Time running out to have say on Draft Long Term Plan

Time’s running out for people to have their say on Northland Regional Council’s proposed plans for the coming decade, which include some major flood reduction works and criteria for a multimillion dollar economic development fund.

With only about a fortnight to go before submissions on the council’s Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 close on Thursday 19 April, council Chairman Craig Brown is urging Northlanders to make sure they make their thoughts known.

“Ultimately, public feedback will have a major influence on this plan for what the regional council does for Northland and its communities over the next 10 years.

“There are some big decisions ahead, so if you have a view on our proposed plans for Northland, please make that view count and put it into a submission.”

Mr Brown says the council wants to hear from everyone - not just those who support its proposed initiatives – to ensure councillors are getting the most realistic and representative view possible of the wider community’s feelings.

In a first for the regional council, it’s also offering Northlanders the chance to discuss and debate the issues that interest them on an online discussion forum at www.nrc.govt.nz/haveyoursay

Fleur King, the council’s General Manager Community Relations, says the ability to host a discussion forum comes as part of the regional council’s wider work on its general online submission processes – rather than as specific Long Term Plan consultation tool.

“The online forum is specifically designed so that anyone can go there to chat, discuss the various proposals and share their views with others outside of our formal submission process.”

Ms King says people just need to be aware discussions on the online forum aren’t formal submissions; rather the views they express there provide a useful barometer of community feeling which others may like to respond to.

“Use of online discussion forums like this is relatively new ground for most councils in New Zealand, so we’ll be interested to see if the community is keen to embrace this new technology.”

Meanwhile, Mr Brown says to date about 60 submissions have been received through the council’s normal channels.

“Based on our experiences in previous years, I suspect we’ll once again see a late burst of submissions as that 19 April deadline draws closer.”

Mr Brown says among the many proposals outlined in in the Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 are:

• Slowing the move of the council’s investment income from rates subsidies into economic development
• Putting in place criteria and structure to better deliver on the council’s increased economic development focus
• Some big flood protection works for urban Whangarei, Kerikeri-Waipapa, Kaeo and Awanui
• Options for funding public bus services in Kaitaia and Dargaville
• Implementing the government’s new direction for improving the quality of our freshwater
• Selling some of the council’s 21-year lease properties in Whangarei
• Reducing funding support to Destination Northland
• Ongoing support for the region’s rescue helicopter service.

 

The full Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 – and a 16-page summary - can be viewed online via www.nrc.govt.nz/haveyoursay  or as hard copies at regional council’s offices and at public libraries.

Mr Brown says consultation on Northland’s Draft Regional Land Transport Programme 2012-2015 also closes 19 April.