Consultation Begins on this Years Draft Annual Plan

A range of climate change initiatives and some city safety and sportsfield improvements are among the things that Wellingtonians can comment on in this year’s Draft Annual Plan 2008/09.

The Draft Annual Plan explains what the City Council is planning to do in the coming financial year, why, how much it will cost, and how it is proposing to pay.

Consultation on the plan began today (16 April) and feedback is required by 5.30pm on Monday 19 May. Community views will be one of the factors City Councillors take into account when they meet in late June to make final decisions.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast says the draft plan is the first since the Council signed up to its vision for a carbon neutral Wellington.

"This is an ambitious vision that will require effort by the Council, central government, businesses and residents," she says. "But this year's draft plan is a good start because it includes some proposed initiatives that if approved, will be small but potentially significant steps towards carbon neutrality."

The Council plans to investigate how Wellingtonians use transport and make transport choices so it can determine how to encourage more sustainable options such as walking, cycling or taking the train or bus. It is looking at options for turning the Southern Landfill into a producer of sustainable energy by investigating the feasibility of a small-scale wind farm within the landfill and a bioreactor to convert the city's sewage sludge into electricity or LPG.

These and other proposals – including new spending on Courtenay Place, an artificial surface for Nairnville Park's upper sportsfield and access improvements for Hataitai Park – are outlined in greater detail in the draft plan.

To fund this year's work programme, a 4.8 percent increase in the overall rates take is being proposed, plus some increases in user charges.

Copies of the draft plan are available at the Council's service centre in Wakefield Street, in all city libraries, online at www.Wellington.govt.nz or by phoning 499 4444. A public meeting is planned at 7.30pm on Tuesday 6 May in Committee Room 1, ground floor, Council offices, 101 Wakefield Street.

To comment email annual.plan@wcc.govt.nz , write a letter, fill out the submission form contained in the draft plan and the latest copy of the Council's Absolutely Positively Wellington newspaper (due to be delivered this weekend), or make a submission online at www.Wellington.govt.nz.