26 July, 2018

Waikato District Council is taking a new approach to town planning and your input at upcoming community workshops is vital.

The term master planning isn’t new to local government, but a Blueprint certainly is.

This new approach to planning will help bring life to Council’s vision of creating “Liveable, Thriving and Connected Communities”.

Waikato District Council Chief Operating Officer Tony Whittaker says the impact of growth on the Waikato district is significant. “The feedback we received through the Long Term Plan consultation confirmed Council’s thinking that a different approach to planning was needed. This different approach, Blueprints, will help us mange these growth impacts on our communities.

“Blueprints, along with the work we’re about to start in the community by hosting workshops, will help us ensure our community’s aspirations are included in Council’s key strategic and planning documents,” Mr Whittaker says.
But what is a Blueprint?

“A Blueprint will show the desired future for the district and a Local Area Blueprint will be focused at a town, village or rural area level. A Blueprint will address growth, infrastructure, social, community, environmental, economic and transport issues. At a local level these are more detailed and specific to the place,” Mr Whittaker says.

The first round of community workshops will be held in the north of the district in early August. We want you to attend so that you can share your future wants and needs for your community. Your thoughts on what you want your town to be are vital e.g. if you want to see more libraries, parks, police or other social services, you need to come along to the public workshops and tell us so we know that it is important to your community.

Workshops throughout the rest of the district will take place soon.
For more information about what Blueprints are all about, visit www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/blueprints.

Details are about the public workshops are listed below:

Township Date & time Venue
Te Kauwhata Monday 6 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Te Kauwhata Rugby Club
Huntly Tuesday 7 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Riverside Rooms
Meremere Wednesday 8 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Meremere Hall
Pokeno & Mercer Thursday 9 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Pokeno Community Hall
Tuakau Wednesday 15 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Tuakau Memorial Hall

ENDS

© Scoop Media