Media Release:
29 July 2011
Future for Selwyn workshop packed

The first in a series of community workshops to help plan the future of the Selwyn District came up with some incredible ideas, Selwyn District Council Planning Team Leader David Smith says.

About 45 people turned up at the Leeston meeting – designed to get the community thinking about what the district will be like over the next 30 plus years.

“There were no spare seats, which showed a great level of community interest from the Leeston area. And we had a broad range of people turn up – young and old, men and women, farmers, retailers, business people, homemakers, all sorts,” Mr Smith says.

“What was really interesting is that people had some amazing ideas for the district. Through the workshop, they pushed their thinking about the legacy they’re leaving for their children and grandchildren. The Council has been quite provocative with the images of Future Selwyn we’ve been promoting and that has certainly sparked a response in the community.”

Questions included the location of recreational activities, use of water resources and the landscape, job hubs, sizes of townships, transport issues and what infrastructure and facilities might be needed to service the future community.

“The workshops are part of our first stage to gather ideas. We’ve also got comment forms around the district’s libraries/service centres and on the www.future4selwyn.co.nz website. People have about a month to crystalise their ideas and get them to us. Then we’ll pull together a strategy and go back out for consultation before anything is finally put in place,” Mr Smith says.

Two further workshops are at the Lincoln Event Centre this Sunday, 31 July at 2pm and the Darfield Library on Tuesday, 2 August at 7pm.

More information about the project is available on the www.future4selwyn.co.nz website.

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