Feedback on council plans now closed
20 April 2015
Nearly 500 people or organisations have provided feedback on Waipa District Council's proposals for the next decade.
Formal submissions to the council's 10-Year Plan have closed with 479 received, more than half of them online. Of those, 87 people want to present their views to elected councillors next month.
Hundreds of comments were also received via the council's facebook page and other channels.
While submissions are yet to be fully analysed, there is strong support for the council's plans around water. More than 75 per cent of submitters agreed with the council's proposal to update the Parallel Road treatment plant and take more water from the Waikato River for Te Awamutu.
Changes to the rating system, which would see the introduction of a Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) and an increased percentage of rates based on a property's capital value were supported by 59 per cent of submitters. Thirty per cent were opposed.
The Cambridge pool proposal drew plenty of interest. The council's preferred option is to spend $6-8 million upgrading the plant and changing facilities and building a new 25 meter indoor pool and a learner's pool. The 50 meter pool would remain closed over winter. Fifty-two per cent of submitters supported this proposal; 40 per cent opposed it.
More than 200 people had their say on plans to spend $1.5 million on kick-starting fundraising for a new museum in Te Awamutu. Forty per cent of submitters were supportive and 53 per cent opposed.
Plans for cycleways drew 265 submissions with 134 submitters (51 per cent) supporting the proposal to build a cycle track from Te Awamutu to Kihikihi. One hundred submitters opposed it with many suggesting other cycleway options be supported instead.
Plans to develop Waipuke Park were supported by nearly 70 per cent of submitters with 24 per cent opposed. Rural drainage plans, which would see the council taking responsibility for all Waipa's public rural drains were also strongly supported with 70 per cent agreeing.
The Council had indicated it was unable to financially support a number of projects including sealing unsealed roads and contributing to the Te Awa River Ride. This was suppported by 53 per cent of submitters.
Submissions will now be fully analysed and made publicly available. Submitters will be heard by elected councillors at hearings to be held on May 5 and 6. Both the hearings, and deliberations by councillors (May 7 and May 8) are open to the public.
Media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 507 7599