Ashburton District Council has today adopted it's consultation document for the draft 2021-31 Long-Term Plan (LTP) ahead of consultation opening for feedback on Friday 19 March.

Residents will be asked to have their say on the Council's 10 year plan for the district, with two key issues as the main focus of the consultation - the future funding model for the Council's Elderly Persons Housing and whether to install water meters on peoples' homes to identify leaks.

Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown said the draft plan was the result of many months of planning and budget analysis, and now it was up to residents to have their say on the proposals.

"Council has put forth what we believe needs to be done to provide local services and activities that will support our district in the years ahead. We have a number of challenges before us but the proposals we have made provide a path forward.

"We want to hear what residents think of these ideas and assess whether we have got it right or not before the final LTP is adopted towards the end of June."

The consultation document signals an overall rates increase for the district of 6.28 per cent in the next financial year, but individuals' rates will be different depending on there they live.

Through the Council's dedicated LTP website (which will be available from Friday), residents will be able to easily calculate what their rates would be for both residential and commercial properties.

The way Council plans to pay for Elderly Persons Housing is a key focus in the consultation. The document outlines that a backlog of maintenance and upgrades needed for the units is threatening to deplete cash reserves for the activity within four years.

The Council is therefore proposing to ensure these houses become self-funded, through incrementally increasing rents and utilising a general rates charge for the next two years until the units are self-sustaining.

The draft LTP is also asking residents whether water meters should be installed on properties connected to the Council's water schemes.

The Council estimates that the district could be losing up to 50 per cent of water from the system through leaks and inefficient use, and the meters would be used to detect abnormal usage and fix leaks.

Mayor Brown adds that all residents are invited to hear the proposals at its free public meetings starting on Monday 22 March.

"Make sure to come along to learn more about what is being proposed and ask us questions. These meetings are coming to towns right around the district and include a webinar that you will be able to access online. I hope to see you there."

To see the full proposals and provide feedback, residents will be able to access the consultation document, 'Our Place - Our Plan, Tōtātou Wāhi - Tā Tātau Mahere' from 19 March.

A physical copy of the document will also be delivered to all households in the district, and copies will be available at the Council office.

Feedback will be welcome online, in writing and via email to submissions@adc.govt.nz from 19 March until 19 April.