Media release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, 4 April 2013

Upper Hutt City’s draft Annual Plan now open for consultation

Upper Hutt City Council has begun consultation for its draft Annual Plan.

UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 04 APR 2013—For one month, Upper Hutt residents have the chance to have their say on the City Council’s Annual Plan before it is adopted in late June. The consultation period opened on Monday 2 April and will continue until 3 May.

Within the consultation period residents will be able to attend a public meeting at Upper Hutt’s Central Library on 8 April at 7.00 pm as well as talk to the Mayor on the proposed projects at a Library ‘Hot Seat’ at 10.45 am the following day.

Upper Hutt City Council has made all the relevant documentation available online along with dropboxes and submission forms at Council’s Civic Centre and the Central Library and The Mall on Main Street. A website dedicated to the consultation process has also been set up along with an option to make a submission online via the Council’s main website www.upperhuttcity.com.

With a proposed rates increase of 3.83%, Upper Hutt Mayor, Wayne Guppy is positive about the proposed Annual Plan with some reservations, “We have done our best to keep the rates increase down, recognising that we are still in a very tough economic climate. It’s now up to our residents to have their say and tell us what they think. Obviously, dropping the rates increase further will come at a cost of some of the initiatives we have proposed. But we are committed to finding the right balance—to make a way forward whilst remaining fiscally prudent.”

Following the consultation period, there will be opportunity for those who wish to present their views to councillors in person. Times set aside for this are 9.00 am on 28 May and 4.30 pm on 29 May.

Once submissions have been considered and any changes made, the Annual Plan will be adopted at a Council meeting on the 26 June.

About Upper Hutt City Council

Upper Hutt City Council is the steward and custodian of Upper Hutt City, providing governance, infrastructure, and community services and resources, and promoting opportunity in the city for business, recreation, lifestyle, and leisure. Upper Hutt City is located 30 km north-east of Wellington City (41°07'34" S, 175°04'06" E) and boasts 70% of the region’s parks and reserves, along with state-of-the-art entertainment and leisure facilities.

ENDS