Time to have your say on our district's future direction
Clutha District Council’s proposed plans for the next 10 years will be out for public consultation from tomorrow (27 March 2021) giving residents and ratepayers a little over a month to make submissions and tell Council what they think.
The Consultation Document will be included as a stand-alone insert in next week’s edition of the Clutha Leader on April 1, 2021.
Feedback from this consultation will help shape Council’s 2021/31 Long Term Plan, which sets the district’s direction for the next decade and basically covers everything Council does and how it is paid for.
All councils are required to set these 10-year budgets and review them every three years.
Mayor Bryan Cadogan said the aim was to always find the right balance between investing in the future and providing services to the level expected by our residents and ratepayers, while keeping rates fair and affordable.
“It is imperative that we all continue to strive to make the Clutha District a great place to live, work and play, and it is with a view to this bigger picture that I am sure you will consider the options presented,” Mayor Cadogan said.
Maintaining 1.1 billion dollars of assets demands a breadth to Council’s focus and the expectations that facilities like halls and swimming pools are given appropriate attention just like the traditional ‘core services’, he said.
“These are exciting times for our district. We are entering a ‘delivery period’ on many Council projects, but we cannot make decisions in isolation from world events.
“Consequently there is the need for extra vigour and scrutiny from us all as we plan our future. I encourage you all to take an active role in this process and thank you for caring about your district’s future.”
The main questions we are asking are:
• LIVING & WORKING – have we got our priorities right for the Clutha District?
• FINANCES - What do you think of our proposed mix for spending, borrowing and rating and how could we improve the mix?
• RATES - what do you think of our proposed approach by using reserves to keep rates down.
• INFRASTRUCTURE – have we got our priorities right for infrastructure?
• MILTON - how far should we go and how much should be spent improving Milton’s Main Street?
• WATER - would it be better to establish a new supply from the Clutha River rather than continuing to use the Waitahuna and Tupapeka rivers?
• SUPPORTING LIVING & WORKING IN CLUTHA PROJECTS - there are a number of projects we have been asked to help support, do you agree?
Council will also be consulting on a range of other strategies and policies including the proposed Living and Working Strategy, Rating Policies, Financial Statements, Significance and Engagement Policy, Rates Information, Infrastructure Strategy, Financial Strategy and Proposed Schedule of Fees and Charges 2021/22.
Feedback can be made either online or complete the submission form which is included in the consultation document.
Copies of all the information will also be available at Council service centres, libraries and you may find some at local businesses too.
Public submissions on everything close on Friday 27 April 2021.
