What should New Plymouth and our nearby towns look like in 2028?

Now is the time for New Plymouth District residents to have their say on what they care about over the next decade.

Public consultation opens on NPDC’s draft 10-Year Plan tomorrow (FRIDAY, 6 APRIL).

With an approximate budget of around $2.3 billion over the next decade, NPDC looks after everything from parks and the Coastal Walkway to water, roads and entertainment.

Mayor Neil Holdom says NPDC is keen to get residents’ feedback on the draft plan, which is summarised in a high-level Consultation Document.

“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,” says the Mayor.

“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.”

New Plymouth resident Happy Chaddy of Chaddy’s Charters says he cares about improving the district’s water supply to prevent any future disruption.

“All businesses need water in some way. I’d like to see us have two water sources so that we’re not relying on Lake Mangamahoe and if the mountain blows up, we’ll have a second water source to keep the taps running,” says Chaddy.

Every ratepayer who completes the three-minute survey on the draft plan will go in the draw to have their rates paid by NPDC, up to the value of $3,000 a year (terms and conditions apply.)

The draft plan has information on four key issues: Water Resilience, Zero Waste 2040, Flagship Projects and What Else?

There’s a separate consultation on the rating balance between different types of property (e.g. 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 atnewplymouthnz.com/10Years.

Keep an eye out for NPDC’s Roadshow at various community events in the coming month, where the feedback survey form can also be filled in:
• Saturday 7 April: Taranaki 6-Hour Adventure Race.
• Sunday 8 April: Mitre 10 Rainbow Run.
• Friday 13 to Sunday 15 April: Taranaki Home & Lifestyle Expo.
• Saturday 21 April: Bell Block Library.
• Monday 23 April: Inglewood Library.
• Friday 27 April: Waitara Library.
• Saturday 28 April: Puke Ariki Landing.
• Sunday 29 April: Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.
• Saturday 5 May: Pooches Pool Party (Todd Energy Aquatic Centre).

Consultation closes on Wednesday 9 May.

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