Time is running out to join the conversation shaping Buller's next 10-year plan
The countdown is on to gather as much feedback as possible from the Buller community over the next week and a half, to give council a starting point to plot out the district's course for the next ten years.
Councillors and council staff have made the most of the spring sunshine, getting out into the community and attending lots of local events to hear the community’s views and gather people's all-important ideas about what matters for the next ten years.
The level of engagement has been high, with 254 people having given their feedback via the online or paper feedback forms. You still have until Sunday 12 November to contribute your thoughts before staff and councillors move on to the next stage.
Mayor Jamie Cleine says: “My engagement efforts at the Whitebait Festival and Fox River Markets were well received by the community and have highlighted to me that issues and opportunities of importance are quite varied in our different communities of interest. It’s so important that this LTP tries to reflect the feedback of communities from across our district”
There are a number of ways people can share their thoughts – the online feedback form is an easy option for people who like to do things online. Head over to council’s website to fill out the form.
If you prefer paper, the feedback form and supporting information has landed in all letterboxes in Buller as part of a special 10-year plan edition of Connect. It’s as easy as filling out the enclosed form and dropping it off by 13 November at the Westport or Reefton service centres.
If you don’t have time to complete the survey, you can fill out a quick poll and answer some really important questions about key topics like infrastructure, climate change, roading, community facilities, community services, and community grants and funding.
Close to 200 responses (194) have been collected so far via these easy, multiple choice or ranking-type questions that everyone can answer and only takes a minute per question. https://survey.publicvoice.co.nz/s3/BDC-LTP-quick-polls.
Mayor Cleine says: “After the 12th of November, councillors and key staff will review the feedback and ideas that have been collated. This will provide guidance for us to make an informed decision on what we aim to do in the coming 10 years - what we will focus on, the actions we will commit to, where we invest money, and how we plan to pay for it all.”
This will all be written into the draft 10-year plan (or Long-Term Plan) and the Consultation Document (the more digestible short form).
Mayor Cleine says: “I can't emphasise enough that the way we’re going about things this year is a real opportunity for everyone to contribute to Buller's future. If you haven't done so yet, use the next 12 days to share your thoughts with us, for your children, mokopuna, mates or whānau.”
In early 2024, council will bring both documents back to the community and ask if what’s been put together has the community’s aspirations at its heart. Council will also ask some questions about key issues and present some options showing how they could be dealt with.
During the consultation period in 2024, submissions from the community will then be taken to help finalise everything and arrive at the final Long Term Plan, which will be adopted by council. A mighty effort!
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Buller Mayor
Jamie Cleine
Jamie.Cleine@bdc.govt.nz