As part of building towards the Long Term Plan consultation next year Council wants to hear your ideas and feedback on its proposed Annual Plan 2026-27, with online engagement starting tomorrow, 5 November.

Simply use your smart phone or computer to tell us about your big idea or worthwhile project. Go to www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/have-your-say-consultations The feedback period closes on 28 November 2025.

The website-based process has user-friendly software to help you submit your idea. You can also vote on what you think about other people’s ideas. Your ideas on how we achieve our community outcomes will be analysed and presented to the Council’s budget meeting in April 2026.

Mayor Nadine Taylor said that last year Council changed the way it undertakes annual planning consultation in an effort to get community input in a more efficient way.

“The new process also means we check in with the public earlier, giving us more time for the focused analysis we need to apply to our budget’s costed activities.”

“Our budgets are very much focussed on core infrastructure - roading, footpaths, waste management, water supply, flood protection and community facilities, but there may be areas the community would like to see more focus on.”

Next year’s Annual Plan is from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 and this period forms part of the Long Term Plan, available to read at: www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/long-term-and-annual-plans-policies-and-reports/long-term-plan

The next formal public consultation will be for the Long Term Plan 2027-37, which will include an early ‘pre-engagement’ process expected to begin in July 2026.

Last year 90 people and organisations provided feedback via the new Annual Plan engagement process. Their ideas covered topics including community facilities, parks and open spaces, regional development, animal control and roads.

Councillors referred some of those ideas to the Long Term Plan Working Group for further consideration. A record of the councillors’ discussion can be found in the Economic, Finance and Community Committee minutes of 18 March 2025 on Council’s website.

Anyone wanting help to provide their ideas online is welcome to call Council’s Customer Service Centre; Ph. (03) 520 7400 or email ltp@marlborough.govt.nz

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