Last chance for residents to have their say on proposed Long Term Plan 2021-2031

The countdown is on and residents in Central Hawke’s Bay are being urged to get their submissions in and to have their say on the proposed Long Term Plan (LTP) 2021-2031 before consultation closes next Wednesday 31 March 2021.  

A live Q&A session with Mayor Alex Walker and Chief Executive Monique Davidson will take place this Thursday 25 March from 5pm to 6pm on www.facebook.com/CHBDistrictCouncil . The live streamed event will give residents a chance to have their questions answered on the proposed plans before making a submission.  Councillors are also hosting a community engagement event at the Takapau Hall on Wednesday 24 March from  5.30pm to 6.30pm for local residents to attend. 

The proposed Long Term plan sets out a very challenging and hard road for the district, as the council grapples with catching up on decades of underinvestment in essential infrastructure and assets. 

Increases to rates, increases to the council’s overall debt limits and increases to development contributions are all being proposed in a bid to face the district’s challenges head on, and remedy a dire state of aged and failing infrastructure.  

The Plan also proposes to extend kerbside recycling to rural townships and gives residents the option of introducing a wheelie bin service for refuse and / or recycling. 

Mayor of Central Hawke’s Bay, Alex Walker says: “We’re not here to sugar coat the situation or to kick the can down the road any further. This is a genuine request to our community for their valued input. We have some ideas about how we should face the challenges ahead, but we need to know if they agree or if they have other ideas. The feedback we receive enables us to make informed decisions, which better reflect the needs of our community.  

“I urge everyone to read through our proposals, understand the issues we face and make an informed submission before next week. Our community belongs to all of us, let's face these challenges together and build a thriving future for Central Hawke’s Bay!” 

Residents are encouraged to read the council’s Long Term Plan consultation document which is available online at www.chbdc.govt.nz/facingthefacts or from a council service centre. It provides a summary of the council’s financial and infrastructure strategies, key challenges and proposed solutions for the community to consider and feedback on.  

Anyone can make a submission online or by completing a paper submission form. These forms can be found at any of the council service centres, or attached to ratepayers’ projected rates notices. When making a submission, residents can choose to present at a council hearing. 

Submissions can be delivered to: 

• Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Offices, 28 – 32 Ruataniwha Street, Waipawa 

• Service Centre Pop-up – Bogle Brothers Esplanade, Waipukurau 
• Waipawa Library, High Street, Waipawa 

Posted to: Central Hawke’s Bay District Council PO BOX 127 Waipawa 4240 

Or emailed to facingthefacts@chbdc.govt.nz 

Community feedback will be used to develop the Long Term Plan 2021-2031, which will come into operation from July 2021. 

Notes to the editor: 

• The LTP sets out the council’s activities, costs, and required revenue and rates, for the next ten years. It’s reviewed every three years, with the last review taking place in 2018. 
• The Council consulted with communities in August 2020 as part of the ‘LTP pre-engagement’ phase. This was an opportunity to ‘check-in’ with the community and ensure that what the council deemed as being a priority, still aligned with the views of the community. Community feedback has been incorporated into the draft LTP consultation document. 
• Community consultation on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031 is scheduled to take place from 1 to 31 March 2021.  
• The council is also conducting a review of its water bylaws in the month of March. For more information visit the Three Waters Bylaw webpage 

17 January 2022

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