Feedback opens today on Waikato District Council’s consultation document as it looks to prepare the 2021-31 Long Term Plan, which is the district’s plan of attack for the next 10 years.

Our plan, which is reviewed and updated every three years, is asking three key questions: what general rate increase option you prefer, should we sell our pensioner housing and should we continue our inorganic kerbside rubbish collection service. At the same time, we’re also asking for feedback on the way we hand out funding, user fees and charges, our development contributions policy and the community hall catchment review.

We’re proposing a “hard and fast” general rate increase in year 1 of 9% and then 3.5% for year 2 and 3 of the plan. Our other option sets the general rate increase at 7% in year 1, 6% in year 2 and 4% in year 3.

The inorganic kerbside rubbish collection service has been popular in the Waikato district for a long time, but it is becoming harder and harder to deliver, not just because of rising costs in this area.

We have 34 pensioner flats in Tuakau, Huntly and Ngaruawahia. We’re proposing to sell these to a dedicated social housing provider.

Waikato district Mayor Allan Sanson says we need to balance what we can deliver with what is affordable in terms of rates and debt. “As a fast growth area council, this balancing act will prove to be a huge challenge for us all in the coming years. We need to keep up with this growth, while making sure our community is a desirable place to live, work and play.

“As we worked through preparing for the next 10 years, we knew we were looking down the barrel of rising costs in the three waters area. This is mostly by stricter controls for water quality and by the growth in our district.

“We need to balance the services we provide with what our community can afford. As elected members representing you, we have had to make some tough decisions as we have prepared this LTP. We’ve had to weigh up what is best and right for the district, with what we feel is affordable. Trust me when I say there have been many sleepless nights mulling this dilemma over.”

A number of these challenges and the issues we’re wanting your feedback on are outlined in our consultation document, which will be available from next week at all Council offices and libraries and by phoning us on 0800 492 452, otherwise check out www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/ltp for more information and have your say today.

WHAT’S STILL TO COME

We need your help – delivering on bold plans needs to be a genuine collaboration between us as the council and you as the community. We need to make sure we get the best outcomes and strike the right balance.

The decisions we need to make affects you, your whaanau, your neighbours and even your dog. Make sure you get involved and have your say before 5pm Friday 7 May 2021. Do this by visiting www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/ltp or by phoning us on 0800 492 452 and we’ll post you out a submission form.

WE’RE COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU

To make sure everyone can get involved, we will be coming to a town near you soon to answer your questions. Come along to one of these drop-in sessions to ask us questions or get help making a submission.

“Please get involved and make sure you have your say before Council makes its final decisions in June. I hope as many people as possible take the time to get involved and speak up,” Mayor Sanson says.

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