Around 800 people have officially had their say on how Waipa District Council should invest in its community over the next decade.
And less formal feedback from hundreds more will be provided to elected councillors before they make their final decisions in June this year.
Waipa District Council began calling for submissions on its draft 10-Year Plan in mid-March. The official submission period closed last Friday, with around 800 written submissions received. That’s nearly double the number of submissions received in 2015, when 479 people or organisations had their say.
Waipa DC Communication and engagement manager Natalie Palmer
Communication and engagement manager Natalie Palmer said of the six major proposals outlined in the plan, the one to provide a $500,000 grant towards the development of a sport and recreation centre at Ohaupo had attracted the most feedback. Early analysis showed around half supported the proposal with about 30 per cent against and 20 per cent unsure. Of those who submitted on the Ohaupo proposal, about one third owned property in the affected area.
With the exception of the Ohaupo proposal, all of the council’s proposals outlined in the draft 10-Year Plan were supported by the majority of submitters. Final numbers are still being worked through.
Palmer said feedback received through informal channels like Facebook and from face-to-face meetings would be collated and also presented to councillors. That included feedback on a range of issues, not just that outlined in consultation material.
