Council changes Long-Term Plan consultation timeline

09 Apr 2025

Today, Buller District Council confirmed changing the consultation period for its Draft Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2025-2034.

Council had initially planned to seek the community's feedback on its next nine-year plan between 18 April 2025 and 19 May 2025. However, due to high workloads for staff and auditors, Council has decided to slightly delay the consultation period, opening it a week later on 25 April 2025.  

Chief Executive Officer Simon Pickford says: “The team have been working hard to complete the Draft LTP and the Consultation Document ready for adoption next week. However, our limited resources and high business as usual workloads means that we have had to push the adoption out by a week. This has also eased the pressure on our audit partners, Ernst & Young."

Council has to adopt the Draft LTP and the Consultation Document before it goes out for public consultation for one calendar month.

The Local Government Act 2002 requires council to have its LTP and the Consultation Document audited. The Audit Report forms part of the Draft LTP and the Consultation Document outlining whether the Long-Term Plan gives effect to the purpose of long-term planning and the quality of the information and assumptions underlying the plan.

Council has engaged Ernst & Young, a reputable audit service provider, to audit its Draft LTP 2025-2034 and Consultation Document. This decision was made to ensure a thorough and independent audit process.

Mr Pickford says: “Even with the timeline moved back, we will adopt the Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 before 1 July 2025, meeting our statutory requirements.”

The Draft Long-Term Plan 2025 – 2034 consultation timeline is:

  • 23 April 2025 - Council adopts the draft plan and the Consultation Document
  • 25 April 2025 - Public consultation on the draft plan opens.
  • 26 May 2025 - Public consultation on the draft plan closes.
  • 9 – 10 June 2025 - Council will listen to people who wish to speak during the hearings.
  • 11 – 12 June 2025 - Council will discuss the submissions during the deliberations.
  • 30 June 2025 - Council will adopt the final Long-Term Plan 2025-2034.
  • 1 July 2025 - The Long-Term Plan 2025-2034 comes into effect. 

The community can stay informed via council’s community engagement hub Let’s talk Buller or information available at Council’s libraries and service centres in Westport and Reefton, the Karamea Information Centre, and the Northern Buller Community Resource Centre.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact: 
Community Engagement Team  
Buller District Council 
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz   

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.