary Club 87%
       Courier News Readers 91%
3. In favour of Public Ownership
       Timaru Rotary Club 61%
       Courier News Readers 86%
4. In favour of investing in the hotel
       Timaru Rotary Club 26%
       Courier News Readers 53%
I am thrilled at the results of the voting. It tells us all that Timaru is ready for a change in direction. People do want to see Tourism
come to Timaru and they see the Bay Hill as the place where it can start to happen.
The Poll also tells us that people do want to a public company and they are willing to invest in the regions future.
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Tourism the Key to South Canterbury’s future
This is what the people of Timaru want folks and it would be a brave group of developers who would give them anything less. Now that we know what you want, in this weeks poll we are going to ask you what you want in your new Hotel. I have given you are list of ideas just
tick the boxes that you want to see put on the Bay Hill. Many of the ideas have been taken from observation city in Perth. I believe we can do it better.
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What Business People are saying…
My staff and I have experienced and enjoyed the improvements on the Bay Hill strip since purchasing Jenny Ferguson Hair salon some seven years ago.
Euphoria’s clients when asked without exception all believed the old building of the Hydro Grand Hotel should be demolished but if possible most feel the dome should be preserved either on site or perhaps on the bay.
We observed an obvious preference for the replacement building to be a hotel with conference room facilities plus a public restaurant on the ground floor. To be fair to the new owner the reality is such a large project would need to be profitable within a reasonable space of time.
Lynne Wilson-
EUPHORIA For Hair
Gaylene Bennetts Owner/Operator of Harvey World Travel formally Thomas Cook, believes after travelling all over the world, that the Hydro Grand site is probally the best in the world she has seen. Gaylene is keen to see the site developed for the benefit of its owners and the community of Timaru. A conference/convention centre with accommadation is a natural choice given the location of the site.
Gaylene Bennetts -
Harvey World Travel
Although the Hydro Grand is part of our history these developers must move ahead.
This is a tremendous opportunity to enhance Timaru’s scenic attributes where we have views from the mountains to the sea.
A link towards the Caroline Bay would come to fruition with proposed future development, which would hopefully include previously mooted ideas for the bay.
I see a need in our market right here for a large conference facility, which can only benefit us all in business. Let us get behind this Timaru
Jenny Dewer-
The Poplars Reception Centre
Difference of Opinion
I really would prefer the Hydro to be retained and restored to its former glory. But if we have to have something a hotel is preferable to pondering to the selfishness of the wealthy.
Veronica Fellows
Cave
Top priority is for a suitable conference centre in conjunction with a good class tourist hotel. Don’t forget that New Zealanders are among the largest group of Tourists in New Zealand.
Andrew Burton
Timaru
I suggest that the new owners be given full power to make their own decisions.
Public opinion polls are both unhelpful and unnecessary.
A Harper
Timaru
