People have say on draft plan

Nearly 2000 Waipa ratepayers have used an online rates calculator to get a picture of what their rates bills might look like over the next decade.

And more than 5500 people have accessed Waipa District Council’s website, futurewaipa.co.nz to find out about the council’s draft 10-year plan.

At the time of writing, 328 people had made a formal submission online, sharing what they thought about council’s major proposals.

Those included earthquake strengthening and improvements for Cambridge Town Hall, development of Te Awamutu’s town centre, establishing a new sports and recreation centre for haupo¯ and providing funding for the district’s historic sites.

The turnout at over 20 public meetings the council had held about the draft plan was also large.

Ratepayers had been able to meet senior staff and elected councillors face-to-face, with over 500 involved in those meetings and hundreds more commenting on the issues on the council’s Facebook page.

‘‘As well as the more formal submissions, we’re seeing a lot of comments on Facebook and through our social media channels,’’ the council’s communication and engagement manager Natalie Palmer said.

‘‘We’ll be capturing all of these comments and presenting them to our mayor and councillors to ensure those voices are heard.

‘‘However if people want to make a more formal submission, then they can do this through futurewaipa.co.nz.

‘‘That lets us keep in touch with them around any specific questions or ideas they raised and let them know personally what final decisions are made.’’

The site allows visitors to read clear explanations of the proposals, after which they can easily give feedback on any of them that they want to.

Residents and ratepayers who want a printed version of the plan can call 0800 924 723.

Feedback on the proposals will close at the end of April 20.

The council planned to hold a hearing on its draft long term plan, May 8-9. The plan had to be adopted by July 1.

‘‘We're seeing a lot of comments on Facebook and through our social media channels.’’

KELLEY TANTAU/STUFF Taliah and Shania Palmer (left) were named runner-ups in Be The Book’s high school category, as part of the Cambridge Autumn Festival. Above: Taliah and Shania’s silver entry.