The Whakatāne District Council Long Term Plan (LTP) 2021-31 public consultation closes at 5pm this Sunday, 23 May, and Mayor Judy Turner strongly encourages ratepayers and residents to provide feedback while it is still open.

The Long Term Plan sets out the Council’s vision, work plan, and budgets for the following 10 years. The consultation phase, which started on 23 April, allows community members to tell elected members their thoughts on the major issues and key questions in the consultation document. 

Mayor Turner says she is often asked if the Council takes feedback on-board before making the final decisions, and she would like to reassure people that this is indeed the case.

“We absolutely consider all submissions received, both through formal channels such as submission forms and informal avenues like in-person conversations and social media,” she explains. “No decision will be made on the final Long Term Plan until after all submissions have been reviewed and hearings held. Hearings are an opportunity for people to present their views directly to us, and are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 25 May. Please get in touch with the Council by 5pm Friday, 21 May if you’d like to speak to your submission.”

Mayor Turner says that with three days until submissions close, approximately 170 formal submissions had been received, but this figure does not include social media comments. Most submitters provided feedback on multiple issues and many elaborated further on the specific options for each of the six key questions.

The issues and questions range from active transport, which involves enabling ways of getting around without the use of cars, sealing metal roads, the Civic Centre upgrade, and financial aspects such as setting rates and increasing the Council’s debt cap. 

“It’s always fascinating to analyse the feedback, and get a feel for the groundswell in our communities,” she says. “The Councillors and I believe it’s vital to hear from different sectors throughout the Whakatāne District, so we can make an informed decision on the final plan. All feedback is valuable - we really do listen and want to know what people think.” 

A range of ‘community conversation’ events have been held throughout the district, including in Murupara, Te Teko, Ruatāhuna, Tāneatua, Ōhope and Matatā. A ‘Chat Box’ located next the main Council building in Whakatāne has also been open for people to speak to staff and elected members about the proposals in the Long Term Plan.

Alongside the LTP, Council is seeking feedback from the community on the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) by 5pm Sunday, 23 May. This plan sets out how the Council will manage and minimise waste now and in the future. Mayor Turner says the management of waste is a responsibility that must be shared by everyone, not just Council. 

“To ensure we are good ancestors for future generations, we need to take action on our waste management systems,” she says. “The opportunity to review the WMMP is timely, because changes to central government levies mean we will be paying six times more to send waste to landfill in 2026, compared to what we are paying now. It’s simply not enough to assume our waste will be taken care of, we need to rethink what we are producing, buying and throwing away. This plan intends to address that.”

After all submissions have been reviewed and hearings have been held, elected members will deliberate before adopting the final plans on Wednesday, 14 July. 

Find out more about the Long Term Plan, including how to make a submission.