Stratford Welcomes a Boundary Change.

Stratford looks forward to the opportunity of welcoming back the eastern members of our district to be part of Taranaki.

In 1989 Regional Council boundaries were determined and part of the Stratford District was given to Horizons (Manawatu/Wanganui) Regional Council rather than Taranaki.

Last week a meeting was held between the Wanganui and Ruapehu District Council’s to discuss the possibility of breaking away from Horizons regional council and becoming two separate unitary authorities.

Stratford District Council is disappointed it was not invited to a meeting that impacts strongly on its District.

“Part of the Stratford District is within the boundaries of the Horizons Regional Council and therefore we should be consulted if there is to be any change” says Mayor Neil Volzke.

Should their bid to quit the Horizons Regional Council be successful, Mr. Volzke says, “It wouldn’t make any sense to have Stratford’s eastern ratepayers isolated from the main area of the Horizons Region”.

The decision by Wanganui and Ruapehu is in light of Horizon’s proposed One Plan, which is about managing the use of natural resources in its region over the next 10 years.

At last weeks meeting both the Ruapehu and Wanganui District Councils agreed that the proposal to continue the research into breaking away from Horizons and becoming unitary authorities be formally considered by each council in May 2010.

Stratford District Council looks forward to being involved with any further discussions.

ENDS

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