Public consultation starts on council long-term plan

Rotorua Lakes Council has released [Friday 1 May] its 2015-2025 Long-term Plan Consultation Document and is seeking public submissions on proposals before finalising the plan.

The 44-page consultation document is a summary of the council’s key programmes and activities proposed for the next ten years. It includes information on the cost of services and projects, and how they will be funded, including proposed rates increases and debt levels.

The consultation document seeks the community’s feedback on a series of council proposals aimed at meeting the challenges of the next decade. It includes the key options that the council has considered for each proposal, and its preferred position in each case.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said the council was following a new process for developing long-term plans following recent changes to legislation.

Rather than prepare a complete draft long-term plan for release to the public, as has been the practice in past years, councils are now required to first prepare a consultation document summarising the main issues, and to provide supporting documentation to back up what is being proposed.

“The Long-term Plan itself won’t be developed until after the public consultation process has been undertaken and public feedback has been considered by the council,” said Mrs Chadwick.

“Community input is an essential component of the process for setting our direction for the next decade, so we can make progress on the council and community’s Rotorua 2030 shared vision.

“So now we’re keen to hear the public’s views, and to take those views into account before we finalise anything.”

The consultation document sets out five broad challenges the council wants to address in its long-term plan for 2015-2025. These are:

- Funding council services;

- Improving wastewater services;

- Developing a new waste strategy;

- Maintaining council-owned infrastructure; and

- Keeping pace with 2016 priorities as part of the Rotorua 2030 vision and goals.

To funds its activities, services and projects the council is proposing one-off seven per cent increase in overall rates for the first year of the plan in order to return the council to a balanced budget situation. This follows a number of years of unsustainable low increases. For the plan’s subsequent years rates changes would remain more in-line with inflation.

The consultation document also proposes a range of new wastewater initiatives, including measures to end the spraying of treated wastewater in Whakarewarewa Forest and more new community sewerage schemes.

A new draft waste strategy is also being considered, including the introduction of kerbside recycling and wheelie bins for household refuse collections.

Measures to protect and improve significant council infrastructure are identified in the document for public feedback. These include demolition of Community House and development of Jean Batten Square, a $15 million upgrade of the aquatic centre, development of Kuirau park, and earthquake strengthening of the i-SITE, Rotorua Museum and Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre buildings.

To keep momentum on achieving the district’s Rotorua 2030 goals the council is seeking public comment on a final draft Inner City Revitalisation Strategy, a partnership with Lakes DHB for co-location of library and child health services in an upgraded library building, and development of a new performing arts hub in the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.

Copies of the new consultation document for Rotorua Lakes Council’s 2015-2025 Long-term Plan, and submission forms, are available from the council’s Customer Centre and District Library [from Friday 1 May], and from the council website - rotorualakescouncil.nz. Submission can also be made online.

Anyone making a submission can choose to speak to the mayor and councillors in support of their submission at a series of public hearings being held on 8 and 9 June.

The last day for lodging submissions with Rotorua District Council is 2 June 2015.

ENDS

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