If you haven’t made a submission on the draft Long Term Plan yet, then you’re running out of time – the feedback period closes on Sunday 28 April.

Just over 1000 submissions have already been received on the plan, which sets out five key decisions Council needs to make and outlines spending priorities proposed for the next 10 years.

Mayor Neil Brown said Councillors had enjoyed talking with the community at informal events and meetings over the past month.

“We feel we have engaged with a lot more people over this draft plan and we’ve made a real effort to get to groups and chat to people, and that’s reflected in the submission numbers so far.

“We’re seeing submissions from across the different age groups, which is great. A class at one of our local schools voted on which of the water play options they preferred and then sent us the result as their submission.”

Mayor Brown said that while submission numbers were well up on the 2021 Long Term Plan, it was still important for Council to hear from as many people as possible.

“The decisions we make will affect everyone who lives in the district over the next 10 years. It’s not enough just to complain on Facebook, you need to make a submission.”

The consultation period will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 28 April and the easiest way to make a submission is online, via the Long Term Plan website itsourplace.nz.

Submissions can also be made on paper and posted to Council or left at the Customer Service desk, or they can be emailed, or even recorded in a video and shared to Council.