Why it matters?

Long Term Plan sets 20-year vision

Councillor makes plea for feedback from ratepayers

Councillor Christine Mitchell has issued a plea to the residents and ratepayers of Horowhenua to study and respond to the Long Term Plan consultation document that is now available.

“These are really important documents that underpin what is going to happen in the next 20 years.”

She said the documents deal with proposed debt levels, with proposed spending and costly long-term projects that improve quality of service for the people served by the Horowhenua District Council. “Look at the detail,” she urged.

“We need feedback to steer us. We need to know what you want us to keep, what you want and what you would be prepared to pay more for. Attend events and talk to your local councillor.”

Mitchell said she thought the projected income from development contribution ($95 million) might not be enough for what is proposed.

“I am not sure whether the project proposed to improve existing levels of service or whether they cater to the expected growth,” she said.

“I think we plan to spend too much on improving levels of service, such as upgrades of sports grounds, parks and reserves.

“I think we need to prioritise water supply, sustainable wastewater and stormwater disposal options, not to mention transport options, so we can all go somewhere.”

Other councillors added to her plea. Wayne Bishop said he had reservations about the spending.

“Try and understand the implications of this for our district. While I support the documents going out for consultation my support is qualified,” he said. “There is more work to do for us.”

Bishop said he was not averse to debt, but he was “nervous the steps we are taking may leave us with little wriggle room in the future. That concerns me.

“We are only at the foot of the mountain and I have some reservations and I am looking forward to input from the community. Please get involved and together we will produce a better outcome.”

“Give us as much feedback as possible. This is a very complex and time-driven process. There are still a few balls in the air as far as I am concerned.

Councillor David Allan said: “Tell us what you do not want. Submitters usually want everything but no rates increase. Look at the big-ticket items.”

Sam Jennings was unhappy with the documentation and the process that resulted in the documentation.

“None of us are clear whether we are ready for growth or are chasing it . . . we never had that conversation.

“This [is a] Long Term Plan of missed opportunity . . . there is nothing about housing and housing affordability . . . nor anything about capturing domestic tourism spend,” Jennings said.

He said it felt as if the council was getting something out there to do consultation . . . “are we prepared to follow through? Who wants to participate if you say upfront that the document will change.”

Ross Brannigan said he disagreed with Jennings. “This is my third LTP and by far the most complex. A huge amount of work has gone into this by staff and councillors . . . it is not perfect . . . but consultation is part of the legal process we must follow.”

Mitchell said she understood where Jennings was coming from.

“This is not a normal Long Term Plan. Last October we adopted the 95 per cent growth and that was not anticipated. That resulted in a huge amount of work for staff, perhaps that 95 per cent was too high. We also had a decrease in last year’s annual plan which we have to make up for now.”

Victoria Kaye Simmons said: “We have a lot of dates in front of us of consultation events. We all must be at more than one of those. In the past, we have been very light on this.”

Apart from Jennings, elected members voted to put the LTP documentation out for public consultation.

These are really important documents that underpin what is going to happen Councillor Christine Mitchell