Chance to have a say on Horizons’ long-term plan

Horizons Regional Council is calling on our community to ‘look long-term’ and have their say on the proposed 2024-2034 Long-term Plan (LTP), which was adopted for public consultation at Wednesday’s meeting.

The draft LTP is Horizons’ plan for council’s activities, including how it will ensure sustainable use of the region’s natural resources for the next 10 years.

Horizons is proposing a total rate increase of 12.9 per cent for 2024-25, 12.6 per cent for 2025-26, and 9.2 per cent for 2026-27. These rates are averages across the region and will significantly differ from district to district due to factors such as property valuations and targeted rates for programmes such as passenger transport and drainage schemes.

Activities out for consultation include proposed options for levels of service to do with highly productive land mapping, options for taking an integrated catchment management approach, changes to river management asset insurance, freshwater activities, passenger transport services and cost recovery for the water metering programme.

Horizons chairwoman Rachel Keedwell encourages the community to have their say on any of these issues, or areas of Horizons’ work they may be passionate about.

“We have released a comprehensive consultation document which outlines each item for consultation, along with our updated strategic priorities and community outcomes, what we are planning for and what we have already committed to in the coming 10 years,” she says.

The consultation ends on April 22.

Information and submission forms are available online at www.haveyoursay.horizons.govt.nz. For hard copies of the consultation document or submission form, please visit your local Horizons service centre, or call 0508 800 800.