Residents invited to have their say on Council's Long Term Plan
Clutha District Council’s proposed plans for the next 10 years will be out for public consultation from Monday (15 April 2024) inviting residents and ratepayers to give their feedback.
Council has produced a consultation document and feedback form which is available online and will also be a stand-alone insert in the Clutha Leader edition published on Wednesday 24 April. Towns that do not receive the Clutha Leader will have the document delivered to their mailbox or post box (Owaka, Taieri Mouth, Waihola, Tapanui and Clinton).
Mayor Bryan Cadogan said “Without a doubt this will be the most significant Long-Term Plan (LTP) we have ever undertaken. The stakes are high, and our options are few, as we navigate new and fast changing issues.
Council is proposing for rates to increase around 20% on average during the next 3 years, and under 10% for years 6-10 of the LTP. These increases are principally, investment in infrastructure, the unsustainable nature of funding three waters services to the new central government regulatory standards, and cost escalations across all council services.
There is a self-imposed limit not to increase overall rates by more than 25% per annum for the first 3 years of the LTP and 10% for the remaining 7 years.
Mayor Cadogan said over 80% of year one increases were three waters imperatives and Council believed it was only prudent to undertake projects as legally required.
“That is the reasoning behind so much of the recent debt that we have taken on and when Clutha has 16 water schemes, and 11 wastewater schemes, new consents are a constant and endless obligation. In the meantime, we need to work with you to prioritise projects.”
Mayor Cadogan is holding soapbox sessions throughout the district and invites people to come along and have a chat.
17 April - Milton - at Coronation Hall, 6.30pm
20 April - Waihola - at the Information Booth, 11.00am - 11.45am
20 April - Kaitangata - outside Kai Takeaways, 12.15pm - 1.00pm
20 April - Kaka Point - outside The Point Cafe & Bar, 1.30pm - 2.30pm
20 April - Ōwaka - at Catlins Café, 3.00 - 4.00pm
21 April - Clinton - at Food for Thought Café, 11.00am - 11.45am
21 April - Tapanui – outside Ideal Print, 12.30pm - 1.15pm
21 April - Lawrence - outside the Coach & Horses Pub, 2.00 - 2.45pm
24 April - Stirling & Balclutha - at TPŌMA, 6.30pm
Feedback from this consultation will help shape Council’s 2024/34 Long Term Plan, which sets the district’s direction for the next decade and 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.
The main questions Council is asking are:
• RATES – which options do you prefer to manage rating impacts and should we provide additional rebate support for our vulnerable ratepayers?
• LIVING & WORKING – have we got our priorities right for the Clutha District?
• INFRASTRUCTURE – have we got our priorities right for infrastructure?
• CLIMATE CHANGE – we’ve drafted a Climate Change Strategy for the district, and we want to know whether you support the principals and actions.
• COMMUNITY HOUSING – should we subsidise rents from rates and is it time to consider means testing for those applying for community housing?
• WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MINIMISATION – we’ve drafted a Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, and we want to know your feedback on the plan and your thoughts on transfer stations in our local towns?
• SUPPORTING LIVING & WORKING IN CLUTHA PROJECTS - there are a few projects we have been asked to help support including Kākā Point toilets, growing tourism and the West Otago Vintage Museum, 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 2024/25.
Your feedback can be made either online or fill out the submission form which is included in the consultation document. Copies of all the information will also be available at Council’s community libraries. Submissions on everything close on Wednesday 15 May 2024.
All information will be available at www.cluthadc.govt.nz/LTP-consultation when consultation opens on Monday 15 April.