Submission process important

LONG-TIME submissions presenter, Del Parker, urges residents throughout the Manawatu District to indicate their concerns when the Draft Long Term Council Community Plan 2009/19 is released for public consultation next Tuesday.

Mrs Parker (pictured), secretary of the Sanson Community Committee and staunch advocate for all things Sanson, said it was important for people to take advantage of the consultation process, even if they did not get an immediate result.

“It might take two to three years or longer to get a result, so you just need to keep niggling away,” she said.

The public consultation period for the Draft LTCCP – which sets out council’s priorities for the next 10 years and provides information on budgets, rating levels, major projects and general council services – runs until Thursday, May 14.

Mrs Parker said the more people that put in submissions on a particular issue, the more likely it was to draw greater council attention.

“It is very important that people in small villages do it because of a general perception that Feilding gets everything and they get the dregs.”

She said there seemed to be a growing awareness of the consultation process at community committee levels, but doubted this was reflected among the general population.

“I think a lot of people don’t seem to take a lot of notice on what goes on with council – except when they pay the rates bill.”

Mrs Parker said the consultation process was not difficult and if a fairly lucid submission was written there was no need for the submitter to front up to the council to discuss the issue.

“I prefer to front because in your written submission you can’t cover every last detail and when questions are asked you can elucidate on the issue and give them the background. I always go – I’m not frightened in getting up and saying my piece.”

She said the mayor and councillors had always treated her with respect and listened politely, and had emphasised that every submission was treated equally, whether a person fronted up to explain or not.

And Mrs Parker will be among the submitters again this year – there’s still the matter of the widening of Fagan Street and Sanson’s hardy perennials of narrow back streets, few footpaths and unsightly drains.

She is also helping compile a submission for another resident and has indicated her willingness to assist others who are unsure of what to write.