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Have your say on our plan for the next ten years

Feedback opens today on Waikato District Council’s consultation document as it looks to prepare the 2021-31 Long Term Plan, which is the district’s plan of attack for the next 10 years. 

Our plan, which is reviewed and updated every three years, is asking three key questions: what general rate increase option you prefer, should we sell our pensioner housing and should we continue our inorganic kerbside rubbish collection service. At the same time, we’re also asking for feedback on the way we hand out funding, user fees and charges, our development contributions policy and the community hall catchment review. 

We’re proposing a “hard and fast” general rate increase in year 1 of 9% and then 3.5% for year 2 and 3 of the plan.  Our other option sets the general rate increase at 7% in year 1, 6% in year 2 and 4% in year 3.  

The inorganic kerbside rubbish collection service has been popular in the Waikato district for a long time, but it is becoming harder and harder to deliver, not just because of rising costs in this area.  

We have 34 pensioner flats in Tuakau, Huntly and Ngaruawahia. We’re proposing to sell these to a dedicated social housing provider.  

Waikato district Mayor Allan Sanson says we need to balance what we can deliver with what is affordable in terms of rates and debt. “As a fast growth area council, this balancing act will prove to be a huge challenge for us all in the coming years. We need to keep up with this growth, while making sure our community is a desirable place to live, work and play.  

“As we worked through preparing for the next 10 years, we knew we were looking down the barrel of rising costs in the three waters area. This is mostly by stricter controls for water quality and by the growth in our district.  

“We need to balance the services we provide with what our community can afford. As elected members representing you, we have had to make some tough decisions as we have prepared this LTP. We’ve had to weigh up what is best and right for the district, with what we feel is affordable. Trust me when I say there have been many sleepless nights mulling this dilemma over.”  

A number of these challenges and the issues we’re wanting your feedback on are outlined in our consultation document, which will be available from next week at all Council offices and libraries and by phoning us on 0800 492 452, otherwise check out www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/ltp for more information and have your say today. 

WHAT’S STILL TO COME 

We need your help – delivering on bold plans needs to be a genuine collaboration between us as the council and you as the community. We need to make sure we get the best outcomes and strike the right balance. 

The decisions we need to make affects you, your whaanau, your neighbours and even your dog. Make sure you get involved and have your say before 5pm Friday 7 May 2021. Do this by visiting www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/ltp or by phoning us on 0800 492 452 and we’ll post you out a submission form. 

WE’RE COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU 

To make sure everyone can get involved, we will be coming to a town near you soon to answer your questions. Come along to one of these drop-in sessions to ask us questions or get help making a submission. 

Town 

Date 

Time 

Location 

Port Waikato 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 11 April 

11am-2pm 

Port Waikato Community Hub 

Pokeno 

 

 

 

 

Monday 12 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Pokeno Hall 

 

Sunday 18 April 

8am-2pm 

Pokeno Market 

Tuakau 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 13 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Tuakau Hall 

Te Akau 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 13 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Te Akau Complex 

Glen Murray 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 14 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Glen Murray Hall 

Te Kauwhata 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 14 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Aparangi, Simmons Hall 

Huntly 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 15 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Huntly Memorial Hall 

Taupiri 

 

 

 

 

Friday 16 April 

11am-2pm 

Farmsource Taupiri (BBQ) 

Ngaruawahia 

 

 

 

 

Monday 19 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Ngaruawahia War Memorial Hall 

Mangatangi 

 

 

 

 

Monday 19 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Mangatangi Hall 

Otaua 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 20 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Otaua Hall 

Gordonton 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 21 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Gordonton Hall 

Te Kowhai 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 22 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Te Kowhai Hall 

Tamahere 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 27 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Tamahere Model Country School After School Building 

 

Saturday 17 April 

8.30am-1pm 

Tamahere Market 

Matangi 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 28 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Matangi Hall 

Raglan 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 29 April 

6.30pm-8pm 

Raglan Supper Room 

 

Sunday 11 April 

9am-2pm 

Raglan Creative Market 

 

“Please get involved and make sure you have your say before Council makes its final decisions in June. I  hope as many people as possible take the time to get involved and speak up,” Mayor Sanson says. 

ENDS 

For more information please contact:
Teresa Hancock
Senior Communications & Engagement Advisor
Waikato District Council
027 706 5776
communications@waidc.govt.nz

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