Only a handful turn up to long term plan meetings

Despite calls for increased public consultation on annual and long term plan issues, including the controversial Foxton Main St upgrade, only a handful of people have turned up to Horowhenua District Council’s community engagement sessions.

Two of three widely advertised public information sessions have been held, with only eight members of the public attending the first, in Foxton, and just four attending the second, held in Levin.

Council communications advisor Kelvin Teixeira said ‘drop-in tables’ in the Levin Mall, manned by councillors, had also seen just “a handful” of people stop to discuss concerns or give feedback to councillors.

Recent issues in the district have prompted accusations of little or no public consultation by council, including the contentious Foxton Main St upgrade, although this is effectively not on the agenda for the public information sessions as it is part of the already-consulted long term plan.

HDC’s Annual Plan Consultation document for 2017/18 does list the upgrade as a “major project” to be delivered, and states there will still be consultation on the northern section of the street.

Council communications lead Lacey Wilson said people could talk about this at the information sessions if they wanted, but the main opportunity for community input on the upgrade plans would be at an upcoming public consultation workshop to be held at 7pm on Thursday, April 6 at Manawatu College Hall in Foxton.

Another ‘drop-in’ table is scheduled for this Friday at Te Takere from 12pm-1.30pm, while the final public information session on the 2017/18 Annual Plan Consultation will be held at Shannon Memorial Hall tomorrow at 7pm.

The 2017/18 Annual Plan focuses on three areas for consultation; shared pathways, such as biking and walking tracks, heritage incentives, including protecting significant historical buildings and sites, and a significance and engagement policy, which supports public involvement in significant decision-making.

Some members of the local community have accused council of not carrying the latter out, including protesters attempting to halt work on the Foxton Main St upgrade, citing inadequate consultation.

A public presentation of plans for the upgrade was held in February and drew more than 150 members of the public, many of whom expressed anger at council representatives.

Protest spokesman Willy McGregor said low public attendance at the later annual plan information sessions was because council had failed to advertise them well enough, and he felt people should have been invited to attend personally.

“Many of these so-called consultations were not advertised in any way, shape or form,” he said.

However, advertisements had been published on council’s website and Facebook page, and in local media ahead of the sessions.

Ms Wilson said members of the community were also welcome to speak to their councillors “any time” about issues or concerns they may have.