Long-Term Plan deliberations

Next week elected members will deliberate on feedback from the community on proposals for inclusion in Rotorua Lakes Council’s 2021-31 Long-Term Plan.

The Long-Term Plan (LTP) sets out what Council will undertake across the next 10 years and how that will be funded.

On Monday and Tuesday next week (17/18 May 2021), Council’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee will complete the deliberation process. This is the committee’s opportunity to consider feedback received and to make decisions around topics and issues that have been raised by the community against what has been accounted for to date in the consultation document.

Recommendations from the Committee will go to the Full Council on 28 June 2021 for its consideration and adoption of the finalised plan. The 2021/22 financial year, which starts 1 July 2021, will be year one of the LTP.

The plan is reviewed every three years to ensure it remains relevant and reflects the direction of Council and of the Rotorua district.

Community consultation was undertaken between 30 March and 30 April 2021 and was based on the consultation document which outlined Council’s key priorities and proposals for the Long-Term Plan.

Elected members, including the Mayor, Councillors, Lakes and Rural community board members and Te Tatau o Te Arawa board members, led engagement activity across the district, supported by Council staff. Seven community feedback sessions were held throughout the consultation period, providing the opportunity for people to give verbal feedback directly to elected members and participate in discussions around Council’s key priorities and proposals. Feedback could also be provided online, in writing, or over the phone.

Council used a variety of channels to advertise that feedback was being sought on the LTP. This included, the RLC website, social media channels, local radio stations, advertisements on the back of City Ride buses, on School Apps NZ, in community newsletters, in the Rotorua Airport magazine and in Council’s most recent quarterly magazine Tatau Tatau which is delivered to letter boxes in the city (all addresses that are registered with NZ Post) and is distributed to some of the city’s GP clinics, retailers, pharmacies, and community organisations. There were also information displays in the Rotorua Library, Rotorua Airport, Trade Central Mall, Rotorua Aquatic Centre and council staff attended community events to share information and encourage people to give feedback.