$2.3 billion draft plan for next 10 years
‘‘We want to know what you care about in the draft 10-year plan.’’
Neil Holdom
New Plymouth District Council has today begun a month of public consultation over its $2.3 billion draft development plan for the next 10 years.
Its summary consultation document on the plan covers three main areas - improving water infrastructure, drastically cutting the amount of waste sent to landfill, and how to pay for flagship projects such as redeveloping the city’s TSB Stadium or upgrading the Todd Aquatic Centre, each of which would cost $33m.
But the most controversial part of the document is the question of how to fund those future flagship projects.
The proposal being put to the city’s 80,000 residents would see part of the Fitzroy Golf Club and Peringa Park Reserve being sold off for residential housing - a move move that could net the council about $35 million.
This money would be split, with $17.5 million going towards whichever flagship project is chosen, and the other $17.5m for long-term land development that would generate cash for future flagship projects.
But the idea has proved massively controversial, prompting a petition signed by more than 2000 people and a march from Pukekura Park to the council chambers.
New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom said NPDC wanted to get residents’ feedback on the draft plan.
‘‘We want to know what you care about in the draft 10-year plan because the draft forms the starting point but we need our community to help shape the finished plan and budgets,’’ Holdom said in a statement.
‘‘We’re tackling some big issues as we continue our work to ‘Build a Lifestyle Capital’.
‘‘We’ve provided options for what we might do and how much it might cost but it’s up to our 80,000 residents to have their say.’’
A separate consultation is taking place on the rating balance between different types of property, such as small holding and commercial, changes to how development costs are administered, and inflation-adjusting the uniform annual general charge and uniform annual roading charge.
Copies of the draft 10-year plan’s consultation document and supporting information, as well as the feedback survey form, are at district libraries and online at newplymouthnz.com/10Years
The consultation runs until Wednesday, May 9.
The council will have a roadshow at a number of events and locations throughout the month of April for people to have their say and fill in the feedback survey.
The dates are: Saturday April 7: Taranaki 6-Hour Adventure Race; Sunday April 8: Mitre 10 Rainbow Run; Friday April 13 to Sunday 15: Taranaki Home & Lifestyle Expo; Saturday April 21: Bell Block Library; Monday April 23: Inglewood Library; Friday April 27: Waitara Library; Saturday April 28: Puke Ariki Landing; Sunday April 29: Govett-Brewster Art Gallery; Saturday May 5: Pooches Pool Party (Todd Energy Aquatic Centre).