Hundreds of submissions on Opotiki's Long Term Plan

Hundreds of submissions on Ōpōtiki’s Long Term Plan

Ōpōtiki Mayor, Lyn Riesterer, said that there had been a ‘huge number’ of submissions on Ōpōtiki District Council’s 2021-2031 Long Term Plan and it was great to see so many people willing to set aside time and energy to help set council’s direction for the coming years.

Key figures:

• Submission period was from 6 April to 7 May 2021.
• A total of 344 submissions were received including 3 late submissions. Received online (93 submitters used the online form), post, email, in person at main office and library, direct to mayor and councillors and staff.
• A total of 340 ‘topic points’ were raised.
• 44 Submitters have requested to speak.

Increase in numbers from previous two LTPs:

• 2015-2025 = 46
• 2018-2028 = 112
• 2021-2031 = 344

The Mayor said that there were a wide range topics covered in submissions.

“Certainly a lot of the feedback was on the question of extending services to Hukutaia. More than 100 submitters sent feedback on that topic, and many used some standard wording provided by the Hukutaia/Woodlands Ratepayers group. It was good to see that they personalised that and added their own thoughts and comments.

“Hukutaia was part of the reason for the very large increase in submissions on previous years, but is certainly not the only driver. Even setting aside the prepopulated forms, there is still twice as many submissions as we received for the last LTP.

“I look forward to hearing many people speak to their submissions and working with my fellow councillors to consider the feedback at the coming LTP hearings in June.

“I’d also like to thank council staff – LTPs every three years are a lot of work above and beyond the everyday workload for quite a few people in council and I’d like to thank them for that,” Mayor Riesterer said.