Rodney District Council
Media Release
24 June 2004

LTCCP Adopted

“People may not realise it, but in some way or other this LTCCP touches every person in our District.”

That is what Mayor John Law had to say at the adoption of the Rodney District Council’s first ever Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).

“We have a responsibility to provide sustainable communities which encourage the intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing of all. The initiatives within the LTCCP touch every one of us,” the Mayor said.

After a process of several months, the Council adopted its LTCCP on the 24th of June. Chief Executive Officer Vijaya Vaidyanath noted that this was the beginning and not the end of the journey.

“This is a step towards delivering on Vision Rodney. There is room for improvement – a number of things will have to change if we are to deliver on the Vision – but be sure: it’s a robust and ongoing process that improves with each step forward,” she said.

The LTCCP for this year takes the place of the Annual Plans that Council and its communities used to produce. It shows what the Council will do over the next ten years, the costs and revenues that will result, and also sets the rates for the next year.

The Hibiscus Coast rates will increase by an average of 3.86 per cent, down from the 3.93 per cent proposed in the draft LTCCP, while Rural and Township rates will go up by an average of 3.04 per cent, down from the 4.8 per cent that was proposed. Both figures include an expected inflation rate increase of 2.2 per cent. The average rate increase across the district is 3.4 per cent, down from the 4.4 per cent that was proposed in the Draft LTCCP.

Mayor John Law praised submitters, staff and councillors for their efforts in the process and singled out the quality of submissions for special mention.

“Councillors were impressed by the long term and strategic nature of the thinking behind many of the submissions. Notable among them were the ones for additional projects and strategies such as, for example, a Greenbelt Strategy.”

“Councillors’ deliberations on these public submissions have led to decisions such as the move to establish a Safer Rodney Community function within our organisation. This will manage and coordinate crime prevention efforts and ensure that Rodney District continues to be one of the safest places in New Zealand,” the Mayor said.

Deliberations also saw a review of the Rural and Township area roading maintenance contract which resulted in a $890,000 reduction in budget, with a greater level of service.

Councillors decided to accelerate work on Rodney’s District Plan to align district planning with the outcomes of Vision Rodney and to fund a Travel Plan coordinator. This coordinator’s work will increase safety and reduce traffic congestion experienced by businesses and schools and do so by working with engineers, contractors, planners, the police and funding agencies.

Mayor John Law said the adoption of the LTCCP was part of a continuing process of research, consultation, planning and action that had begun on 2001 with an award-winning research programme. He also noted that the process continued to get more robust and more rewarding, singling out the number of submissions (609) as a sign of a good level of community engagement.

“Now we get into implementation. Expect a quickening of pace as we build Rodney’s future together. Expect to see Vision Rodney being delivered upon and, with your community input, Rodney District continuing to be a terrific place to work, learn, live and play.”

ends

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