Whakatāne District Council elected members and staff are in the process of reviewing the financial forecasts which will feed into the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) 2018-28 and are working hard to define a prudent and affordable future service delivery approach.
Elected members have been involved in a series of workshops, which has enabled them to drill down through the detailed financial strategy and forecasts, with guidance from specialist staff.
Mayor Tony Bonne says the elected members have also had the benefit of considering feedback directly from the community throughout this process. “Our Council partnered in Whakatāne Ki Mua, which means Whakatāne Moving Forward,” he says. “This key community engagement project received more than 18,000 comments, and while that input wasn’t specifically intended to inform the development of our LTP, we have gained a greater understanding of what the community wants for the future, and used this to help shape our strategic thinking.”
Mayor Bonne says one of the overriding themes of Whakatāne Ki Mua was the value that local people placed on our natural environment, and the importance of protecting it for future generations. “Our Council plays a considerable part in this through its management of the three waters services - drinking, stormwater and wastewater,” he explains.
“We have some major infrastructural challenges coming up in this arena. Many of our large assets, such as wastewater treatment systems, are approaching the end of their resource consent lifespans under the Resource Management Act, and will require significant investment to meet environmental expectations. For example, 10 of our 12 wastewater schemes will require upgrades within the next LTP period, so we’re working to balance the need to invest in improved technology with rates affordability and the availability of funding.
“We have a considerable task ahead to temper the expectations of the community with what can realistically be achieved within the current local government funding model,” he says. “Councils across the country are grappling with the same issues at the moment. Local government generally is working with the new Government, seeking ways to fund infrastructure that meet the needs of the community, in a way which is affordable and equitable.”
The LTP sets out the Council’s strategic direction and priorities for the next 10 years, with a detailed focus on the first three years. It provides the basis for priority-setting and decision-making and guides the planning and implementation of programmes, activities and services.
The community will be asked to provide feedback on the proposed programmes and levels of service when the Long Term Plan Consultation Document is released for public consultation in March next year.