28 February 2019

Public engagement to open for ‘no surprises’ Annual Plan

Public engagement on Horowhenua District Council’s 2019/2020 Annual Plan will begin on 8 March following adoption of the Annual Plan engagement document at yesterday’s Council meeting.

The Annual Plan 2019/2020 focuses on Year Two of the Long Term Plan 2018-2038, which Council adopted last year after extensive community consultation.

Group Manager Strategy & Development David McCorkindale said there were no surprises in this year’s Annual Plan.

“Annual Plans can sometimes differ from what was anticipated in the Long Term Plan if new challenges or opportunities arise that Council needs to respond to, but for this one we’ve been able to stick to what was in the Long Term Plan, with the proposed rates income increase for 2019/2020 at 5.98%. This Annual Plan is focused on implementing planned projects which were discussed with the community through the Long Term Plan consultation process in 2018,” he said.

With an estimated 587 extra people per year calling Horowhenua home between 2013 and 2018, and similar growth expected to continue in the near future, planning ahead to manage growth so that it contributes positively to our district is a key feature of the Annual Plan.

Mr McCorkindale said Council will continue developing Master Plans for the district’s growth areas, including Gladstone Green in east Levin, Foxton Beach and Waitārere Beach.

“We expect to need an additional 5,377 homes in Horowhenua by 2040, and taking a master planning approach enables us to ensure new developments are well designed, connect well with existing urban areas, and provide for a variety of different needs.

“Furthermore, Council will begin working closely with our communities to create community plans that set the vision, goals and key action priorities for each community so they grow and develop in a way that meets their aspirations.”

Planning ahead for the district’s transport needs will be another focus for 2019/2020, he said.

“The Ō2NL expressway will create changes for the district’s roading network, and Council will be working with the community and key stakeholders representing different transport modes to develop Transport Action Plans.”

Another key project in the Annual Plan is starting implementation of the Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade.

“Council now has a resource consent from the Environment Court to discharge treated wastewater from the Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plant to land rather than into the Manawatū River Loop, and we’ll start implementing that,” Mr McCorkindale said.

“We expect this work to take about three years. Once complete, it will improve the water quality of the river and the estuary by reducing the amount of nutrients entering the Manawatū River. This is an exciting project that will be a major step towards Council’s goal of discharging all our district’s treated wastewater to land instead of into our waterways.”

Short-term projects identified in the Transforming Taitoko/Levin Town Centre Strategy will kick off, including work to improve the visual appeal of Oxford Street and support for community placemaking initiatives. In addition, Council will investigate sites for developing a central square or laneway, and look at the feasibility and delivery of a Levin Memorial Hall redevelopment.

Following community feedback during the Long Term Plan consultation, Council will undertake a number of feasibility studies including: a community centre in Shannon; improvement of stormwater entering Lake Horowhenua; and extending reticulated water services in Ōhau and Waitārere Beach, and wastewater services in Ōhau.

From 8 March, you can provide feedback on the Annual Plan by filling in the feedback form available online from the Have Your Say page of Council’s website,www.horowhenua.govt.nz/HaveYourSay, or in print from Council’s Main Office or Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō in Levin, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom in Foxton, and the Shannon Library.

There will be drop-in information sessions with elected members and Council officers from 12pm to 2pm at the Levin Mall on Friday 22 March, the Shannon Library on Monday 25 March, and Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom in Foxton on Wednesday 3 April. Council officers will also be available at Pasifika Celebration Day (9 March) and the Fairfield School Gala (13 March).

Engagement closes at 12 noon on 8 April 2019.

ENDS

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