Carterton District Council is now consulting on its Draft Ten Year Plan for 2021-2031.

The Council’s Ten Year Plan sets out its planned activities and projects for the next ten years. It will be largely ‘business as usual’ for most of the Council’s activities for the next 10 years, with the most financially prudent approach being taken for ratepayers. This means continuing to invest in core infrastructure, seeking a new water source for the town supply, finishing the wastewater treatment plant upgrade and creating new infrastructure to enable development in the Eastern Growth Area. The Council has also factored in the costs of rates and its ability to borrow to fund new infrastructure.

As well as this, the Council has factored in the 715 ideas submitted by the community in the “Big Jar of Ideas” last year. Elected members considered all 715 ideas which helped inform the projects and activities in the Draft Ten Year Plan. The Council has come up with three projects it would like the community’s feedback on before making any final decisions – increasing town centre car parking to cater for ongoing demand, proceeding with Trail 1 of the Five Towns Trail Project and asking how much involvement the Council should have in the Town Centre Redevelopment.

Other smaller projects in the plan include climate change mitigation activities, increasing the transfer station opening hours a bit, partnering with Hurunui-o-Rangi marae to tell the stories of the first people of Taratahi/Carterton District, developing an affordable housing action plan and doing minor improvements to the outdoor swimming pool.

The draft consultation document, supporting documents and calendar of community events and instructions on how to make a submission are available at www.cdc.govt.nz/tenyearplan

Submissions are open from 18 March and close noon 19 April.