Waikato District Council weighs priorities for the next nine years

Waikato District Council is seeking feedback from residents to shape the 2025-2034 Long-Term Plan (LTP) and ensure that rates remain at reasonable levels over the next nine years.  

The Council is reaching out to residents and ratepayers across the district to gather valuable input on potential savings and key areas for investment over the next nine years.  

Particular areas under the microscope include roading, waste services, community halls in Eureka, Huntly, and Ruawaro, district-wide libraries, and council-owned properties. 

Earlier this year, Council paused work on its LTP to align to central government funding announcements for essential services such as water and roading. Now, the Council is committed to engaging with the community to mitigate the financial impact of rate increases in the coming years.  

Waikato district Mayor Jacqui Church emphasised the importance of gathering diverse feedback from all parts of the Waikato district community. This will help Council prioritise investment in projects, services, and activities. 

She says the focus for the next nine years will be on maintaining the district in the best possible way while ensuring that the cost to ratepayers is as low as possible.  

“As much as we’d love to, we simply can’t do it all, and to lessen the burden of rates, we’re gearing up for some difficult conversations about what we’re prepared to go without, where we can reduce our service levels or prioritise later to keep rates manageable for our communities. 

The Council is launching an online survey today on its website. 

“The survey link will be widely distributed, and all residents are encouraged to participate and share their views” she says. 

“Hearing from you – the community - helps your Council make well-informed decisions and shape future investments in the services, projects, and activities that you want and need,” she adds. 

Residents are encouraged to visit the Council's website for more information or to contact their local Councillor or community board representative directly to share their feedback.