COASTAL residents will have the opportunity to give a final steer to the Kāwhia/Aotea/Ōpārau Concept Plan and the Ōtorohanga Rural Concept Plan at drop-in sessions this month.
The sessions at Kāwhia on September 9, Arohena September 14 and Ōtorohanga on September 16, will be to share the feedback received so far.
“This will be an opportunity for everyone to see what others have said is important to them and to identify anything important that may have been missed,” ŌDC chief advisor Ross McNeil said.
“We’ve had great feedback about what people see as important to them in their area. This is helping us with the development of the plans which will provide the vision and direction for our district.
“Before we get too far advanced with these plans, we want to share the feedback we’ve received so far.”
In addition to the development of these concept plans, the council has begun work on the next long-term plan for 2024-2034.
“Concept plans set out what people would like to see in their community – a sort of development blueprint, Ross said. “While we are working with our communities in developing these concept plans, they belong to everyone – meaning everyone, including the council, has a role to help bring these plans to life.”
The long-term plan is the council’s plan for the activities, services and projects expected to be delivered in its communities – everything from animal control to waste management including the maintenance and development of facilities and infrastructure, and helping to build strong, resilient communities. The long-term plan process is also where the council considers how it will all be paid for.
Ross said the drop-in sessions would also provide an opportunity for people to tell council staff what they want or don’t want to see the council include in the next long-term plan.
Elements of the concept plans that the council could progress could be included in the long-term plan – if that’s what the communities wanted.
“To help guide these discussions we’ll have a series of questions we’d like feedback on. We’ll also have these questions as an online survey shortly.”
Information on the concept plans and long-term plan can be found online at otodc.govt.nz/weaving-the-future.
