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Horowhenua: Submissions on the 2018-2038 Long Term Plan

Submissions on the 2018-2038 Long Term Plan considered

Horowhenua District Council has received 243 submissions on its 2018-2038 Long Term Plan.

The submissions came from across the district and further afield. They follow a pre-engagement campaign in which nearly 10% of Horowhenua’s population helped determine what should be included in the Long Term Plan.

“I want to thank everyone who took the time to make a submission and everyone who took part in one of Council’s public information sessions,” said Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen.

The next stage of the process is now underway.

Group Manager Strategy and Development David McCorkindale said Council officers are reviewing the submissions and providing draft responses to submitters who will be speaking at the upcoming hearings.

“This process ensures that submitters receive feedback on their submissions and answers to questions they may have,” said Mr McCorkindale.

The next stage is the hearing process. Eighty-four submitters have requested speaking rights at the 2018-38 Long Term Plan hearings, which are set down for Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 May in Council Chambers.

On Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 May, Council will deliberate on the submissions to determine what is included in the 2018-2038 Long Term Plan. The Plan will then go to Council for adoption on Wednesday 27 June 2018.

Mayor Feyen said deliberations require elected members to weigh up the submissions with Council officer responses and also with the needs of future residents.

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“After a public debate, my colleagues and I will make decisions about what should be included and what shouldn’t be. This process will directly affect the rates increase for the coming year.”

Mr McCorkindale said that, once the Long Term Plan has been adopted, Council will inform the community about what has been decided and why.

2018-2038 Long Term Plan submissions précis
Challenge One: The community was asked to consider the future of community halls as fewer organisations are booking them for activities and many are earthquake prone.

The options included:
• Option 1: Retain the halls as is and borrow just over $2.296 million to earthquake strengthen and maintain them. This option would add $1.07 for every $10,000 land value.
• Option 2: Retain the halls that are available for public hire but sell the unleased properties – i.e. Coronation Hall and Courthouse Museum. This option would require Council to borrow just over $1.4 million to strengthen and maintain the remaining halls, which would cost $0.56 per $10,000 land value.
• Option 3: Retain leased halls but not community halls i.e. Levin, Foxton and Shannon Memorial Halls. Council would borrow just over $888,000 to strengthen and maintain remaining halls and this would cost $0.22 per $10,000 land value.
• Option 4: Dispose of all of the halls, which would save $0.88 for every $10,000 land value – this is Council’s preferred option.
54% of submitters wanted to dispose of some, or all, of the halls while 46% preferred the status quo.
Challenge Two: Season length of Foxton Pool. This challenge came as a direct result of public feedback seeking a longer pool season. Council proposed two options:
• Option 1: Retain current five month season, which would have no added cost to ratepayers.
• Option 2: Extend the season length to eight months. This would cost an additional $88,000, which is the equivalent of a $5.70 increase in rates – this is Council’s preferred option.
More than 80 submitters were in favour of extending the season length and fewer than 30 were opposed.
Challenge Three: Construction of water and wastewater infrastructure for smaller settlements around Horowhenua over a 20-year period to help ensure growth is spread evenly throughout the district. The three options included:
• Option 1: Status quo, which would come at no cost to ratepayers.
• Option 2: Provide new services to existing settlement areas and growth areas – this is Council’s preferred option.
• Option 3: Provide water and wastewater to growth areas only.

This was the most commented on Challenge, with 178 submissions. Many of the submissions included commentary on various options and/or were qualified around particular settlements. However, in general most were in favour of the status quo.

The 2018-2038 Long Term Plan also included two community conversations:
Water sustainability: In all 114 people or groups submitted on the topic, providing valuable feedback that will help guide Council’s future actions with regards to water sustainability.
Need for a Shannon Community Centre: More than 50% of submitters were in favour of exploring a conversation with the local community about this initiative.

ENDS

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