No to new office but yes to bus services
Twenty-two individuals and groups, from a total of 91 submitters, will present their submission to the meeting.
Submitters to the Taranaki Regional Council 2021-2031 Long Term Plan want cleaner water and better bus services but do not believe the council needs a brandnew office building.
The council proposes to spend $423.7 million over the next decade, including $49.6m in the first year, with annual rates rising $27-$29 for residential, commercial and industrial ratepayers, and $60 for North Taranaki and New Plymouth farm owners.
Targeted rates for the $50m Yarrow Stadium rebuild will drop 44 per cent due to a $20m government ‘‘shovel-ready’’ subsidy.
The two-day submission hearing from Monday will look to recommend changes on the future management of freshwater, public transport services, regional recovery, and regional council office space.
There is also discussion on ownership of Port Taranaki and involvement of Ma¯ ori in local government decision-making.
Twenty-two individuals and groups, from a total of 91 submitters, will present their submission to the meeting.
More than half the submitters (53) support the council improving water quality under new central government reform sooner rather than later, and the council has budgeted $2.88m from general rates over three years to achieve its aims.
More than a third of submitters (35) favoured the council moving to an alternative fuel to replace diesel in public transport, and increasing the range of passenger services, including using smaller buses and connecting to more rural areas.
Extra bus services would result in a 30 per cent increase in targeted rates, and $600,000 needed to trial two new Citylink routes, if government funding targets are met.
More than a third of submitters (33) supported the TRC to contribute $100,000 towards a $500,000 regional Covid-19 joint recovery fund.
Almost half of submitters (42) favoured the council spending $6m over two years to refurbish the current office building in Stratford, instead of $13.4m to build new offices or rent office space.
Twice as many people supported the TRC retaining full ownership of Port Taranaki, to those opposed to a partial sell-off, while there was a split on whether the port company should diversify its investment.
Public feedback on extending Ma¯ori involvement in council decision-making was also split.
Iwi expressed a strong desire to be more involved. Some submitters felt including Ma¯ori in decisionmaking would be healthy and an improvement, while others felt Maori should not be involved in council policy any differently than other sectors of the community.