Zoo one of ‘big calls’ in council plan
Public consultation on the shape of the New Plymouth District Council’s 10-year plan will begin in less than a week, with a number of “big calls” identified as the main talking points.
The council will meet today to formally adopt the draft Long-term Plan 2024-34 before the plan heads out for feedback on Monday, March 18.
As was signalled in December, the plan forecasts an average rates rise of 9.9% for the first year. Future rises were expected to remain under 10%.
One of the “big calls” referred to in the plan document remains the future of the popular Brooklands Zoo, on which opinion is divided around the council table.
Veteran councillor Gordon Brown attempted in December to take out $9 million of funding earmarked for the zoo to ensure compliance with regulatory standards when the draft plan was developed last year.
New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom led the fight for the zoo, outlining the overwhelming positive public feedback it received during the drawing-up of the latest Pukekura Park strategic vision document.
The zoo, which attracts more than 113,000 visitors annually, provided a vital free source of entertainment for the community, he said.
Just where the public sits on the future of the zoo will be more clearly known after the consultation process closes on April 19.
The council is scheduled to meet in May to debate the final makeup of the 10-year plan.
As well as the zoo, councillors have identified a substantial increase in the renewal budget for transportation assets as another important issue.
Under the proposal, aimed at future-proofing the district, the budget would increase from $155m to $315m over the 10 years.
Saving for a disaster has also come out as a “big call”, with the council proposing an increase in a reserve fund of $500,000 a year.
Another fund the council was looking to establish was a “sustainable lifestyle capital reserve” using returns from the Perpetual Investment Fund.
The reserve would be used to help pay for future significant projects.
As well as the Brooklands Zoo, the public will be asked about the future of the Tūparikino Active Community Hub, which has gone through a major redesign process.
The final talking point was about whether there was an appetite to spend more than $16m on a replacement for the Bellringer Pavilion at Pukekura Park.
Included in the adoption of the draft 10-year plan was a return to council books of three waters projects after the National-led Government repealed the legislation that would have handed over responsibility for stormwater, wastewater and drinking water services.