Whakatane District Council elected members have provided direction on the key 2018-28 Long Term Plan (LTP) decisions which will be a focus for community consultation early next year.

In keeping with the Local Government Act 2002, the Council is required to produce a new LTP every three years. The 2018-28 LTP is due to be completed by June 30, 2018 and Council elected members and staff have been working to finalise the various policies and strategies required for its development.

Key decisions identified for consultation with the community include: incorporating Murupara’s water and wastewater schemes in the District’s equalised schemes (which mean all users pay the same cost for the same service); the introduction of boat ramp fees; an increase in funding to attract tourists; affordability and impacts on rates; proposed, minor service changes for the Whakatāne Library and Murupara Service Centre; and an Integrated Wastewater project to serve Matatā, Edgecumbe and Whakatāne.

The list of key decisions will be further refined next year.

A number of policy reviews are also underway, including the Development Contributions Policy, the Significance and Engagement Policy, the Revenue and Financing Policy, Remission and Postponement Policies, the Liability Management Policy and an Investment Policy.

The Council’s draft Infrastructure Strategy, outlining how Council intends to manage its infrastructure assets over the next 30 years, highlights the need for stormwater and wastewater infrastructure upgrades, in particular. Changes proposed to transport infrastructure include improvements/sealing of SH38, Pokairoa Road and Ngamotu Road.

Community Board members have been involved in LTP workshops and the Iwi Chairs Forum invited to provide early input into the LTP. An engagement plan for the formal consultation phase has been developed, which will see community consultation undertaken between 23 March and 23 April next year.