Tue 5 June 18.
All Long Term Plan submissions make a difference.
Of the 200 plus submitters to the Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation many took the opportunity to give their views on Ruapehu and Council issues other than those in the LTP Consultation Document.
Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said that feedback and views on issues not specifically covered in the Consultation Document were always welcomed and played an important part in influencing decisions about Council's eventual work program.
While the issues in the Consultation Document represent the key issues that Council is proposing to include in the LTP there are naturally many other matters of importance to our communities, said Mayor Cameron.
Submissions on these community initiated issues allows them to be deliberated as part of the LTP process and budgeted for as part of the planned work programme if supported by Council.
Those that fall into the normal request for service' (RFS) level of activity are automatically forwarded to the relevant manager for action as part of normal operating budgets.
In other cases these submissions has seen Council give a greater priority to the matter, commit to further community consultation, investigating the issue further, provide support funding or take other appropriate action.
In this LTP submissions of this type saw Council commit to various actions on a wide range of things including; the Ohakune pool cover and heating, the Raetihi pool, Visitor Information Centre and park redevelopment, the Kakahi playground, and the National Park Wifi, bus shelter and dog exercise area.
Mayor Cameron said that some submitters are not asking for anything or requiring Council to take any immediate action but want Council to be aware of their views or opinions on a matter.
Examples of this type of submission included the Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) commending Council for our work on the Ruapehu Regional Visitor Plan and asking to be part of any future work and a submitter requesting that Council continue to provide social housing.
The important thing we would like people to take on board is that engaging with Council consultations and making your view known really does make a difference.
Although not all submissions are financially significant in nature or have widespread community interest they are all considered by Council.
We often hear people say that Council doesn't listen or we have already made up our mind.
Hand on heart I can assure people this is not the case and anyone who attends a deliberation meeting where councillors discuss each and every issue would see this.
Council would like to thank everyone who made the effort to have their say which has influenced Council's thinking and the final decisions as to the planned work programme.
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