Council adopts 2018 – 2028 Long Term Plan

Council adopted our 2018 – 2028 Long Term Plan on Thursday 28 June, which has a clear focus on getting back to basics in building and maintaining critical community infrastructure.

During consultation over March and April, we held 22 community meetings and 12 hui-a-iwi to have discussions in person to ensure the people of Tairawhiti shaped this plan.

We distributed our What’s The Future (WTF) consultation document widely through print and digital platforms, resulting in more than 6000 visits to our What’s The Future (WTF) website and a total of 347 submissions.

The feedback from the community was clear – you want suitable community facilities, well-maintained roads and safe routes to schools. You want secure drinking water, quality wastewater treatment and overall, better and reliable infrastructure.

We held two days of live-streamed hearings with presentations from 65 people, followed by a day deliberations. Now it is time to put the plan into action.
“We may not able to do everything at once but we’ll have what we need as a starting point for our community to be successful and thrive,” says chief executive Nedine Thatcher-Swann.

“It was great to see council and community members work together to make it happen. We intend to deliver this plan in the same way too, working together in partnership with our community to achieve our plan so we can all be proud of what we do.”

On key issues – the Olympic Pool redevelopment, road maintenance, wastewater treatment, Taruheru Cycleway and Drainwise – Council adopted the community’s preferred option.

Rates will increase in the first year of the plan by 4.95 percent, slightly up from the 4.89% in the consultation document. This will cover the cost for investigations into disposal options for the city’s wastewater.

The debt ceiling has increased by $5 million to $85 million in years 1 – 3 and $105 million in years 4 – 10 (up from $100 million). The increase in debt is a result of deficit in previous years and to allow for project carryovers.

Our financial strategy is focused on critical activities and infrastructure, with the aim of keeping rates affordable. We will carefully manage debt to prudent levels and increase alternative revenue streams through partnerships, investment and targeted contributions.

Some other features of note in the LTP:
• Waingake Reserve - $100K in year 1 then $50K per year for the Waingake restoration project.
• A project in year one to investigate the feasibility of water tanks being provided to private property owners.
• Willows Road Drainage Scheme - $100k in year 1 to progress resource consent and planning for the proposed stop bank and associated pumping works.
• Wastewater treatment investigations - $50k in years 1 and 2, then $75k per year for further investigation into alternative use and disposal for wastewater treatment.
• The Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2018-2024 was adopted, with council supporting the consideration of using wheelie bins for kerbside waste and recycling.
• Iwi partnerships – Council has agreed to engage with Ngai Tamanahuri and Rongowhakaata around developing relationship agreements. We will also engage with Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou to identify needs and options regarding Waiapu Koka Huhua and the Joint Management Agreement.
• Crematorium - $50k in year 1 to upgrade the crematorium.
• Communities Facilities Strategy – 33k per year for business planning and $25k per year for resourcing implementation of the strategy.

ENDS

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