Bumper Turnout Expected For Wairarapa Long-term Plan Hearings

Friday, 10 May 2024, 4:40 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

More than 100 people have requested to speak to their councils' Long-Term Plan [LTP] submissions in Wairarapa.

LTP hearings will be held in Carterton next week, as will hearings for South Wairarapa District Council's enhanced annual plan

Masterton's LTP hearings will be held the week after, at which about 80 people have requested to speak.

Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said he was “delighted” with the response and noted more than 750 submissions in total had been received.

This is more than double the number of submissions the council received for the 2021-31 LTP consultation.

“Staff and elected members did a great job to make people aware of what has been proposed in the consultation document and we have received a lot of feedback about how readable and clear the document was,” Caffell said.

“I want to thank everyone who has made a submission.

“Of course, the hard work has just started – we have around 80 people who have indicated they want to present their feedback in person to the Council, which will take at least two days.

“The volume of submissions will mean analysis of the responses will take some time, but the results will be made public following the hearings, when the deliberations report is prepared.”

Hearings for Masterton will be held on May 22-23 with a third day possible if required.

Final numbers will depend on those who take up the offer to speak.

In South Wairarapa, 131 formal submissions were made to the council’s enhanced annual plan consultation, with hearings set down for May 15.

In neighbouring Carterton, 156 submissions were received on the council’s LTP, of which, 32 people have asked to speak to their submission.

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